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.
Thomas Ken, 1674
These lyrics are from perhaps the most ubiquitous of all English language hymns. The title is sometimes listed as its first line, “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” and sometimes as “Doxology.”
It was written in 1674 by Thomas Ken, a bishop in the Church of England. It was apparently part of his Manual of Prayers for Winchester Scholars. According to Hymnary.org, the song has appeared in over 1200 hymnals.
Its appeal is obvious. It’s an invitation for all sentient creatures in heaven and on earth to praise God for his innumerable blessings. This doxological hymn accomplishes this simply and effectively.
Thinking about this doxology reminded me of Paul’s doxology in Ephesians 3.20-21 (NASB95): “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
Rather than discuss or analyze this text, I want to show how Paul builds upon a single idea to help us appreciate God’s resources and generosity. I’ll do this by building this doxology thought by thought. This isn’t an attempt at grammatical analysis, but rather an attempt to unfold Paul’s thinking about God’s blessings upon us.
- He [God] is able.
- He is able to do.
- He is able to do what we ask.
- He is able to do what we ask or think.
- He is able to do all that we ask or think.
- He is able to do beyond all that we ask or think.
- He is able to do abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.
- He is able to do more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.
- He is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.
- To him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think be glory.
- To him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think be glory in the church.
- To him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus.
- To him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations.
- To him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever.
- To him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.
We can’t out-ask God. We can’t out-think God. We can only be grateful and glorify him.
Amen!