Verse 2
How Great Thou Art • Sermon • Submitted
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· 54 viewsTaking a look at the theology of verse 2 of the hymn How Great Thou Art
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Last week we began a new series of messages based on the four verses of the hymn How Great Thou Art
We began last week by turning our attention towards the Heavens to recognize that God not only “Is” but that He is strong and mighty and that He cares for us so deeply that nothing can stop His love towards us short of our rejection of it
This morning we look at verse 2 so let’s get right to it
PRAY
Out of the 4 verses of this hymn, verse 2 is probably the least known and is many times left out entirely when this song is preformed, but I believe that, just like the first verse, the second verse has an important message for us, so let’s look at them
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Refrain:
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
In verse 1 we were able to isolate 3 distinct points that the song was making about God and His awesomeness and His greatness but verse 2 is a little bit different
In verse 2 we have a theme, the theme of nature which the author concludes, if we will just take notice of, will bring us to the natural conclusion of worshipping God
So this morning let’s consider 3 ways that nature could and should bring about in us the reaction of worship to God
The first thing that nature does is it draws our attention to the creativity of God
Our first introduction to God in the Bible of course is where we read
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Actually, in the original Hebrew what the verse says is, “ Ber-re-sit ba-ra El-o-heem” or “In the beginning created the creator”
The very first introduction that we have to God and His name is “Creator” and what is He doing? Creating!
creating isn’t just something that God did, it’s a part of who He is and He’s pretty good at it I think
The verse mentions “the woods” and “the forest glades” so let me share some information with you
In April of this year a new comprehensive scientific study that took over two years to complete published their results in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry in a paper called “Global Tree Search - the first complete global database of tree species and country distributions”
The writers of the paper used more than 375500 records from botanists around the world to come to the conclusion that there are 60,065 unique and different tree species around the world
Now I don’t know about you but without having to come up with the concept of a tree on my own, I may be able to come up with a dozen or 2 different species, and if we all put our heads together maybe we could come up with a hundred or two
But consider that not only did God come up with the concept of the tree and the different ways that trees would contribute to and interact with the rest of His creation, but then to top it off God came up with over 60, 000 species of trees
And the birds that are singing so sweetly in those trees, depending on which research you subscribe to there are between 10 and 20,000 species of birds
Some of which are bright and beautifully adorned while others are so camouflaged you would never spot them
Just like the stars of Heaven did, creation should result in a sense of awe for us that results in the natural act of worship towards God, the one who created all of this
The second reason nature should result in an attitude of praise towards God is because it reminds us of His care
When Jesus wanted to explain to His disciples just how much they could count on the care and provision of God for them, He did what He always did, He used an example that everyone would be able to see and comprehend
Listen to Luke’s gospel the 12th chapter,
Luke 12:22-31
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Every time we see a bumble bee landing on a flower, ever time we see a squirrel collecting nuts, every time we see a bird carrying a twig with which to build her nest we are reminded of God’s care and concern for us, His children
What a blessing, what a comfort, what a relief to look at constant and ongoing system of nature knowing that the God who does all of this loves me and is looking after me
Everyone would agree that there is a serenity and calming feeling that comes over a person when they get away from the hustle and bustle of trying to make this life work and you just go “take in” some nature
The reason is simple, it’s because, even if we don’t realize it, nature is speaking to our spirit and reminding us that it is God who is in charge, that we are under His care and that all those things are of little to no consequence because God is taking care of us
The third way that nature inspires us to worship the God who created it and cares for it is that it reminds us that He is a God of life
Anyone who has ever spent any amount of time just sitting still in the bush knows that nature is just teaming with life
Whether it is the chipmunk who is chirping at you from his perch above, or the birds that are circling overhead, or the curious fox who is checking you out from a safe distance, all of nature is filled with life
What an incredible picture of what God wants for all of His creation
Unfortunately when Adam and Eve did what they did back in the garden, they also introduced death and decay into God’s creation and the enemy has used that ever since to try and destroy all that God loves and holds so dear
Adam and Eve experienced something that none of us have ever had to experience, the feeling of going from an existence that was full of life, to living with death
We were born into sin and death, it has been a part of who we are and have been since we first got here
But nature reminds us that the God of creation is a God of life and where He is there is life
One of my most favorite passages in the whole book is a quote from Jesus in
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Jesus came so that through Him the curse of death could be defeated and we could have life again, but this is more than just eternal life and spending forever with God in Heaven
Jesus came to break the curse of sin and restore life within us here and now
In Jesus says to Martha,
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
And in He speaking to Thomas,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Greek word used for “life” in all these passages as well as many others referring to Jesus is the word “zoe” and it means more than just being made alive, what it means is the source of life
Jesus isn’t just the sacrifice that provides eternal life but He is the source for real life, true life, here and now
This is why John begins his gospel by stating,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-
And why near the end of his letter he wrote,
John 20
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Paul words it this way in his letter to the Colossians,
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:15-
Christ is the author of life, He is the sustainer of life, He is the source of life and He wants us to be full of His life for there is no life apart from Christ
The hymn How Great Thou art is predicated upon this idea that when I do “this” (this being the things listed in the verses) it is then that I am inspired and motivated to declare God’s greatness
In verse one it was looking towards the heavens that then reminds us us God’s greatness and His awesomeness and how nothing can stop him as He desires to love us
In verse 2 “the thing” is to pause and consider nature, take a walk through the woods, sit and listen and take note and when we do we are reminded of the creativity of God, of the care of God, and of His life giving Son who is the expression of God’s love and wants to intervene in us to give us life to the full
Let’s pray
How Great Thou Art Verses 1 and 2