Here are a few stanzas from the hymn "Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise" written by Walter Chalmers Smith (pictured). This hymn was based on the prayer of Paul in 1 Timothy 1:17. Read through it and count how many attributes of God are mentioned.
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.
In these short three stanzas, I count, in the ballpark, about 20 attributes of God, plus or minus. While not every hymn or song we sing will contain this many, the fact is that our songs of praise to God should be about God - His attributes, His character, His nature and His works of creation, providence and salvation. Let the music that God has gifted us with be used to proclaim His name until "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" Habakkuk 2:14.
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