Sermon Tone Analysis

RECORD

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

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

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

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,

And in He speaking to Thomas,

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,

John 1:1-

And why near the end of his letter he wrote,

John 20

Paul words it this way in his letter to the Colossians,

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