HYMN STORIES: The Songs We Sing
“Stand up and Bless the Lord”
As we celebrate V.B.S. this week, we will open our 8:30 service with Stand Up and Bless the Lord.Written by James Montgomery in 1824, it was originally intended for a Sunday school anniversary with the words – “Stand up and bless the Lord Ye children . . ” but later by changing the word children to people it became a congregational hymn that we all may sing.
As we sing this hymn the singer is simultaneously humbled and exalted by acknowledging that God is 'above all blessing high. The hymn corrects our often-casual approach to the Divine. However, it immediately follows this with the promise that God is 'our strength and song,' emphasizing His accessibility through Christ. This makes it a perfect opening hymn for services focusing on the holiness of God and the joyful response of the redeemed community.
Montgomery believed that worship should be participatory and physically engaging. The command to 'stand up' was both literal and metaphorical, reflecting the Levites' call in Nehemiah 9 where the Levites call the returned exiles to rise and bless the Lord forever. This historical context of restoration and covenant renewal underpins the hymn’s sense of corporate identity. The reference to the 'living flame' in the third stanza synthesizes Isaiah’s coal from the altar with the Pentecostal 'tongues of fire,' suggesting that true worship requires a divine touch to move from human thought to heavenly praise.
So adopt an embodied posture in worship, recognizing that physical movement (like standing) can help focus 'heart and soul and voice' on God. Pray for the 'living flame' of the Holy Spirit to purify your thoughts and words before entering into communal liturgy. Reflect on your identity as 'people of His choice' and 'ransomed powers' to combat feelings of spiritual insignificance. Use the phrase 'God is our strength and song' as a breath prayer during difficult times to maintain a posture of praise outside the church walls.
So sing out Christian as you Stand and Bless the Lord!
Shared by Lindrew Johnson, Director of Worship
