Tonight, I sat and listened to Kay Arthur teaching from:
Ephesians Chapter 5:18-21
18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
We are given a command from the Lord to be filled with the Spirit, speaking in psalms, hymns, and songs.
Over three hundred years ago - WOW! - THOMAS KEN wrote this hymn at a time when the established church believed only Scripture should be sung as hymns - with an emphasis on the Psalms. Some considered it sinful to write new lyrics for church music. Ken wrote this and several other hymns for the boys at Winchester College in 1674, with strict instructions that they use them only in their rooms for private devotions. The last stanza "below" has come into widespread use as the Doxology.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!