Hymn Commentary: How Great Thou Art

Here’s a hymn that simply yet profoundly focuses on one thought. Our God is amazing. It’s summed up in a single phrase: ‘awesome wonder’. The hymn writer was awed by God. He first points to what God does in nature. Then, he reminds us of the Gospel: the Cross of Jesus and His Return. Quiet meditation on these things will result in the growing awareness of the grandeur and magnificence of 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.

Chorus:

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

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

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 see 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 then proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art!"

 This is something I wrote for the church I pastor.