Amazing Grace
John Milton, 1608–1674
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love [mercy] endures forever. (Psalm 136:1)
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.
— Cicero
A gladsome, joyous mind is the product of a grateful, praising heart. Gratefulness is the opposite of selfishness. The selfish person is boastful of his accomplishments. The grateful Christian, however, realizes that all achievements and blessings come only from God’s bountiful hand. This realization results in a life of praise.
Far too often our prayer life consists only of a series of personal requests. God wants our requests, but He also desires to hear our praise for His eternal kindness and love in response to our daily needs.
This hymn text of praise was written by John Milton in 1621 when he was only 15 years of age. It was based on verses 1, 2, 7, and 23 of Psalm 136, a psalm that refrains each of its 26 verses with the reminder that God’s love/mercy/kindness endure forever. This hymn is one of 19 poetic versions of various psalms written by Milton. Today, however, John Milton is best remembered as the brilliant, blind English poet who wrote the classic masterpieces, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. He is also credited with having much influence on the later hymn writings of Isaac Watts (“the father of English hymnody”) and Charles Wesley (author of 6,500 hymn texts).
Let us with a gladsome mind praise the Lord, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure, ever faithful, ever sure.
Let us blaze His name abroad; for of gods He is the God:
For His mercies shall endure, ever faithful, ever sure.
He with all-commanding might filled the new-made world with light:
For His mercies shall endure, ever faithful, ever sure.
All things living He doth feed; His full hand supplies their need:
For His mercies shall endure, ever faithful, ever sure.
Let us then with gladsome mind praise the Lord, for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure, ever faithful, ever sure.
For Today: Psalm 63:1–5; 103:2; 136; 145:9; James 1:17
It is always inspiring to read about the work of God in the life of a Bible character or some great leader in history. But it is even more profitable for us to recount the mercies of God in our own past life and to offer Him praise for His eternal love. Why not do so with this little hymn?
Osbeck, K. W.
- O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee: my flesh longeth greatly after thee in a barren and dry land without water: Thus I behold thee as in the Sanctuary, when I behold thy power and thy glory. For thy loving-kindness is better than life: therefore my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I magnify thee all my life, and lift up mine hands in thy Name. My soul shall be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips, Psalm 63:1–5
- My soul, praise thou the Lord, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:2
- Praise ye the Lord, because he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercy endureth forever: Praise ye the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth forever: Which only doeth great wonders; for his mercy endureth forever: Which hath stretched out the earth upon the waters: for his mercy endureth forever: Which made great lights: for his mercy endureth forever: As the Sun to rule the day; for his mercy endureth forever: The Moon and the stars to govern the night: for his mercy endureth forever: Which smote Egypt with their firstborn, (for his mercy endureth forever: And brought out Israel from among them; for his mercy endureth forever: With a mighty hand and stretched out arm; for his mercy endureth forever: Which divideth the Sea into two parts; for his mercy endureth forever: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it; for his mercy endureth forever: And overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the red Sea; for his mercy endureth forever: Which led his people through the wilderness; for his mercy endureth forever: Which smote great Kings: for his mercy endureth forever: And slew mighty Kings: for his mercy endureth forever: As Sihon King of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth forever: And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth forever: And gave their land for an heritage; for his mercy endureth forever: Even an heritage unto Israel his servant; for his mercy endureth forever: Which remembered us in our base estate; for his mercy endureth forever: And hath rescued us from our oppressors; for his mercy endureth forever: Which giveth food to all flesh; for his mercy endureth forever: Praise ye the God of heaven; for his mercy endureth forever. Psalm 136
- The Lord is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works. Psalm 145:9
- Every good giving and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17
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