In 2011, one of my closest friends gave me one of the most precious gifts that I have ever gotten for Christmas: a church pew hymnal. One of my favorites is “Doxology”.
Here it is:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
I love simplicity. It’s so beautiful.
A “Doxology” is defined as a short hymn of praise, or a liturgical formula of praise to God. But, I like how John MacArthur defines it in a sermon:
“The word doxology is a familiar word to Christians. We are familiar with it but we may not understand it fully. So let me just give a brief definition for doxology. It is really nothing more than a praise saying. It comes from two Greek words: doxa, which means glory, and lagas, which means to say or a word or a saying. It is a saying about God’s glory. That is to say it is praise or it is offering God thanks. It is saying thanks by means of praising God. A doxology is a praise saying.”
He later goes on:
“Doxologies in the New Testament are associated with salvation. And as you find people contemplating the realities of salvation they burst into praise. A doxology is like blowing the cork off when the pressure builds up. The pressure is the pressure of joy and the pressure of thankfulness; the pressure of gratitude; the pressure of being overwhelmed by blessing finally blows the top off, and out comes the bursting of a doxology. Doxologies tend not to be calculated. They need often not to be exegeted because that, in many ways, is to miss the point. They are bursts of praise and joy. And they come in response to contemplation about salvation.”
Doxology is throughout scripture. Here’s an example from the letter of Jude:
Jude 1:24-25
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
Some other doxologies in scripture:
1 Chronicles 29:10-12, Psalm 41, 72, 89, 106, 150, Isaiah 6:3, Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9-10, Luke 1:46-55, 2:13-14, 19:38, Romans 11:33-36, 16:25-27, Galatians 1:5, Ephesians 3:21, Philippians 4:20, 1 Timothy 1:17, Hebrews 13:20-21, 2 Peter 3:18, Revelation 4:8, 5:12-13, 7;12
Our life as a Christian, if you really think about it, ought to be a continual life of thanksgiving to God: “bursts of praise and joy”. Our life ought to be… a life of Doxology.
Godspeed, to the brethren!
FOLLOW theidolbabbler.com ON TWITTER!!
Follow @theidolbabbler
theidolbabbler.com 