Song Meaning
This is a prayer for divine intervention and enablement in worship. The opening plea, "O Lord, open thou our lips," immediately establishes a sense of dependence on a higher power for the ability to express praise. It suggests that even the act of glorifying God requires divine assistance, implying a profound humility and recognition of human limitations in spiritual expression. The subsequent line, "And our mouth shall shew forth the praise," directly links this divine opening to the intended outcome: vocalized adoration.
The core tension lies in the urgent need for salvation and help, juxtaposed with the ultimate goal of offering praise. The repeated calls, "God, make speed to save us" and "O Lord, make haste to help us," convey a desperate urgency. This urgency, however, is framed not as a plea for personal rescue alone, but as a precursor to fulfilling a sacred duty – the showing forth of praise. The lyrics suggest that salvation and help are necessary precisely so that praise can be offered.
The structure of the lyrics builds towards a traditional Trinitarian doxology and a statement of eternal continuity. The invocation of "Glory be to the Father, Glory be to the Son, Glory be to the Holy Ghost" is a classic expression of Christian worship. This is followed by the affirmation of its timeless nature: "As it was in the beginning, is now, world without end." This cyclical affirmation, culminating in "Amen," reinforces the enduring and unchanging nature of God's glory, providing a stable theological anchor for the preceding pleas for help and enablement.
The effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their directness and their grounding in established liturgical forms. The simple, declarative sentences and the repetition of key phrases like "O Lord" and "Glory be" create a powerful sense of communal prayer and unwavering faith. The progression from a humble request for the ability to speak to the eternal declaration of glory offers a complete arc of devotion, highlighting the belief that even the most basic acts of worship are gifts from God, essential for His eternal praise.
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