This is hymn 17 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
HYMN 17: PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN
1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!
2. Praise him for his grace and favor
to his people in distress.
Praise him, still the same as ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Allelvia, alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness!
3. Fatherlike he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows!
4. Angels, help us to adore him;
you behold him face to face.
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace!
PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN HYMN COMMENTARY
Beloved in Christ, this majestic hymn, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven,” serves as both a personal command and a universal summons. It begins by addressing the individual soul and ends by calling all creation into the chorus. It is a hymn that beautifully bridges the intimate, personal experience of God’s mercy with His glorious, eternal character as the sovereign King. It teaches us that true praise is rooted in what we have personally received from His hand.
Why Sing This Hymn
We sing this hymn to command our own souls into the posture of worship, to recount the specific benefits of God’s grace in our lives, and to join our voices with the whole created order in adoration of the God who is both tenderly personal and majestically infinite.
1. It is a Hymn of Personal Redemption and Imperative Praise (Verse 1)
The hymn opens with a direct command to the self: “Praise, my soul.” Worship starts with a decision of the will, directing our innermost being to engage. We are to bring tribute to the King, not as distant subjects, but as those who have experienced His transformative power. The four-fold testimony is our resume for praise: “Ransomed” from slavery, “Healed” from brokenness, “Restored” to relationship, and “Forgiven” of all guilt. Because of this personal history, the duty of praise becomes the joy of praise “evermore.” The “Alleluia” is the spontaneous outburst of a grateful heart.
2. It is a Hymn of Covenantal Character (Verse 2)
Here, praise is anchored in the unchanging nature of God, especially as revealed in times of trouble. We praise Him for His “grace and favor to his people in distress.” His character is our comfort: He is “still the same as ever” (Hebrews 13:8), “slow to chide, and swift to bless.” This reveals a Father’s heart—patient with our failings and eager to pour out goodness. His reliability is not passive; it is “Glorious in his faithfulness!” We praise not a capricious deity, but a faithful covenant-keeping God.
3. It is a Hymn of Tender Providence and Present Rescue (Verse 3)
This verse expands on the Fatherly care of God. He is “Fatherlike,” a tender protector who “tends and spares us.” His care is informed: “well our feeble frame he knows” (Psalm 103:14). He does not merely observe; He actively intervenes—gently bearing us in His hands and actively “rescues us from all our foes.” The conclusion marvels at the scope of this personal care: “Widely yet his mercy flows!” It is both intimately gentle and infinitely expansive.
4. It is a Hymn of Unified Worship Across All Creation (Verse 4)
The final verse lifts our eyes from our personal experience to the ultimate reality of universal worship. We, who see through a glass darkly, enlist the help of those who see clearly: “Angels, help us to adore him; you behold him face to face.” Then, the call goes out to the cosmos itself: “Sun and moon, bow down before him, dwellers all in time and space.” Our personal song of gratitude is but one part of the eternal, universal symphony offered to the “God of grace.” Our praise finds its true context in this grand, creation-wide adoration.
A Word for Your Spirit Today
Is your soul quiet, weary, or distracted? Command it to praise. Begin by recounting your personal testimony: How has Christ ransomed, healed, restored, and forgiven you? Let that memory ignite your “Alleluia.”
Are you in distress? Praise Him for His character that is “slow to chide, and swift to bless.” His faithfulness is your anchor. Feel your frailty? Praise Him as the Father who knows your frame and gently bears you. Let your mind ascend from your personal need to the cosmic throne, and see your life as part of God’s great story of redemption that all creation praises.
Today, do not just say words. From the depths of your soul, bring your tribute to the King. Join the song of the angels and the anthem of the spheres. For you have been sought, saved, and secured by the everlasting King of Heaven.
Praise, my soul! Alleluia!
In the name of the King of Heaven, our tender Father and faithful God, Amen.
Leave a Reply