I am happy to announce the next song we have recorded and investigated is “How Great Thou Art”. When Steven and I were discussing which song to do next, he brought up this one. I had to be persuaded a little. Not because I don’t love the song, but because I know everyone has heard it so many times and thought it could be a bit boring. And to that, my loving husband replied, “Get over yourself.” And So I did. Luckily, Steven is one I can count on to re-direct my constant need to people please, and shows me by example what it means to be confident in just being me, or in this case, just being us.
One of the benefits in looking into this popular Hymn was that we discovered a verse that we don’t normally sing, but that we most definitely should:
“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.”
Can I get an AMEN?! Why was I not singing that part before?? We were skipping all the juicy and good stuff! You won’t find me singing this hymn without that verse.
The Song was translated by british missionary Stuart K. Hine, who added two original verses including the one I posted above. The Hymn was used in the ‘underground church’ in Sweden in the late 1800s when the Baptists and friends of the mission were persecuted.
This Hymn was based on a swedish poem written by Carl Boberg. He was walking home from church during that time of year when everything is rich in color, the birds are chirping, and the air is warm. Suddenly, a storm hit followed by loud thunder and lightning. The storm was over as quick as it started and all you could see were blue skies. I love that such a simple thing inspired one of the most popular hymns in history. It seems to me he was simply hit with the thought that our Lord is the creator of such wondrous creation! I hope to reflect on that as I sing this song and as I walk through my days. My Lord is GREAT in all things and so I will praise Him!!
Below are the lyrics we included in our version, and the title is a link so you can hear it. Enjoy!
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 power throughout the universe displayed.
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!
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.
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!
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 then 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!
A lot of Sunday mornings (around 7:30) as I am heading to church, I drive up over a hill and suddenly I see sky and clouds and dark ocean and I can’t help but sing this song… (though, not as lovely as the two of you). It fills my soul with God’s majesty. What a tremendous gift Carl Boberg and Stuart Hine have given to the church. Thank you for continuing to spread this gift around.
We want more songs! These are so good! Thank you so much for using your gifts in music to bless the church. Your writing, teaching and singing are really helpful in learning the beauty and depth of the gospel!