How Great

So today I'm listening to one of the most popular hymns around.  "How Great Thou Art" started as a Swedish poem by Carl Boberg called "O Store Gud."  A couple of years later, Boberg was somewhat surprised to find the poem put to an old Swedish folk tune.  I can only imagine that reaction.  Go to a church to worship, start singing, then realize, "Hey wait a minute. I wrote this."  The version of the hymn that we have come to know and love was composed by Stuart Hine in the 1920's.  After hearing a Russian version in Poland, where Hine was ministering, the missionary decided to compose an English version to fit the Swedish melody.  So now, the first three stanzas are actually written by Hine while he was being inspired by the Carpathian mountains.  I'll link two performances.  The first is pretty low key straight forward recording.  The second is a performance by Vince Gill and Carrie Underwood.  It's a well known performance.  The cynic in me wants to dislike the combination of a hymn with a CBS special meant to draw in money.  But then I realize that hundreds of thousands of people saw and heard a beautiful song that glorifies the Lord.  I'm certain the stand up applause is more for Underwood's performance than it is for the song selection, but it says loads about Underwood that she would do this.  In song, she presented the Gospel to over a million people.  Talk about using your gifts to glorify God!  Absolutely amazing.  Here are the lyrics to sing along.

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power 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
and 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 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!

Chorus

Paul writes in Romans, "For His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world" (Rom. 1:20).  Creation moves us. It is inspirational.   Creation can be so overwhelming that we are tempted to worship it.  That's what paganism is.  It is a worship of the creation rather than the Creator.  It is an easy sin to which I can fall prey, yet what should not be forgotten is that nature speaks to God's divinity.  Hine saw beautiful mountains and looked heavenward. When we hear the rolls of the waves or walk in a field of flowers, we are among God's luscious hand-crafted work.  So, with this hymn in mind, next time I stop and smell the roses, not only will I enjoy the fragrance, I will praise God for making a beauty that smells so sweet.