Here is a hymn a wrote in college, which meditates on the sovereignty of God over "the darkest storms" and his purpose in those catastrophes--"to bring all good to his elect." As we meditate on Hurricane Katrina, may we tremble at and heed the words of Job 37:11-14 (ESV):
He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning. They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen. Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
This hymn may be sung to the tune "Veni Emmanuel."
Our Sovereign God
Our sovereign God, who reigns alone,
Caused Pharaoh’s heart be turned to stone.
To show the might of His great hand,
Sent plagues and terrors on the land.
O! What a mighty God is He,
Who limits not His sovereignty!
Our sovereign God, forever grand,
Turned Pharaoh’s heart hard in His hand.
And for the sake of His great name,
Caused all Egyptian first-born slain.
O! What a mighty God is He,
Who limits not His sovereignty!
Our sovereign God, who is true love,
Is only good in all He does,
To show His name’s supremacy,
Closed Pharaoh’s army in the sea.
O! What a mighty God is He,
Who limits not His sovereignty!
Our sovereign God, o’er all events,
Ordained a fright’ning providence,
To set His captive people free
And bring Himself all due glory.
O! What a mighty God is He,
Who limits not His sovereignty!
Our sovereign God, remains unchanged,
For His great glory will arrange
The darkest storms sent to protect
And bring all good to His elect.
O! What a mighty God is He,
Who limits not His sovereignty!
Caused Pharaoh’s heart be turned to stone.
To show the might of His great hand,
Sent plagues and terrors on the land.
O! What a mighty God is He,
Who limits not His sovereignty!
Our sovereign God, forever grand,
Turned Pharaoh’s heart hard in His hand.
And for the sake of His great name,
Caused all Egyptian first-born slain.
O! What a mighty God is He,
Who limits not His sovereignty!
Our sovereign God, who is true love,
Is only good in all He does,
To show His name’s supremacy,
Closed Pharaoh’s army in the sea.
O! What a mighty God is He,
Who limits not His sovereignty!
Our sovereign God, o’er all events,
Ordained a fright’ning providence,
To set His captive people free
And bring Himself all due glory.
O! What a mighty God is He,
Who limits not His sovereignty!
Our sovereign God, remains unchanged,
For His great glory will arrange
The darkest storms sent to protect
And bring all good to His elect.
O! What a mighty God is He,
Who limits not His sovereignty!
Text: (c) Eric Schumacher (1976- )
Tune: Veni Emmanuel
Permission granted to reproduce for temporary worship media. Any other use should receive the permission of the author.
Eric, I randomly clicked your site on the Reformed Blogroll this morning and was glad I did. You have a wonderful gift of expressing yourself and your faith in traditional (hymn-style) verse.
ReplyDeleteWith all the praise song genre these days, yours is a fading art. I will cancel my closing hymn during tomorrow's worship and sing your "Sufferer's Hope" in its place....alas, one more bulletin insert!
I will acknowledge your name and your blog site.
Many thanks for posting these two hymns this week.
Aloha, Jim Tweedie aka Bird of Paradise