Psalm 24:1

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it ~ Psalm 24:1

“For the Beauty of the Earth” was written by Folliott Pierpoint, a classical scholar who lived a rather leisurely life in the lovely town of Bath, England. As I read the scripture verse this morning, the old tune of this hymn and its words jumped into my mind. In this small piece of music, Pierpoint describes the beauty of the earth and brings back to us what we sometimes overlook in the world around us. This song should not be sung or read without thinking about the God in heaven who created all we see and all we are, and the beauty He intended for all His Creation. One day, this world will be made new when our Saviour returns, and one day the beauty of this world will glow brighter than it does in this hymn. We look forward to that day, but, for now, let us appreciate and worship the God who gave us this earth now.  The text was shortened over the years, but here is his original text of the hymn:

For the beauty of the earth,

   For the glory of the skies,

For the Love which from our birth

   Over and around us lies:

Christ, our God, to Thee we raise

This our Sacrifice of Praise.

For the beauty of each hour

   Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

   Sun and moon and stars of light:

Christ, our God, to Thee we raise

This our Sacrifice of Praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,

   For the heart and brain's delight,

For the mystic harmony

   Linking sense to sound and sight:

Christ, our God, to Thee we raise

This our Sacrifice of Praise.

For the joy of human love,

   Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above;

   For all gentle thoughts and mild:

Christ, our God, to Thee we raise

This our Sacrifice of Praise.

For each perfect Gift of Thine

   To our race so freely given,

Graces human and Divine,

   Flowers of earth, and buds of Heaven:

Christ, our God, to Thee we raise

This our Sacrifice of Praise.

For Thy Bride that evermore

   Lifteth holy hands above,

Offering up on every shore

   This Pure Sacrifice of Love:

Christ, our God, to Thee we raise

This our Sacrifice of Praise.

For Thy Martyrs' crown of light,

   For Thy Prophets' eagle eye,

For Thy bold Confessors' might,

   For the lips of Infancy:

Christ, our God, to Thee we raise

This our Sacrifice of Praise.

For Thy Virgins' robes of snow,

   For Thy Maiden Mother mild,

For Thyself, with hearts aglow,

   Jesu, Victim undefiled,

Offer we at Thine own Shrine

Thyself, sweet Sacrament Divine.