Doxology

Over the next months our newsletters will be written by one of our elder candidates as a way for him to develop his ministry to the church.

by Jonathan Mauney

If you have attended JVC for any length of time you will have noticed that our order of worship (liturgy) from Sunday to Sunday is very orderly and standardized. There is a call to worship, corporate reading, prayer for the people, sermon, confession, assurance of pardon, communion, benediction, and then we finish with the Doxology. These elements that make up the liturgy are extremely edifying; however, one of the most exciting times for me in the service is when we corporately sing back to God the glory due his name using the Doxology. 

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.
Amen.
– Thomas Ken

Every Sunday as we approach this last part of the worship service you may have asked yourself, “What exactly is doxology?” I have wondered the same thing before. Understanding what doxology is may deepen your appreciation for what is actually happening during this corporate response—or at least give it more meaning than just the last part before lunch! 

What is doxology? 

Simply put, doxology is nothing more than a statement or a declaration of praise. The word itself comes from two Greek words,doxa(“glory”) andlogia(“speech” or “statement”). If we put these two words together we can say that doxology is “glory speech.” It is language that gives God the glory due His holy name. In Scripture we see doxologies pop up in both the Old and New Testaments. One of my favorite doxologies in scripture comes at the end of Jude, verses 24 & 25: 

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

We often think of Paul as the great writer of theological truth; however, if you pay close attention you will notice that Paul’s true purpose in expounding good theology is to lead himself and God’s people to doxology – glory speech. Good theology should push towards good and right worship. You see this clearly at the end of the book of Romans (16:35-27), but also in Romans 11. Paul pauses a weighty discourse on corporate election to give proper doxology to God:

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Right thinking, right theology should always lead us to the right praise of God: doxology.

What is the Doxology? 

Every Lord’s Day we end our corporate worship by singing a particular glory speech we call the Doxology. The words that we sing are actually part of a greater work written by the great 17th Century Anglican hymnodist, Thomas Ken. Thomas Ken taught at Winchester College and wrote three hymns to help students orient their days: Morning Hymn, Evening Hymn, and Midnight Hymn. Each of these comprised 14 verses and ended with the same doxology verse that we know today. Typically—and in our case—, this verse is set to the old Genevan tune the Old Hundredth. There are many others congregations may sing for a liturgical doxology, for instance “Gloria Patri” and “To God be the Glory.” 

Encouragement

Every Sunday as we approach the Doxology at the end of our time of worship, it is important to look back on the truths that you heard during the preaching of the Word and the realities that we celebrate at the Lord’s table. Just like Paul as he scales the mountain of theology, he finds can go no further so he bows and gives praise, honor, and glory to God; we too end our time of worship standing in awe of the great God who saves and we must do nothing but give glory, praise, and honor. So this Sunday as we approach the singing of doxology, stand boldly with your head up and hands raised high and sing those praises of glory to our great God!