It Is God Who Holds the Nations (Fred Pratt Green)

It is no secret to anyone who has been reading my Musings for any length of time that I often rely on “borrowed wisdom” for content. Sometimes I share stuff that I think up, but most of my content comes from reading and listening to others. I used feel self-conscious about borrowing, but no more, thanks to a quote from Charles Haddon Spurgeon I read yesterday: “He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves he has no brains of his own.” So taking the flip side of that coin: when I share other people’s thoughts with you, I’m actually proving my own intelligence!
Speaking of the thoughts of other men’s brains … as I was planning this evening’s Wednesday worship, I ran across a wonderful new hymn text that give us some food for thought as we prepare to celebrate the most significant date in our nation’s history later this week. Fred Pratt Green wrote it in 1976 (so it’s not all that new) for the Battle Hymn tune. I found it quite meaningful and wanted to share it with you. It’s good poetry.

1. It is God who holds the nations in the hollow of His hand;
It is God whose light is shining in the darkness of the land;
It is God who builds His city on the Rock and not the Sand:
The living God be praised!
Glory! Glory, hallelujah! Glory! Glory, hallelujah!
Glory! Glory, hallelujah! The living God be praised!

2. It is God whose purpose summons us to use the present hour;
Who recalls us to our senses when a nation’s life turns sour;
In the discipline of freedom we shall know His saving power:
The living God be praised!
Glory! Glory, hallelujah! • • • The living God be praised!

3. When a thankful nation, looking back, has cause to celebrate
Those who win our admiration by their service to the State;
When self-giving is a measure of the greatness of the great:
The living God be praised!
Glory! Glory, hallelujah! • • • The living God be praised!

4. God reminds us every sunrise that the world is ours on lease –
For the sake of life tomorrow may our love for it increase;
May all races live together, share its riches, be at peace:
The living God be praised!
Glory! Glory, hallelujah! • • • The living God be praised!

That’s enough to think about for now. The peace of Christ to you.