PRAISE HIM PRAISE HIM

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 1869

1. Authorship and Date


Text (Lyrics): Fanny J. Crosby (1820–1915)

Music: Chester G. Allen (1832–1912)

First Published: 1869

Tune Name: JOYFUL SONG


The hymn emerged during the golden age of American gospel hymnody in the late 19th century, a period marked by revivalism, Sunday school expansion, and mass evangelism.


2. Fanny J. Crosby: The Lyricist


Fanny Crosby was the most prolific hymn writer in Christian history, composing over 8,000 hymns. Blind from infancy, she memorized vast portions of Scripture and poetry, which deeply shaped her theology and lyric style.


Key features of Crosby’s hymn writing reflected in Praise Him! Praise Him!:


Christ-centered devotion (Jesus explicitly named)


Simple, memorable language accessible to children and congregations


Strong biblical imagery


Emotional warmth paired with doctrinal clarity


Crosby wrote this hymn specifically with children and congregational singing in mind, especially for Sunday schools, which were booming in post–Civil War America.


3. Historical Context: Post–Civil War Revivalism


The hymn was written just a few years after the American Civil War (1861–1865), a time when churches emphasized:


Hope


Healing


Unity


Joyful faith amid suffering


Revival meetings and Sunday schools needed hymns that were:


Easy to learn


Joyful rather than solemn


Clearly evangelical


Focused on Jesus’ love and care


Praise Him! Praise Him! met all these needs.


4. Musical Background: Chester G. Allen


Chester G. Allen was a composer and music publisher who collaborated frequently with gospel lyricists. His tune JOYFUL SONG reflects typical gospel music traits of the era:


Bright, major key


Strong, marching rhythm


Repetitive refrain for easy memorization


Call-and-response feel


The music reinforces the text’s central command: active, exuberant praise.


5. Biblical Foundations


The hymn is deeply rooted in Scripture, particularly:


Psalm 148


“Praise ye the Lord… Praise him, all ye angels… Praise him, sun and moon.”


Psalm 150


“Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.”


Isaiah 40:11


“He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm.”


This shepherd imagery appears directly in the hymn:


“Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children.”


6. Theological Themes

a. Christocentric Praise


Unlike many hymns that praise God generally, this hymn explicitly centers praise on Jesus:


“Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!”


This reflects evangelical theology emphasizing personal relationship with Christ.


b. Jesus as Shepherd


The hymn portrays Jesus as:


Gentle


Protective


Caring for children


Worthy of joyful praise rather than fear


c. Evangelistic Joy


The repeated exhortation to praise is not passive—it invites participation, mirroring revival culture.


7. Use in Worship and Education


Historically, the hymn was used in:


Sunday school openings


Children’s services


Revival meetings


Family worship


Its simplicity made it ideal for teaching basic Christian theology through song, especially to young believers.


8. Lasting Legacy


Praise Him! Praise Him! remains in hymnals across denominations because it:


Bridges children’s music and adult worship


Balances joy with sound theology


Emphasizes praise as a communal act


Reflects 19th-century gospel warmth without doctrinal shallowness


It stands as a model gospel hymn—simple, joyful, Christ-centered, and biblically grounded.


9. Summary


In essence, Praise Him! Praise Him! is:


A product of post–Civil War American revivalism


A Sunday school hymn with enduring theological depth


A joyful call to Christ-centered praise


A reflection of Fanny Crosby’s lifelong mission: making Christian truth singable

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