This is hymn 37 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
HYMN 37: LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND
1. Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the Lord, for He is kind;
For His mercies shall endure
Ever faithful, ever sure.
2. Let us sound His name abroad,
For of gods He is the God;
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
3. He with all-commanding might
Filled the new-made world with light;
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
4. All things living He doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need;
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
5. He His chosen race did bless
In the wasteful wilderness;
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
6. He hath with a pious eye
Looked upon our misery;
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
7. Let us with gladsome mind
Praise the Lord, for He is kind;
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND HYMN COMMENTARY
Beloved in Christ, this bright and sturdy hymn, “Let Us with a Gladsome Mind,” is a call to worship that is as much a theological declaration as it is a joyful exhortation. Based on Psalm 136, it provides us with a clear, compelling reason for our praise: the enduring, faithful mercy of God. It is a hymn that equips us to praise, not primarily because of what we have, but because of who He is—a kind, sovereign, and providential God whose steadfast love is the unchanging foundation of our lives.
Why Sing This Hymn
We sing this hymn to discipline our hearts toward a “gladsome” attitude rooted in God’s character, to rehearse the historic and personal proofs of His mercy, and to anchor our souls in the truth that His goodness is “ever faithful, ever sure.” It is a hymn that combats discontent and despair by focusing on the eternal constancy of God’s kindness.
1. It is a Hymn of Commanded Joy and Defined Kindness (Verse 1)
Worship begins with a collective, willful decision: “Let us, with a gladsome mind.” Our praise is to be marked by gladness, a joy that flows from a specific source. That source is God’s fundamental nature: He is kind. This kindness is not a fleeting mood but the very essence of His enduring “mercies,” which are described as “ever faithful, ever sure.” Before we list any specific blessings, we praise Him for the bedrock attribute that makes all blessings possible: His covenantal, steadfast love (Psalm 136:1).
2. It is a Hymn of Exclusive Worship and Creative Power (Verses 2 & 3)
Our praise is not to be private but proclaimed: “Let us sound His name abroad.” The reason is His supreme deity: “For of gods He is the God.” He alone is worthy. We then praise Him as the Creator who by “all-commanding might” spoke light into chaos. Our gladness encompasses the grandeur of His power and the beauty of His creation. The same mercy that sustains us spoke the universe into being.
3. It is a Hymn of Universal Provision and Specific Redemption (Verses 4 & 5)
God’s mercy is both general and particular. We praise Him as the sustainer of “All things living,”whose “full hand supplies their need.” This is His common grace. Then, we praise Him for His special, covenantal grace: “He His chosen race did bless in the wasteful wilderness.” He does not just feed creation; He faithfully guides and provides for His redeemed people through their most barren trials. His mercy is the manna in our wilderness.
4. It is a Hymn of Compassionate Attention and Personal Application (Verse 6)
The hymn reaches its most intimate point. The God of cosmic power and covenant history turns His gaze upon individual misery. He has “with a pious eye”—a holy, compassionate, and gracious look—“Looked upon our misery.” He sees, He knows, and He cares. Our personal suffering is not beneath His notice; it is within the scope of His enduring mercy. This is the bridge from doctrine to personal comfort.
5. It is a Hymn of Culminating Repetition and Resolved Praise (Verse 7)
The hymn closes by repeating the first verse. This is a powerful literary device, bringing us full circle. Having surveyed creation, provision, redemption, and compassion, our conclusion is the same as our beginning: God is kind, and His mercy endures. This repetition seals the truth in our hearts. Our praise is not based on a single event, but on the unchanging, eternal character of God.
A Word for Your Spirit Today
Is your mind anxious, burdened, or far from “gladsome”? This hymn gives you a pathway to joy. Begin by commanding your soul, with fellow believers, to praise. Fix your mind on His kindness. Then, take a tour of His faithfulness:
Look at the created world and see His power.
Remember your daily bread and see His provision.
Recall your salvation and His guidance through life’s wilderness.
Know in your current struggle that His eye is upon you with compassion.
Every point on this tour ends with the same, solid refrain: His mercies endure; they are ever faithful, ever sure. Your circumstances may change, but His kindness does not. Let this truth be the ground of your gladness today.
Praise the Lord, for He is kind.
In the name of the ever-faithful God, Amen.
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