Here is a lively old hymn that becomes richer and brighter as we learn and live the truths it celebrates. I believe it was published in 1887 and notes say it’s appeared in more than 200 hymnals. You probably know it! Give the video a spin and help me sing it, then come back and we’ll talk about what we already know — or maybe don’t know. It’s all good!
All praise …
Have you ever seen something so beautiful or amazing that you just had to stop and talk about it? That’s what has happened to people throughout history as they have come to see God’s “majesty supreme”. We see it in nature — He created the star-filled galaxies, the Earth and oceans and every living thing. We see it in His character — how He relates to His creation. His boundless love, grace and mercy tirelessly draw our flawed nature toward beauty, peace and victory now. He encourages us with scents, hints and melodies of Paradise. Because He is so great, He deserves our respect and our thanks every single day.
Psalm 145:3 tells us, “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” God is bigger and better than anything we can even imagine. When we praise Him, not only are we telling the truth about who He is, we are also reminding ourselves that no matter how big our problems feel, God is much bigger and is an ever-present help in time of need, not to mention a perfectly wise counselor always.
A fall fit for all
The song mentions that we were “ruined by the fall.” If you have read the first few chapters in Genesis you know what the song writer was referring to. Once I heard a lady on TV say she had been asked a question by a news reporter. The gist of her answer was that the thing that reporter described had never been available in this fallen world. But to be brief and colorful, her words were “It has not been that way since the Garden.” The reporter asked, “Which garden would that be?” Isn’t it amazing someone could make a living asking people questions and not know “which garden”?
We live in a world of experts of all kinds of things, and opinions are abundant. The challenge has always been to figure out what is important and pursue that.
Back in 1972 the song “Reelin’ In the Years” hit the airwaves and top-40 charts. The song lyrics deliver a clever, scathing takedown aimed at a person who the songwriter felt was not as smart as they thought they were. The verse goes:
“You been tellin’ me you’re a genius since you were seventeen
In all the time I’ve known you I still don’t know what you mean
The weekend at the college didn’t turn out like you planned
The things that pass for knowledge I can’t understand.”
We feel the frustration! In 1924 American humorist, actor, and social commentator Will Rogers picked up a similar idea, but framed it bit more gently when he wrote “You know, everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.”
I imagine most of us have experienced getting the raised eyebrow treatment from someone who was surprised we didn’t know something. I suppose I could retort that if the person with the eyebrows had studied Will Rogers, maybe he would have known better than to be surprised.
But life is short and many times life can be noisy. Rather than marvel at ignorance, we’d travel further by helping fix it. As our son says (and practices himself) — “better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” That’s so good, because as motivational speaker, Jim Rohn said “ignorance is NOT bliss. What we don’t know CAN hurt us.” Who doesn’t need a hand in this life?!?
Bottom line — if we have come to know something — or someONE — of exceeding value, and run into someone who has no idea about these things, let’s recognize we have just been handed an opportunity to help.
Paul wrote to the Philippians:
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
We can report good things!
Let’s help!
🎶 Redeemer, Savior, Friend of man 🎶
This old hymn is like a great shopping list pointing out things worth knowing and sharing. It reminds us the world was broken, and we were separated from God. But the lyrics say God had a plan to redeem us. To redeem something means to buy it back or to set it free. God sent His Son Jesus to take the punishment for our sin so that we could be made right with Him again.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God didn’t wait for us to be perfect before He chose to save us. He saw that we needed help, and sent Jesus Christ to be our Savior. This shows us that God’s love and salvation are gifts that we don’t have to earn — we just have to accept.
In John 15:15, Jesus says, “I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends.” This is one of the most exciting parts of being a Christian. Even though Jesus is exalted at the right hand of God he still wants a personal relationship with you and me. He isn’t some distant ruler who doesn’t care. He is someone we can talk to, trust, and follow every day. He is the head of the body, and we are members. Membership has its privileges!
We can pray to the Lord about our day, our worries, or our excitement. Hebrews 4:16 adds, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
When we keep His name at the center of our lives, we find the strength to be kind, brave, and loving to others, just like He is to us. Blessed be the name!
God bless you LOTS!
–Dale R.
Download this songsheet from “The Music Box”
LYRICS: Blessed Be The Name
Text: William H. Clark (1887)
Tune: Ralph E. Hudson (1887)
1. All praise to Him who reigns above
In majesty supreme,
Who gave His Son for man to die,
That He might man redeem!
Chorus:
Blessed be the name, blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the Lord:
Blessed be the name, blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
2. His name above all names shall stand,
Exalted more and more,
At God the Father’s own right hand,
Where angel hosts adore.
3. Redeemer, Savior, Friend of man
Once ruined by the fall,
God has devised salvation’s plan,
For Jesus died for all.
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— Dale R.
First posted June 6, 2026