Summer and winter
And springtime and harvest
Sun moon and stars
In their courses above
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (1923)
By: Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960)
Listen to this version in a gospel style as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.
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Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
We begin our journey through this popular hymn which declares the faithfulness of our God, true in every season, experienced by hearts of faith. Let’s think about this.
Many and Various
So what part will you play in the great drama of worship that is unfolding across all creation?
In the opening portion of this stanza the writer lists cyclical seasons and celestial spheres as some of the things that bear witness to God’s faithfulness. Then he continues by expanding on that list with the many and various different witnesses that nature as a whole offers in praise of God. What a beautiful explanation of the activity of creation as a response to and declaration of the faithfulness of God.
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24 ESV
Not only do seasons and stars declare His glory, but also all nature. Every created thing proclaims the handiwork of God, in many and various ways. You are a part of that creation, so these lines also become an invitation and even an exhortation for you to find your place in the praise.
Maybe you are not a singer or an instrumentalist. Maybe you can not preach a sermon. Maybe you falter when you try to read or pray publicly. No matter. Those are just some of the expressions of worship of the church gathered. There are many more that allow the church dispersed to declare God’s faithfulness.
What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? How might you be able to use that skill, gift, or talent in a way that blesses others and points them to God?
The seasons cycle along and reveal God’s glory. The stars shine and planets spin to the same end. Birds sings, and oceans roar. Tress grow and plants produce. You are not they, so their role is not yours. What part were you made to play? What were you made to do?
RESONATE!
Your life is a part of the witness of God’s creation. You have your own role to play in declaring God’s faithfulness on whatever stage He has given you. He has equipped you with everything you need to do, though you may need to develop it to use it well. Determine right now how you will exercise that opportunity to enter into the praise today. You are a unique expression of that witness. How will you exercise that privilege today? Ask Jesus to help you.Jesus, please show me how to join all nature and use my life as a witness.
For God’s Glory and Others Good
All these different, beautiful expressions of praise to God for His faithfulness come together in a grand crescendo for those who have ears to hear. Yet to some the silence is deafening. Many might walk through the forest and not hear what the trees and the leaves are bearing witness to: God’s faithfulness and mercy. How many fail to see the love in the center of it all?
This should challenge us to find the words and ways to reflect the reality of God to everyone around us. Not all will stop to consider our claims, but some will. And when they do, they will have the opportunity to discover the wonderful invitation to join the worship and find their place in the praise.
To Thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love
To him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; Psalm 136:5 ESV
His love is steadfast. His mercy is unmerited. His faithfulness is great. This final phrase is a short litany of why we should give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. All around there are constant expressions of these truths but we often fail to recognize them, which leaves us incapable of declaring them.
RESONATE!
As you consider how you will join the worship today and invite others to do the same, take a moment to consider a few of the many reasons why you should. That consideration should provide you with ample inspiration. Ask the Father to help you see them all around you today, then find your place in the praise.
Father, thank You for using all of creation, including me, to put your faithfulness, mercy and love on display for all to see. Help me find my part in the great drama of worship today and may someone find some encouragement in how I live it out. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Dramatic Thinking!
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Podcast 23.2 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
Summer and winter
And springtime and harvest
You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter. Psalm 74:17 ESV
The seasons are an incredible expression of the faithfulness of God. As surely as one ends another begins. He made them just like He fixed all the laws that govern His creation. Take a moment to allow the season you are in now to speak of the faithfulness of God.
Sun moon and stars
In their courses above
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-4 ESV
Not to be outdone by the seasons, the celestial bodies get in on declaring God’s faithfulness as well. As surely as the sun sets it will rise again. This proclaims His handiwork and invites us to respond with our worship. Go outside, look up, and marvel anew at God’s glory.
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24 ESV
Many and varied indeed are the ways that all nature witnesses to the faithfulness of God, joining the seasons and the heavens in their adoration. Your life is a part of that witness. Determine right now how you will exercise that opportunity to enter into the praise today.
To Thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love
To him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; Psalm 136:5 ESV
This phrase is one of a litany of why we should give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. As you consider how you will join the worship today, take a moment to consider a few of the many reasons why you should. That consideration should provide you with ample inspiration.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain.
Summer and winter
And springtime and harvest
Sun moon and stars
In their courses above
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post What’s Your Worshipful Witness? appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Join with All Nature in Manifold Witness – https://pixabay.com/photos/autumn-landscape-nature-golden-219972/
To Thy Great Faithfulness, Mercy and Love – https://pixabay.com/photos/heart-sweetheart-leaf-autumn-maple-1776746/
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