by Wayne Faison, BGAV Executive Director

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Over the past year, God has blessed me with the opportunity to worship alongside many of our Virginia Baptist congregations on Sunday mornings, where each service has included a moment for the church family to present their financial offerings to the Lord. In most places I visited, after the offering, each congregation stood together and lifted their voices in the familiar words of the Doxology: “Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”

I have long understood the Doxology as a simple yet profound expression of gratitude and an act of glorifying the God who continually pours out blessings. What I hadn’t realized until recently is that these beloved words were written in 1674 by Thomas Ken and are traditionally sung to the tune “Old 100th,” a melody from the Genevan Psalter of 1551, attributed to Louis Bourgeois.

Interestingly, this same tune accompanies another historic hymn often called the quintessential hymn: “All People That on Earth Do Dwell.” Rooted in Psalm 100, this hymn celebrates the majesty of God and the call for all creation to offer him praise. Though I knew the tune well, I wasn’t as familiar with this hymn’s lyrics. A quick search brought me to its opening stanza: “All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell; Come ye before Him and rejoice."

Curious to hear how this hymn compared musically to the Doxology, I found a video of it being sung, which surprisingly was set against footage of one of the busiest pedestrian intersections in the world: Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan. My wife and I visited Tokyo this past summer, and Shibuya Crossing was one of the highlights of our trip. Watching thousands of people stream across the intersection at once seemed orderly yet chaotic, energetic yet strangely peaceful, and certainly unforgettable. Everyone seemed intent on moving toward their destination with purpose.

As I watched the hymn being sung over that unforgettable scene, I couldn’t help but wonder: Could this be what God sees when believers from every nation and language gather to worship him? A beautiful multitude crossing paths—each one journeying toward God with joy and intention? Such spiritual moments over the last year have reminded me that the Doxology is far more than a post-offering tradition. It is a song for every moment in which we offer ourselves, our time, our gifts, and our obedience to God’s service. Though our world may feel chaotic at times and calm at other times, we must remember that as we dwell on this earth, we too are navigating one of humanity’s busiest spiritual crosswalks: the one leading us toward eternity. Praise God for these moments!

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