Christian Art | George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | Antiphon (1)
George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | Antiphon (1)
Chorus
Let all the world in ev’ry corner sing,
My God and King.
Verse
The heav’ns are not too high,
His praise may thither flie:
The earth is not too low,
His praises there may grow.
Chorus
Let all the world in ev’ry corner sing,
My God and King.
Verse
The church with psalms must shout
No doore can keep them out:
But above all, the heart
Must bear the longest part.
Chorus
Let all the world in ev’ry corner sing,
My God and King
George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | Antiphon (1)
The poem emphasizes universality and inclusivity of divine worship, suggesting that the entire world resounds with praise for God. The refrain, ‘Let all the world in every corner sing, / My God and King,’ creates a communal call to worship through the poem.
In the first verse, Herbert observes that no part of creation is too remote to participate in this act of praise. The ‘heavens are not too high’ implies that even loftiest parts of existence are within reach of God’s presence and praise. That the earth is ‘not too low’ suggests that God’s praise can flourish in every humble or hidden corner of the world. By connecting heaven and earth through praise, the poem knows that the divine is omnipresent and accessible, wherever one may be.
The second verse shifts focus to the Church as a collective body of worship; there is power of song to transcend physical barriers. ‘No door can keep them out.’ This implies that spiritual praise cannot be confined or silenced, no matter attempts to contain it. However, the poem underscores that genuine worship must ultimately be seated in the heart, as ‘the heart / Must bear the longest part’. This phrase suggests that while communal worship is important, the enduring and most meaningful aspect of worship is the individual, heartfelt devotion of each individual believer. We are all individuals with God.
By juxtaposing physical spaces – heavens, earth, the Church – with spiritual commitment of the heart, the poem presents worship as an act that is both outwardly communal and deeply personal. The refrain, which binds each verse, reinforces the idea that this praise is both continuous and unending, a shared endeavour that is boundless across place and person.
In the serenity of the Garden of Gethsemane, we witness a profound and touching display of Jesus’ humanity. As Jesus led his disciples to this secluded place, the weight of the impending events pressed heavily upon him. Jesus’ heart was burdened with sorrow, and Jesus’ soul was deeply troubled. It is essential to recognize that, despite being the divine Son of God, Jesus fully embraced his humanity, experiencing the same emotions and struggles as any human being [ … ]
Jesus has performed miracles and his redeeming power over the devils which possess people is clearly apparent; Jesus’ power over evil is manifest. The people marvel, and yet their hearts are hardened to the truth of Jesus. Rather than see with their eyes and understand, they reject the truth of Christ. They retreat to within the evil that holds them captive, which prevents them from seeing the truth of Jesus. They mutter and grumble and gossip, actively seeking to suggest the worst possible and false interpretation of what they have witnessed. They have seen the work of absolute good. They choose to accuse this good of being evil. They do not rise to the message of Christ [ .. ]
In the Old Testament, the chosen people of Israel have been compared to a vine. We may think, for example, of Isaiah’s Song of the Vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7 – Audio Bible Verses Spoken Word), in which God complains that, despite the care he has lavished upon it, his vineyard has only produced wild grapes [ … ]
