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Akhenaten's Hymn to the Sun

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Akhenaten's Hymn to the Sun
Akhenaten’s “Hymn to the Sun” and several of the Psalms found in the Holy Bible show similarities through the worship and exaltation of the god/God each of the works are focused on. Monotheistic tendencies are evident in all of the works and the belief that the one who has power over the earth controls the destiny of its’ inhabitants is a theme that is presented several times throughout the course of the material. Psalms 8, 19, and 104 display the sovereignty and power that is found in the name of the Lord. “How excellent is thy name in all the earth” (David 150); “The heavens declare the glory of God” (David 151); “Bless the Lord, O my soul” (David 152); each of these excerpts displays the magnitude and importance of giving God the glory for the magnificent creation that inhabitants of the earth are privileged to enjoy along with projecting the authority of the Lord and his dominion over the earth. The purpose of these Psalms is to evoke a sense of fearing the Lord and respecting the regard of his name and abilities. “The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever” (David 153), and it is of upmost importance that those who choose to follow the will of God and live a life of honor, proclaiming his name to the nations, represent His kingdom with civility and obedience. David was writing to the Hebrew people and to His father in Heaven. David’s life professed a heartfelt love for his Lord as he vowed to “sing unto the Lord as long as I live” (David 153). He desired for his witness to bring the attention back to God and win people over for the cause of Christ. Living a life of service to the Lord and devotion to blessings his name and declaring his majestic abilities and might was the sole purpose in the writing of Psalms 8, 19, and 104. Akhenaten’s “Hymn to the Sun” displays similar characteristics to the Psalms. However, Pharaoh Akhenaten is elevating the worship of the sun god, Aten, above the other gods and Amun-Re (Knox 82). Universal supremacy of the sun
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