Very Meet, Right, and our Bounden Duty

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Revelation 5:12–14)

In the communion service in the Book of Common Prayer, I say the words: “it is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God”. These words have stuck with me since childhood, maybe because of their insistence. We should give thanks to God at all times and in all places. Why? Because it is very meet (meaning proper), right and our bounden duty. We praise God simply because it is the right thing to do, and we are duty bound to do so.

The question is: why?

Over the past few weeks we’ve looked at what theologians call the “Attributes of God”. He is all good and all holy. The source of all life and blessing. He is eternal and in all places. He is righteous and merciful. All things were created by him, and to him we owe our very existence. All things come from him. Surely in response to all that our hearts are lifted. When you consider the awesome majesty of the almighty God, the fact that he deals with you as you live on the corner of the known universe is extraordinary indeed. What a privilege to be able to raise you voice in praise to such a God as that.

At times it is easy to live your life with eyes cast down, and shoes shuffling along the pavement. It is at precisely that time that you need to look up and realise the great majesty of God. A God who knows you by name!

That is why we should praise him. That is why it is “very meet, right and our bounden duty”. And our joy!