Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Oh friends, that wonderful day called Sunday has come around again, which means it’s time once more to go the Lord’s sanctuary and fellowship with other believers; giving our great God much thanks and praise for His LOVING-kindness to the undeserving children of men. Then, afterwards leaving the sanctuary, filled with confidence and encouragement, unspeakably refreshed in mind, body, soul and spirit, having heard His word, in addition to meeting and greeting each other.
As the Word reminds us: ‘And let us consider one another to provoke (stir up) unto LOVE and good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.’ (Heb. 10:24-25) Oh my people, it’s essential that we congregate regularly as a unified body to praise and worship God, as well as admonish and exhort each other. And we’ll begin this worship session with a marvellous song of faith and wonder, titled, ‘How Great thou Art.’
And the story behind the song is served up thus by the Godtube website. They say that ‘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 translate 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 they 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 fourth 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 shouts 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.’
And this commentary on the song, also by the Godtube website is certainly refreshing and true. ‘There’s nothing like a good hymn to truly make you feel closer to the Lord. When you sing out those lyrics, it’s almost like His strength and LOVE wash over us. And one of the most powerful hymns of all time is ‘How Great Thou Art.’ I just LOVE hearing this amazing hymn and now that I know the story behind the song, it makes it that much more beautiful.’ And now my people, now that we also know the story behind the song, let’s offer it up as sacrifices of praise in a mid tempo version, singing it so sincerely and sweetly, that we can feel the Lord’s strength and LOVE washing over us while we sing! (smile)
Singing: ‘O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder Consider all The works Thy Hand hath made, I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Thy pow’r throughout The universe displayed, (Chorus: 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 I 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, (Chorus:)
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. (Chorus:) When Christ shall come, With shouts 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!” (Chorus: 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! Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art!’
Ah mih people, that was wonderful! And it’s indeed a wonderful song, highlighting the awesome greatness, wisdom, strength and undying compassion of our One True God Jehovah! And what scriptures can we find to substantiate, to authenticate all those glowing tributes eh? There are a few, beginning at the very beginning. The scriptures say: ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.’ (Gen. 1:1) That ought to explain it all, but we do know the rest of the story.
Then there are these all-important verses from John’s gospel, which say: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.’ (John 1:1-3) Yes friends, Jesus was right there with God, and was God, when the world was created. Now listen to Bruh David: from Psalm 90, as he speaks of the Eternal God. ‘Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place (refuge) in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed (gave birth to) the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God.’ (Ps. 90:1-2)
And what about these verses from Bruh Paul’s letter to the Colossians talking about the pre-eminence of Christ? ‘Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (first in rank) of (over) every creature: For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in (on) earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities (rulers), or powers (authorities): all things were created by him, and for him. And he is before all things, and by (in, through) him all things consist.’ (Col. 1:15-17)
Then my fellow saints, as the scholars tell us: ‘by him all things consist,’ means: By Christ all things are held together. Christ now preserves all that He made in creation.’ And so it should be! He’s put in enough work, enough selfless sacrifice, in both the creation and salvation of the world, to deserve the pre-eminence that the Father granted Him. So let’s remember that as we go about our business this week nuh, and keep Him first place in our lives, where He deserves to be! Much LOVE!
…Sing unto him, sing psalms, sing praises unto him…talk ye, tell of all his wondrous works…! (Psalm 105:2)
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