HOW GREAT THOU ART
“How Great Thou Art” is one of my favorite hymns. When I was in seminary, I had a project for one of my wusic classes and actually scored it for full orchestra. It makes me think about Psalm 8. The story of how it was written is…
Southern Sweden was the place where "How Great Thou Art" had its beginning in 1886.
It was written in the home of author and editor, Carl Boberg, a member of the Swedish Parliament from 1912 to 1931. The song was known in several countries before it finally reached the shores of the United States.
Boberg said of the writing of his song, "It was in 1885, and in the time of year when everything seemed to be in its richest coloring; the birds were singing in trees and wherever they could find a perch. On a particular afternoon, some friends and I had been to Kronobäck where we had participated in an afternoon service. As we were returning a thunderstorm began to appear on the horizon. We hurried to shelter. There were loud claps of thunder, and the lighting flashed across the sky. Strong winds swept over the meadows and billowing fields of grain. However, the storm was soon over and the clear sky appeared with a beautiful rainbow."
"After reaching my home, I opened my window toward the sea. The church bells were playing the tune of a hymn. That same evening I wrote a poem which I titled, 'O Store Gud,' (How Great Thou Art)."
The poem was later set to a Swedish folk tune. In 1907, Manfred von Glehn translated it into German, and five years later a Russian pastor, Ivan Prokhanoff, made a Russian adaptation. In the early 1920s, the Rev. and Mrs. Stuart K. Hine left their home in England and went to Poland as missionaries. It was there they learned the Russian version of Boberg's song, "O Store Gud." Hine then wrote original English lyrics and made his own arrangement of the Swedish melody.
And so we now have "How Great Thou Art."
Every time I walk outside in the dark and am confronted with the spread of the heavens, I think “How great Thou art.”
Every time I stand on the seashore and watch the waves crash against the shore and view the expanse of the ocean, I think “How great Thou art.”
Every time I view pictures of planets or the far reaches of space, I think “How great Thou art.”
Every time I watch thunderclouds form and lightning flash, I think I think “How great Thou art.”
Every time God steps into my life in ways I cannot explain, I think I think “How great Thou art.”
I can do nothing else but worship and say, “How great Thou art!”
Songs for this Sunday
More than Conquerors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p8_4NbrcKA
Overcome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP-JdZs4V54
How Great Thou Art
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRGnKTcGyDI
Come Alive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P4YdXz3LAI
Lord I Need You