[Biblemat] hymn study, "Do You Praise and Thank Him?"

[Wayne S Walker]

Wayne Walker here with another weekly hymn study.
 
"DO YOU PRAISE AND THANK HIM?"
"Be Thou exalted, Lord, in Thine own strength: so will we sing and praise
Thy power" (Ps. 21.13)
 
     INTRO.:  A song which encourages us to sing and praise the Lord's
power morning, noon, and night is "Do You Praise and Thank Him?"  The
text was written by Katharyn Bacon.  I have been able to locate no
further information about this author, except that in a Bibliography of
Shape Note Hymnals entitled "Hymnals and Hymnody in the Appalachian
Collection -- A Bibliography," from the Carol Grotnes Belk Library of the
Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, compiled by Brenda Gale
Beasley in Spring, 2001, and updated by Ruthie Blakeney in Spring, 2005 (
www.library.appstate.edu/appcoll/research_aids/hymnody/index.html ) I
found reference to a shaped-note hymnal "Lights of Home: A Collection of
Sacred Songs, Both New and Old, for the Church, the Sunday School, the
Revival Meeting, the Singing School, the Singing Convention and All Kinds
of Religious Work and Worship compiled by George W. Bacon and Katharyn
Baker" (this is undoubtedly a typographical error for Bacon because the
actual library listing of the book identifies this person as Katharyn
Bacon), at White Pine, TN, for the Sylva Music Co. in 1926. Assuming at
least the possibility that George Bacon was some relation, perhaps
husband, to Katharyn Bacon, I noted that there were two other shaped note
hymnals which he edited: Then We'll Sing in 1929, and Music That Wins
with no date.
 
     The tune was composed by Austin Taylor (1881-1973).  Born in
Kentucky but spending most of his life in Texas, Taylor was a well known
hymn writer, song director, and music publisher among churches of Christ.
 Having taught his first singing school at age eighteen and published his
first songbook, The Gospel Messenger, in 1905, he produced 200 hymns,
published two dozen of his own books, worked as an editor for the Firm
Foundation Company of Austin, TX, and served at the Texas Normal Singing
School in Sabinal for 27 years.  Some of his other famous hymns include
"Closer to Thee," "Do All in the Name of the Lord," and "Home on the
Banks of the River."  I have not found out when or where "Do You Praise
and Thank Him?" was first published.   Among hymnbooks published by
members of the Lord's church during the twentieth century for use in
churches of Christ, it appeared in the 1927 Sweeter than All Songs edited
by C. M. Pullias; the 1959 Majestic Hymnal No. 2 and the 1978 Hymns of
Praise both edited by Reuel Lemmons; and the original edition of the 1971
Songs of the Church edited by Alton H. Howard (but not after 1975 when it
was replaced with "To God Be the Glory").
 
     The song talks about the importance of giving thanks to the Lord for
His blessings at all times of the day.
 
I. Stanza 1 reminds us to thank Him in the morning
"Ere the morning lights the skies, Does there in your heart arise Love to
Jesus for His tender, watchful care?
Do you thank Him for the love That He sends from heaven above To protect
and lead you through the desert bare?"
A. As we arise in the morning, it is a good time to direct our voice to
God in thanks for His blessings: Ps. 5.3
B. Certainly, one of those blessings for which we can be thankful is His
tender, watchful care during the night: Ps. 121.4-6
C. Also, we should thank Him for His great love in providing for our
spiritual needs as well: Eph. 2.4-6
 
II. Stanza 2 reminds us to thank Him at noon
"When the noonday sun is bright, Do your hearts in love unite, Praising
Jesus for His blessings, rich and free?
Do you trust Him every hour For His mercy, grace, and power?  Do you
trust His wondrous love eternally?"
A. Noon time is the high point of the daytime which God has given us for
work (often referred to in the Bible as the sixth hour): Matt. 20.1-5 
B. Yet, even while we are engaged in bearing the burden and the heat of
the day, we should still take time to praise the Lord for His blessings,
remembering that every good and perfect gift in life comes from above:
Jas. 1.18
C. Spending a few moments, if just silently in our minds, during the day
to thank the Lord for His blessings is an expression of our trust in the
Lord and His power: Ps. 37.3-5
 
III. Stanza 3 reminds us to thank Him in the evening
"When the shades of night appear, Do you kneel with hearts sincere,
Seeking Jesus's watchful care till life is o'er?
Do you ask His love and peace To sustain, till life shall cease, Till the
Savior calls His own to heaven's bright shore?"
A. When the shades of night appear and we begin to make preparations for
our rest, it is another good time to kneel before the Lord with hearts
sincere to give thanks for the Lord's blessings during the day: Ps.
119.55
B. As we praise Him for His blessings, we can also ask His love and peace
to sustain us: Ps. 55.22
C. When we commit our way to Him we can have the assurance that He will
guard and protect us until He calls us to heaven's bright shore: Jn.
10.27-29
 
     CONCL.:  The chorus focuses our minds once again on the importance
of praising and thanking the Lord.
"Do you praise and thank the Lord, Every morning, noon, and night?
Do the blessings of His word Fill your soul with pure delight?"
Our books do not contain many hymns that are primarily devoted to being
thankful ("Count Your Blessings" comes to mind; also "Now Thank We All
Our God" and "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come," but they are not in as
many of our newer books).  Therefore, it is good to have a song by which
we can ask each other, concerning our blessings from the Lord, "Do You
Praise and Thank Him?"
 
      Brotherly,
Wayne S. Walker
9024 Amona Dr.
Affton, MO  63123
home phone: (314) 638-4710
office phone: (314) 544-1612
e-mail: wswalker310 at juno.com
website: www.defenderoftruth.com
 
     Notes: Other hymn studies are available at the Defender of Truth
website.  Also, some of my previous hymn studies are now included in book
that I have written entitled Songs of Zion.  It can be ordered from the
publisher by calling 1-800-423-2484 or going to www.faith-facts.com.  And
if you would like to receive a similar daily hymn study by e-mail, you
can join the Hymn of the Day list by sending a blank e-mail to
hymnoftheday-subscribe at yahoogroups.com or subscribing from the Web at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hymnoftheday/ .
 
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