The greatness of God

Psalm 19:1-3: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard."

I find few things as awe inspiring as the thunder and lightning of a sudden summer storm over the Sierra. As a Christian these things remind me of what the Psalmist wrote about the power and greatness of God.

That's exactly what inspired a Swedish pastor named Carl Boberg, in 1886. As Pastor Boberg walked one summer day he was caught in a sudden thunderstorm, the rolling thunder, torrents of rain, and the return of sunshine with singing birds simply overwhelmed him. He dropped to his knees in worship and later, from that experience, wrote a poem about the greatness of God.

Although he did not realize it at the time, that poem would one day become one of the most popular hymns of the church. As the story goes, it was several years after he penned the words, and as Boberg attended a church service he was surprised to hear his poem being sung to an old Swedish melody. Then it spread throughout Europe until Stuart Hine, a British missionary to Russia, began using it in evangelistic services.

When World War II broke out, Hine returned to England and translated Boberg's hymn into English, adding a fourth verse about the return of Jesus Christ. By 1974, this great hymn has so grown in popularity it was voted the number one hymn in America. The hymn is still one of the most powerful songs of the church today, "How Great Thou Art."

Can you join with this anthem of the church and like nature itself, declare the greatness of our God?

"How Great Thou Art"

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder.

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder.

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

When through the woods and forest glades I wander.

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur.

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing.

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing.

He bled and died to take away my sin.

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration,

And there proclaim, my God. How great Thou art!

Chorus:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee.

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee.

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Rich Lammay is pastor at High Sierra Fellowship.