How Great Thou Art - Spreading the Word of God

This week the bass player who stands at the back gets to move up front and sing a song. The song I get to present is "How Great Thou Art". This was one of my father's favorite songs and I loved hearing him sing it when I was young.

Music was a big part of my fathers side of the family, many of his brothers and sisters sang and played musical instruments. As a child I remember the Sunday trips to my grand mother's house. About once a month my dad and some of his brothers would get together and sing. The music was wonderful and then we would get to hear my elder Uncle Albert tell stories. Uncle Albert was a master story teller who always placed a little truth in his stories.  In this day of TV and Facebook there are not many family story tellers left.

The story of the song "How Great Thou Art" and it writer Stuart K. Hine are very interesting. The song in part is based on a poem written by a Swedish preacher entitled, “O Store Gud”. This poem was published in 1886 and titled “O Store Gud”, and later translated into English as “O Great God”.

English missionaries, Mr. Stuart K. Hine and his wife, ministered in Poland. They learned the Russian version of Boberg’s poem, “O Store Gud”, coupled with a Swedish melody. Later Stuart K. Hine wrote original English words, and made his own arrangement of the Swedish melody. This became popular and is now known as the hymn, "HOW GREAT THOU ART".

So from a Swedish poem and a missionary spreading the gospel in Europe came a song that is sung all around the world.  Even in the living room of a small house near Reidsville,NC.

How Great Thou Art

Writer: 

Stuart K. Hine

Articles on the song: Manna Music

Song Video (Salvation Army Citadel Band - Sheffield)

From The Inside Out - To you, O my strength, I will sing praises for God is my defense, My God of Mercy

There are a few songs were the words, the music and the song's arrangement just fit so very well together. These songs lead to true worship and longing for true understanding.  The song "From the Inside Out", sometime known as "Everlasting", is a wonderful song about God's mercy and grace.  It is a great song about personal worship, love, and praise.

"A thousand times I've failed still your mercy remains and should I stumble again still I'm caught in your grace."

From The Inside Out 

Song Writer:  Joel Houston   Song Story: Worship Together Interview  Song: Video

Scripture Reference: Isaiah 60:19  The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

The bible contains many examples of God's love and grace, the following are just a few.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. 

Psalm 31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities,

Psalm 59:17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy.

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.

Matthew 9:12-14 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’[a] For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

2 John 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

More information on the song and writer:  SongScoops