Daily Devotions

Sunday, May 31, 2026

“Hark! The glad celestial hymn Angel choirs above are raising; Cherubim and seraphim, In unceasing chorus praising, Fill the heav’ns with sweet accord: Holy, holy, holy, Lord!

“Lo, the apostles’ holy train Join Thy sacred name to hallow; Prophets swell the glad refrain, And the white-robed martyrs follow, And from morn to set of sun Through the Church the song goes on.”

Choir concerts may last an hour or two or somewhere in between. Enjoying the experience, we wish the music could go on forever. Before the throne of God, the angelic concert does continue forever. That is one task of the holy angels, the cherubim and seraphim mentioned in our hymn. These heavenly messengers were created to serve God and to offer praise “in unceasing chorus” to their Creator. At times the angel choir was summoned for special performances, as when the heavenly host filled the night with light and praise at Jesus’ birth. The heavenly choir rejoiced in the victory of the risen and exalted Savior: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15b). Many earthly choir members cannot resist joining in that particular chorus!

The angels are not alone in their unceasing chorus. In heaven they are joined by “the apostles’ holy train,” that is, the noble procession of those who were eyewitnesses for the risen Christ. Also praising the Lord are the prophets, through whom God spoke to His people. Following along are the “white-robed martyrs,” witnesses for Christ who gave their lives for that witness. They “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” to whom they testified (Revelation 7:14b). All of these continually offer praise, but heaven is not the only place where the unceasing chorus is heard.

All of creation is called to praise its Creator. The sun, moon, and stars, great sea creatures, fire, hail, snow, and wind, beasts and birds are commanded to praise the Lord who created and sustains them (see Psalm 148). We who follow Jesus are by no means left out of the chorus. We are told to sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” with thankfulness in our hearts (Colossians 3:16b). On Sunday mornings or at home, with brothers and sisters in Christ or alone, we join the unending hymn. In freedom to worship or suffering under persecution, in health or in illness, the body of Christ on earth joins the church in heaven to praise God. Singing aloud or in the silence of grateful hearts, we worship Jesus, the Lamb who was slain to save us. All eternity will never be enough to give thanks for what He has done for us, so we begin now as through the church the song goes on.

WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, accept my grateful praise, now and forever! Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name,” which is number 940 in the Lutheran Service Book.

Reflection Questions:

1. Does your church have a choir? Does it have a contemporary worship service? Is there a place in either for you to contribute your musical talents?
2. What do you think the heavenly chorus sounded like the day of Jesus’ birth?
3. How does music that honors God fit into your life even when you’re not a church?

Today's Readings:

Psalms 36-38
John 12:1-26

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