In every thing give
thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
(1
Thessalonians 5:18)
Allow me to head off the gnat-chokers at the start by saying that I am fully
aware that this hymn is not listed in the Hymnal as a Thanksgiving Day National
Hymn, but my last week’s devotion did cover a selection from that category. The
hymn today (found in General Hymns), barely beating out – We Gather
Together to Ask the Lord’s Blessing - is certainly an appropriate hymn
to be sung on Thanksgiving Day, and I hope all who read this devotion will sing
it before the Thanksgiving meal with heart and gusto. It may even serve to
replace the prayer of Grace before Meals.
Today’s hymn, like countless others, has a testimony, in real life, of its own.
Its lyrics were written by a Lutheran minister, Martin Rinkart (1586-1649)
during the ravages of the Thirty Years War. The tune, Nun danket alle
Gott, is composed by Johann Crüger in 1646 the harmony of which
was adapted by Mendelssohn in Lobgesang, opus 52 (Hymn of
Praise).
Now Thank We All Our God
Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things hath done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mother's arms
hath blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever-joyful hearts
and blessèd peace to cheer us;
and keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son, and Holy Ghost,
supreme in highest heaven,
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
The Rev. Martin Rinkart lived in the small village of Eilenberg in Saxony and
was the son of a coppersmith. He felt called to the ministry and began his
ministry following theological training in the same village. His ministry began
just as the Thirty Years War was commencing – a tragic and troublesome time for
all who lived through the ordeal. As the Swedish army encompassed the walled
city of Eilenberg, floods of refugees from the surrounding areas filled her
gates. Due to depravation and exposure, all sorts of diseases broke out inside
the gates of Eilenberg including the dreaded plague. Famine and fear ruled in
her streets. Thousands died of either disease or hunger. The pastors of the city
were over-taxed in preaching the Gospel, caring for the sick and dying, and
conducting funerals for the dead. Slowly, the pastors themselves took ill and
died until there was only Martin Rinkart left alone with the burden of
providing the spiritual needs of the inhabitants. At last, Martin Rinkart went
forth boldly from the safety of the city walls to negotiate a peace with the
Swedes. Peace came as a result of his efforts. Rinkart then composed this song
knowing that healing comes not without thanksgiving.
The hymn is written in three parts – the first stanza is a thanksgiving; the
second is a prayer; and the third is a doxology. In fact, German Christians
sing the entire hymn in the same way we, in America, sing the Doxology. Traditionally,
in Anglican churches, the 1st stanza is sung by the choir; the 2nd
by the congregations: and the 3rd by all voices combined.
The
Thanksgiving
“Now
thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath
done, in whom his world rejoices; who from our mother's arms, hath blessed us
on our way, with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.”
Perhaps we do not always acknowledge or realize the importance of simple
thanksgiving. There are 138 scriptural references to ‘thanksgiving’ in Holy
Writ. One of those references of great power and meaning is Colossians 3:17 – “And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col 3:17) Read that verse again: “whatsoever
ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” That leaves very little
unsaid. We give thanks in all things, and there are a very many things that never
cross our minds to thank Him for, such as our next breath, or next heartbeat.
God has done marvelous and wondrous things – not only in this world – but in
our own lives. Not only has He blessed us from our mother’s arms, but also by
placing our tiny forms in the arms of a loving mother. He blesses us in times
of joy, as well as in times of the stormy blast. His greatest gifts evidence
His Fatherly love for us – and He blesses us through every avenue of life –
even through the way of the “Valley of the Shadow of Death.”
The
Prayer
“O
may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever-joyful
hearts, and blessèd peace to cheer us; and keep us in his grace, and guide us
when perplexed, and free us from all ills in this world and the next.”
We pray for the enforcing truth of Emmanuel, “God with us,” in Jesus Christ. He
will never forsake or leave us – do we remember that? He is with us always,
even until the end of the world. The knowledge of His presence makes our hearts
joyful – often the silent joy and warmth we feel at the Communion rail. He
relieves our minds of worries and doubts that may assault in times of fear and
trouble. It is by His unmerited Grace that we are kept pure and without sin in
His eye.
The
Doxology
“All
praise and thanks to God, the Father now be given, the Son, and Holy Ghost,
supreme
in highest heaven, the one eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore; for thus
it was, is now, and shall be evermore.” What a wonderful and fitting
doxology to our Thanksgiving Praises, and our Prayer! There is none that is due
praise of man but God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost – our
Triune God! Not only is He supreme on earth and the lower heavens, but the
highest heaven above all heavens. He is the Eternal God that has ever been, and
ever shall be. All creatures on earth and in heaven adore Him. Those who do not
adore Him are destined for Outer Darkness. He is the same YESTERDAY, TODAY, and
FOREVER! He is the GREAT I AM which has ever been beyond the scope of our space-time
continuum which He created for the lives of men and beasts.
May this be a glorious Thanksgiving for you, your families,
the Church everywhere, and our nation – and may it continue day in, and day
out, until the Lord appears at last. AMEN.