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Then my soul shall rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his deliverance. – Psalm 35:9
One of the most popular and profound hymns of the last one hundred years would have to be How Great Thou Art. It has been performed by small church choirs to popular recording artists for decades. The truth of this hymn is to see how amazing God is in the mist of everything.
The story is told that this hymn originated in Sweden when a priest by the name of Carl Boberg and some friends were returning home to Mönsterås from Kronobäck, where they had participated in an afternoon service. Presently a thundercloud appeared on the horizon, and soon lightning flashed across the sky. Strong winds swept over the meadows and billowing fields of grain. The thunder pealed in loud claps. Then rain came in cool fresh showers. In a little while the storm was over, and a rainbow appeared. When Boberg arrived home, he opened the window and saw the bay of Mönsterås like a mirror before him. From the woods on the other side of the bay, he heard the song of a thrush. the church bells were tolling in the quiet evening. It was this series of sights, sounds, and experiences that inspired the writing of the song.
The original poem was written in 1885, published as “O Store Gud” in 1886, However, it wasn’t until 1949 when British Methodist missionary, Stuart K. Hine heard the German translation and created the English paraphrase “How Great Thou Art.” that this hymn rose to popularity among English speakers. It was Hine who gave us our third verse to the hymn, and his work with evangelist Charles Spurgeon that made this a popular hymn among the British and American churches. This popularity grew as the hymn became a “signature song” of the Billy Graham crusades in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Even to this day the familiar music and great refrain remind us of a truth known long ago, “then my soul shall rejoice…” or then sings my soul, my savior God to thee. How great thou art, How great thou Art!
May we rejoice in the Lord today, and always.
Grace & Peace,
Sam