Two poems about praise

Man, whether he be in a state of upheaval or a circumstance of great joy and elation, must praise God for all the blessings that He has handed down upon him. The great John Greenleaf Whittier composed two poems speaking about this subject and has compared the differences between how man worships and speaks of God’s power in a time of worry and that in a time of happiness. These two poems are entitled “Song of Slaves in the Desert” and “Laus Deo (Praise be to God),” wherein the former speaks of man’s worst days and the latter would describe how man rejoices in his most fulfilled hours of life. In both of these compositions, he demonstrates man’s need for God and his necessity to be completely thankful to his Creator in whatever situation. Here, he shows how man must think of God—as his Deliverer, his Protector, his Provider, his Guide, and as his ultimate Master. All in all, Mr. Whittier states that man is “incapable” without his God and that we must be thankful every day for all that He has done.

~Rasium Lane