Monday, June 25, 2012

Great is Thy Faithfulness ~ Think on These Things



This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:21-23
NKJV

This is the familiar hymn with different music,
by Fernando Ortega.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Thomas A. Chisolm (1866-1960)
Hymn written in 1923


During the fall of Jerusalem the weeping prophet, Jeremiah, describes the evil acts of humankind in such loathsome detail that the reader is given to despair. In his book of Lamentations Jeremiah vividly portrays the emotions and feelings of those who actually experienced the catastrophe. Right in the midst of the ruin, as though he were transported into a completely different setting, renewed hope springs up within his heart as Jeremiah looks away from the affliction and ruin and contemplates the infinite mercies of God. His perspective turns from the evil peril that surrounded him to the eternal promises that renewed him.

"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him'" (Lamentations 3:19-24).

In 1923 Thomas Chisolm birthed one of the greatest modern hymns regarding the faithfulness of God from this golden text. In stanza one he writes of God's unchanging character and unfailing compassions. In stanza two he writes of God's faithfulness in maintaining the order of His universe. In stanza three he writes of God's faithfulness in forgiving our sins, providing strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Each stanza leads to the great culminating chorus that declares the victorious words of Jeremiah, "Great is Thy faithfulness."

May we all be transported through prayer and faith from our difficulty to a tranquil state of mind where we too can confidently and gratefully proclaim this to be our personal testimony, "Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me."
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 wilt be.

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.

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
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5 comments:

Dimple said...

This is a great reminder and hymn, thanks for posting it.

Thanks also for leaving a comment on my post.

God is good!

betty-NZ said...

He is so wonderfully faithful, isn't He!! Thanks for the reminder.

Debbie Petras said...

I love the music of Fernando Ortega. I have his station on Pandora and can listen every time I'm on my computer.

Yes, God is so faithful! Wonderful reminder.

Blessings and love,
Debbie

Anonymous said...

This is a favorite hymn. Have a blessed weekend.

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Good morning, sweet friend! I love this post and was so happy to be reminded of the words to this hymn and the verse in Lamentations that you shared. I think I should print it out and tape it to my fridge and reread it often :)

I read Debbie's comment and smiled as my main genre on Pandora Radio is Fernando Ortega too.

I am blessed by your posts and thank you for linking to Think on These Things!