Lord’s Day, Vol. 4 No. 27
(1) How Great Thou Art
– Inspired by a Thunder and Lightning Storm
Carl Boberg, a Swedish pastor, editor of a Christian newspaper, and member of the Swedish Parliament was suddenly caught in a midday thunderstorm in 1886 while visiting a beautiful part of the coast of Sweden. The rolling thunder and flashing lightning filled him with awe.
Following the violent storm, Boberg was inspired by the calm water, clear, brilliant sunlight and sweet songs of the birds. The experience caused him to fall on his knees in humble adoration of his mighty God. He penned his exaltation in a poem that later was translated into German and then from that into Russian.
In the 1930s, Stuart K. Hine serving as a missionary in a mountain village of Czechoslovakia heard the song in its Russian translation. He translated the first stanza into English, also during a thunderstorm, added the second and third stanza as original work.
In 1948 when refugees in England were desperate to return home, Hine wrote the fourth verse with its assurance that ultimately Christ will come to take each of us to our eternal home.
In 1974 the hymn was voted the number one hymn in America in a Christian Herald poll of its readers.
Let out hearts echo the praise of this hymn for God’s wonder of creation and grace.
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed!
When thru the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down in 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!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Job, the arch sufferer, had endured his succession of calamities and the taunting of his friends. He longed for relief to his trials and for an understanding of his undeserved suffering. The turning point in that classic book and in Job’s life came when, as the text reads, “The LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind” (Job 38:1). Job discovered the God who speaks to us in the storm, and that made all the difference.
God still speaks to us in the storms of life. His rainbow of grace will arch over the sky that has unleashed its storms upon us.
Carl Boberg, out of a violent storm, found this great song of praise that has brought blessing the world over. Let us listen to and hear the songs that God gives in the storms of life.
Although trials come our way, God’s grace will also abound to help us overcome and be victorious. This was the Apostle Paul’s testimony in 2 Timothy 3:10-11. “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.” It was a life of victory after victory with God.
Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). God’s grace was with him to help him moment by moment. Truly, we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).
[Extracted and edited from Songs in the Night by Henry Gariep]
(2) Webcast & Audio Ministry Update
There were 889 webcast listeners in May 2016 covering 32 countries and 29 states of the USA. 351 listeners were from US, 158 listeners from UK, 131 from Singapore, 64 from Canada, and others.
The total MP3 audio and video downloads in May 2016 are 655 and 128 respectively.
Viewers can tune in via the “Live” tab of our church website www.blessedhope.sg or Church Mobile App. Alternatively, using www.sermonaudio/blessedhope .
Thank God for this new ministry outreach. May the Lord bless it for His glory! Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee