Stand Up And Bless The Lord

Stand up and bless the Lord,

Ye people of His choice;

Stand up and bless the Lord your God

With heart and soul and voice.

Though high above all praise,

Above all blessing high,

Who would not fear His holy name,

And laud and magnify?

O for the living flame

From His own altar brought,

To touch our lips, our minds inspire,

And wing to heaven our thought!

God is our strength and song,

And His salvation ours;

Then be His love in Christ proclaimed

With all our ransomed powers.

Stand up and bless the Lord;

The Lord your God adore;

Stand up and bless His glorious name,

Henceforth forevermore.

JAMES MONTGOMERY (1771–1854)

AS A NEWSPAPER EDITOR in Sheffield, England, James Montgomery was known as an outspoken advocate of many humanitarian causes. In fact, he was imprisoned twice for his editorials. He wrote against slavery and promoted democracy in government. Though a gentle man by nature, he was not afraid to champion unpopular causes. He didn’t see why anyone who was a Christian should be ashamed to stand up and say so.

In 1824 Montgomery wrote this hymn for a Sunday school anniversary. It is based on Nehemiah 9:5, where the Levites say to the people, “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!”

Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting! . . . May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise! You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.

Nehemiah 9:5-6