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.
The fourth commandment, ‘Honour your father and mother,’ instructs Christians to show respect, love, and obedience to their parents. This commandment is important because it reflects the natural order of the family and promotes harmony within the family unit. It is a way for Christians to fulfil their responsibilities and duties as children, and to show gratitude for the love and care that their parents have provided for them [ … ]
The third commandment of the Ten Commandments, ‘Keep holy the Lord’s day,’ is a call to set aside time on a regular basis to rest from one’s daily work and to focus on the worship and service of God. This commandment is often understood to refer to the Christian Sabbath, which is traditionally observed on Sunday, the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ [ … ]
There are people now who choose to think of Jesus simply as an extraordinary man, a wise man and a performer of miracles, and not as our saviour the Son of God. There were and are those who think of Jesus as a great prophet, whose mission was to reject Jewish sectarianism, and insurrection, and unite the Jewish people, to enable them to survive the Roman occupation while being true to God, to maintain the Kingdom in their hearts despite the presence of the occupying pagan and Gentile power [ … ]
