A devotion in 24 days – Day 24.

For the Beauty of the Earth – Folloitt Sandford Pierpoint 1864

Scripture:

Jeremiah 33:10-11

Thus says the Lord: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard againthe voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord “‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord.

Ephesians 5:20  …giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…

Folliett Sandford Pierpoint originally wrote this hymn for use during the Communion of the High Anglican Church. The original refrain “Christ, our God, to thee we raise; This our sacrifice of praise” was meant to mirror the portrayal of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice — just as the host would be lifted during the communion as a token of God’s gift to us, a “sacrifice of praise” would be lifted in return. Later editions of the text emphasize the thanksgiving aspect of the verses. –Greg Scheer, 1995

1 For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies.

Refrain:

Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
this, our hymn of grateful praise.

2 For the wonder of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale and tree and flower,
sun and moon and stars of light.

3 For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild.

4 For yourself, best gift divine,
to the world so freely given,
agent of God’s grand design:
peace on earth and joy in heaven.