How Great Thou ArtHow Great Thou Art

Sacred Selections, #1ASacred Selections, #1A

Background• Based on Swedish hymn, ‘O Based on Swedish hymn, ‘O

Store Gud’ (O Great God)Store Gud’ (O Great God)• Poem written in 1885 by Carl Poem written in 1885 by Carl

BobergBoberg• Translated into German, then Translated into German, then

Russian & later into English Russian & later into English (1925 – by Gustav Johnson)(1925 – by Gustav Johnson)

Background• Our version, written by Stuart H. Our version, written by Stuart H.

Kine, ca 1949.Kine, ca 1949.• Based upon events in his life. Based upon events in his life.

Vs. 1-2, similar to that of BobergVs. 1-2, similar to that of Boberg• Vs. 3 & 4 based upon other Vs. 3 & 4 based upon other

events.events.• Over 1700 documented Over 1700 documented

recordings of this hymn.recordings of this hymn.

Background• Our version, written by Stuart H. Our version, written by Stuart H.

Kine, ca 1949.Kine, ca 1949.• Based upon events in his life. Based upon events in his life.

Vs. 1-2, similar to that of BobergVs. 1-2, similar to that of Boberg• Vs. 3 & 4 based upon other Vs. 3 & 4 based upon other

events.events.• Over 1700 documented Over 1700 documented

recordings of this hymn.recordings of this hymn.

Background

• While produced in While produced in denominational circles, the denominational circles, the message rings true (message rings true (Eph. Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:165:19, Col. 3:16))

Vs. 1 – God’s power and awe

• O Lord my God – befitting our O Lord my God – befitting our Creator Creator Lord God – Lord God – Psa. 48:8, 11; Psa. 48:8, 11; Rev. 21:22, Gen. 2:7Rev. 21:22, Gen. 2:7

Vs. 1 – God’s power and awe

• When I in awesome wonder… When I in awesome wonder… God is to be held in aweGod is to be held in awe

•Psa. 33:8, 111:9, Psa. 33:8, 111:9, Heb. 13:28Heb. 13:28

Vs. 1 – God’s power and awe

• Consider all the worlds Thy Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made – hands have made – descriptive of His power in descriptive of His power in creation - stars, thunderings creation - stars, thunderings ((cf. Ex. 19:16, 20:18, cf. Ex. 19:16, 20:18, Psa. 18:13, …Psa. 18:13, …))

•Rom. 1:20, Psa. 19:1-6Rom. 1:20, Psa. 19:1-6

Vs. 2 – Nature & God, peace• In nature we see God’s handiwork. In nature we see God’s handiwork.

Penned as the result of a walk after Penned as the result of a walk after a storm in Russia.a storm in Russia.

• Man creates wonderful things but Man creates wonderful things but they cannot compare to God’s they cannot compare to God’s creation.creation.

• A scene of peace – A scene of peace – Phil. 4:7, Phil. 4:7, Col. 3:15Col. 3:15

•Psalm 33:6-9Psalm 33:6-9

Vs. 3 – God’s grace & salvation

• Recorded after visiting a Russian Recorded after visiting a Russian village with his wife. He wrote village with his wife. He wrote down expressions he heard down expressions he heard during a “call to repentance” during a “call to repentance”

• And when I think that God His And when I think that God His Son not sparing Son not sparing John 3:16, John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-101 John 4:9-10

Vs. 3 – God’s grace & salvation

• I scarce can take it in – I scarce can take it in –

• Considering our place in this Considering our place in this universe, we are special. Can universe, we are special. Can we fathom His care for us? we fathom His care for us? Rom. 11:33, Eph. 3:14-Rom. 11:33, Eph. 3:14-18, Psa. 40:518, Psa. 40:5

Vs. 3 – God’s grace & salvation

• That on the cross, my burdens That on the cross, my burdens gladly bearing, He bled and gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sinsdied to take away my sins

• Jesus died for us! Jesus died for us! 1 Pet. 1 Pet. 2:24-25, 4:1, Heb. 9:28, 2:24-25, 4:1, Heb. 9:28, John 1:29John 1:29

Vs. 4 – Hope for future times

• Penned after WWII in England. Penned after WWII in England. Visiting a refugee camp, Kine Visiting a refugee camp, Kine men a “believer” who had been men a “believer” who had been separated from his wife. separated from his wife.

• When Christ shall come – When Christ shall come – 2 2 Cor. 5:10, 1 Thess. 4:13-Cor. 5:10, 1 Thess. 4:13-18, 2 Thess. 1:7, Ac. 1:1118, 2 Thess. 1:7, Ac. 1:11

Vs. 4 – Hope for future times

• And take me home, what joy And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart – shall fill my heart – 1 Thess. 4:16-17, 1 Thess. 4:16-17, 1 Cor. 15:50-561 Cor. 15:50-56

Vs. 4 – Hope for future times• Then I shall bow in humble Then I shall bow in humble

adoration and there proclaim, ‘My adoration and there proclaim, ‘My God, how great Thou art’! – God, how great Thou art’! – Phil. 2:10-11 Phil. 2:10-11 – every knee shall – every knee shall bowbow

• Before His throne there is great Before His throne there is great praise – praise – cf. Rev. 4:8, 10; cf. Rev. 4:8, 10; 5:11-14; 7:10-12; 19:4-75:11-14; 7:10-12; 19:4-7

• Are we looking for that day? Are we looking for that day?

Chorus

• Then sings my soul - Then sings my soul - With joy we sing in hope With joy we sing in hope Jas. Jas. 5:135:13

• My Savior God to Thee – My Savior God to Thee – Heb. 13:15, Eph. 5:19Heb. 13:15, Eph. 5:19

• How Great Thou Art – How Great Thou Art – Psa. Psa. 145:1-7145:1-7

Extra verses

• God’s patience - O when I see ungrateful man defiling, This bounteous earth, God's gifts so good and great;

In foolish pride, God's holy Name reviling, And yet, in grace, His wrath and judgment wait.

Extra verses

• Grace sufficient in times of burdens and grief – When burdens press, and seem beyond endurance, Bowed down with grief, to Him I lift my face;

And then in love He brings me sweet assurance: 'My child! for thee sufficient is my grace'.

How Great is How Great is He to you?He to you?