A song for today, the story; and scriptures

 

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder

consider all the works thy hands hath made,

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,

thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed;

Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander,

and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze; 

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,

sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,

that on the cross my burden gladly bearing

he bled and died to take away my sin; 

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

and there proclaim: "My God, how great thou art!"

The Story Behind How Great Thou Art

Stuart K. Hine was a British Methodist missionary on a mission trip in Ukraine in 1931 when he heard the Russian translation of a German song inspired by Carl Boberg's poem "O Store Gud" (O Great God). Hine began to translation the song to English and added several verses. The third verse was inspired by the conversion of villagers in Russia who cried out to God loudly as the repented and realized God's love and mercy - "And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in." 

Stuart Hine and his family left Ukraine as famine and World War Two began, and settled in Somerset, Britain where he continued to serve as a missionary to Polish refugees. The forth verse of "How Great Thou Art" was inspired by displaced Russians who experienced great loss and looked forward to seeing their loved ones again in heaven - "When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation to take me home, what joy shall fill my heart."

The final English version of "How Great Thou Art" was published in 1949 and quickly spread among Britain, Africa, India and America. 

( https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/how-great-thou-art/)

 

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

whom should I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

whom should I dread?

When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh,

my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.

Though an army deploys against me,

my heart will not be afraid;

though a war breaks out against me,

I will still be confident.

I have asked one thing from the Lord;

it is what I desire:

to dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

gazing on the beauty of the Lord

and seeking him in his temple.

For he will conceal me in his shelter

in the day of adversity;

he will hide me under the cover of his tent;

he will set me high on a rock.

Then my head will be high

above my enemies around me;

I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Lord, hear my voice when I call;

be gracious to me and answer me.

My heart says this about you:

“Seek his face.”

Lord, I will seek your face.

Do not hide your face from me;

do not turn your servant away in anger.

You have been my helper;

do not leave me or abandon me,

God of my salvation.

Even if my father and mother abandon me,

the Lord cares for me.

Because of my adversaries,

show me your way, Lord,

and lead me on a level path.

Do not give me over to the will of my foes,

for false witnesses rise up against me,

breathing violence.

I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness

in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong, and let your heart be courageous.

Wait for the Lord.

-Psalm 27

A song of ascents.

I lift my eyes toward the mountains.

Where will my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip;

your Protector will not slumber.

Indeed, the Protector of Israel

does not slumber or sleep.

The Lord protects you;

the Lord is a shelter right by your side.

The sun will not strike you by day

or the moon by night.

The Lord will protect you from all harm;

he will protect your life.

The Lord will protect your coming and going

both now and forever.

-Psalm 121