My Dear Good Samaritans,

Last week we kicked off our season-long musical exploration of the many names and images we have for God with the lovely hymn Bring Many Names. This Sunday we continue that journey with an “oldie but a goodie”: The God of Abraham Praise.

I was surprised to learn that this hymn is actually a Christian adaptation of a Jewish hymn called the Yigdal. This hymn, used frequently in Jewish worship to open and close the day, is itself a poetic rendering of Maimonides’ thirteen principles of Jewish faith. In other words, this hymn carries centuries upon centuries of theological reflection on who God is and what God is like. It serves as an important reminder to us that our faith did not begin at Christmas or Easter. Instead, it stretches back to Abraham and Sarah, to Moses and Miriam, to all who trusted in the God who makes and keeps promises.

Now, I won’t pretend this hymn is without masculine and hierarchical language. There are plenty of Kings, Lords, and him to go around. But it’s also important to notice something else. Next to these familiar terms, The God of Abraham Praise is bursting with images that far exceed the narrowness of masculine language. There are some truly beautiful images!

We encounter the “Ancient of Everlasting Days”—a name so vast it makes any human category feel small. We meet “the great I AM”, the name God gave to Moses from the burning bush, a name that resists definition and simply is. We are offered “God of Love” and “our Righteousness”—relational, ethical, intimate. And there, near the end, is the “Prince of Peace”—an image that points us not to domination, but to the one who has come to reconcile all things.

What is impressive to me about this hymn is that even within a more traditional framework, the writers couldn’t help themselves. The reality of our God kept spilling out beyond any single image or title. That is the thing about God. No matter how hard we try to fit the divine into our categories—even our most beloved and time-worn ones—God moves beyond them all.

I hope this Sunday you will sing the familiar words with fresh eyes, giving thanks for a God who is, always and forever, more.

Peace,