4.13.2008

Sunday Hymn - Great is Thy Faithfulness

This is another gem I remember from my days as a wee lad. I had the privilege of hearing it in church last Sunday, and it has been stuck in my head all week. Not at all a bad thing. It is a wonderful reminder of the fact that God is constant. The heavens give witness to the track record that God has of His great faithfulness. He keeps His promises to His people, regardless of their actions and unfaithfulness (see Hosea). As Sinclair Ferguson points out in his terrific book, A Heart for God, the cross is the ultimate testament of this faithfulness. "When you look at the Cross, what do you see? You see God's awesome faithfulness. Nothing - not even the instinct to spare His own Son - will turn Him back from keeping His word. For God promised Abraham that He would keep His word to him, to bring blessing and salvation to mankind through him, even if it meant being 'cut off' - as indeed it did. (1985 edition, pg 71)"

But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23


Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

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!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

1 comment:

Lydia said...

Good day to you, Andrew. I started to read your blog post to my husband and he began to sing the hymn. I know that tune, but the song I learned was "We Gather Together" - that old Thanksgiving song. Beautiful tune. Nice words to both versions!