A couple of weeks ago Barbara Koch played How Great Thou Art as part of her prelude. It’s one of my favorite hymns. This hymn was written by Carl Gustaf Boberg one evening during the summer of 1855.
As the hymn was being played I felt the presence of God fill the sanctuary. “How Great Thou Art” reveals the power of God and the message of salvation. Its words speak loud and clear of a God who is present in our lives. “How Great Thou Art” speaks of God the creator. “When through the woods and forest glades I wonder, I hear the birds sing sweetly through the trees...then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, How Great Thou Art.”
The hymn describes God’s saving acts. “But when I think of 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 signs my soul, my Savior God to thee, How Great Thou Art.” God gave his son without condition. Paul in Romans reminds us of this: “Therefore since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...we are justified by his blood and saved from the powers of sin and death by God.”
The hymn declares God’s coming again. “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.”
Indeed this is a powerful hymn because it carries the message of a great God. So great that he became like one of us to save us from our sins. With this great God we go about life confidently, working for that promised better day when there will be eternal shouts of joy, when Christ himself will come again to dry our tears, transform the world, and proclaim God’s love.
Many thanks to Gustaf Boberg and Barbara Koch for reminding us all of God’s greatness!
Peace,
Pastor John Albertson