Praise my soul the King of Heaven

Praise my soul the King of Heaven

There is a wonderful old Hymn – Praise my soul the King of Heaven – written by Henry Francis Lyte and first published C1834. Based upon Psalm 103, it summarises the Gospel as succinctly and as accurately as anything I have ever read or heard. Just the first verse is enough to send me off into praise of my Saviour. Actually, it’s just that one line that does it – “Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven”.

Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To His feet Thy tribute bring!
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me His praise should sing?
Praise Him! praise Him!
Praise the everlasting King!

A favourite story of mine involves this hymn. A very good friend was driving around North East London listening to a CD of hymns when this one started playing. At that particular moment he was just about to enter what, statistically, is the second most dangerous roundabout in the whole of the UK. For those of you who have never seen a roundabout, they are small-ish circulatory systems designed to preclude the use of traffic lights in order to keep busy roads moving. They are fun and very British although I understand the USA has now got one or two of them. Anyway, back to the story.

My friend was just entering the roundabout when that third line started bellowing out of his CD player. His hands immediately left the wheel and went up into the air !!!! Now, to anyone who has ever driven our narrow British roads, in the rush hour, to do anything but concentrate hard on what you are doing is foolishness. On this road, at that particular junction and at that particular moment, it was perhaps sheer madness. However, instead of the expected crunch and screech of tearing metal, he found himself on the other side of the roundabout, on the right road where he wanted to go, and without a scratch on either the car or himself !!

In relating this story, he affirms that he sat in the car, arms raised, shouting praise the Lord as this hymn played on. He has no idea how he arrived on the correct exit or road, and he has no idea why he didn’t end up in the wreckers’ yard trying to explain to an insurance assessor exactly what happened. Please – do NOT try this for yourselves. This was a highly unusual event in extraordinary circumstances that illustrates perfectly the love and protection of our Lord.

However, it also illustrates the truth of many of these old hymns and the power of God when Holy Spirit takes our spirit and lifts it up in praise and thanksgiving. As my friend says, all he knew was that he was lost in praise and wonder at the truth of those four words - Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven.

What a Gospel message! What truth and how worthy of such praise is our Lord?