It’s no coincidence that this hymn was sung in worship at First Pres this past Sunday, and that it appears as a devotional topic on Thanksgiving Day. This song, the words and the tune, just mean Thanksgiving to me. It joins my soul with the Pilgrims. It connects me with my faithful ancestors. It helps settle in for a day of gathering at a table to celebrate the Lord’s blessings in my life.
1 We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
the wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His name, He forgets not His own.2 Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
so from the beginning the fight we were winning:
the Lord was at our side- the glory be Thine!3 We all do extol Thee, Thou leader triumphant
and pray that Thou still our defender wilt be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Prayer
Wonderful God, as I gather with my thankful and faithful family today at a Thanksgiving feast, let me sing praise, Your praises. Thank you for making me free. Amen.
