The Author
Scripture Theme: Psalm 104 (AKJV 1611)
Written1821–1822
First Published: 1824
Sir Robert Grant (1780–1838) was a British lawyer, Member of Parliament, statesman, and Christian hymn writer. Born in Bengal, India, where his father served with the East India Company, he was educated in England and became a distinguished public servant. A committed evangelical Anglican, Grant was appointed Governor of Bombay in 1834, where he worked tirelessly for educational and social reform until his death in 1838. Although he wrote only a few hymns, O Worship the King remains his best-known and most enduring contribution to Christian worship.
The Tune
HANOVER
HANOVER is traditionally attributed to William Croft (1678–1727), one of England’s finest Baroque composers and organists. Croft served as Organist of the Chapel Royal and Westminster Abbey and composed numerous works for the Church of England. The tune first appeared in The Supplement to the New Version of the Psalms (1708). Its dignified and stately melody provides an ideal setting for Grant’s majestic hymn of praise.
Background
Sir Robert Grant wrote O Worship the King as a poetic paraphrase of Psalm 104, one of the Bible’s great hymns celebrating God’s majesty in creation. His aim was to encourage Christians to worship Almighty God by reflecting upon His sovereignty, wisdom, power, providence, and boundless mercy. The hymn first appeared anonymously in 1824 in the collection Psalms, Partly Original and Partly Extracted from Various Authors, edited by John Venn of Clapham, England. Its rich biblical imagery and noble language soon secured its place in Christian worship.
Scriptural Foundation
The hymn is based principally upon:
“Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.”
Psalm 104:1 (AKJV 1611)
Other verses reflected throughout the hymn include:
- Psalm 104:2–4 – God’s glory and majesty.
- Psalm 104:5–24 – His wisdom displayed in creation.
- Psalm 104:27–30 – God’s providential care for all living creatures.
- Psalm 145:8–9 – The Lord’s mercy and compassion.
Significance of the Hymn
O Worship the King is one of the finest hymns of praise in the English language. Its lofty poetry faithfully reflects the majesty of Psalm 104, leading the worshipper to adore God as the sovereign Creator and gracious Sustainer of all things. Coupled with the noble tune HANOVER, it has become a treasured hymn in Anglican churches and throughout the Christian world. For more than two centuries, it has inspired congregations to proclaim the greatness, glory, and goodness of Almighty God in joyful worship.