O GOD OF EARTH AND ALTAR, a Hymn devotion for 1 October 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations. Psalm 22:27-28
One interesting aspect of this great hymn is the life of its author as well as the occasion for which it was written. O GOD OF EARTH AND ALTAR was written by the great writer and religious commentator, G.K. Chesterton (1874-1935) who composed works such as Orthodoxy, and Heretics. The most common tune is LANCASHIR by H.T. Smart – a tune written to commemorate the three hundredth anniversary of the English Reformation in 1835. Other tunes by which the hymn is sung are LLANGLOFFAN, and KING’S LYNN. The hymn’s impact is not limited to the English Reformation commemoration, but also to every nation that places its hope in God.
O GOD OF EARTH AND ALTAR
1 O God of earth and altar,
bow down and hear our cry,
our earthly rulers falter,
our people drift and die;
the walls of gold entomb us,
the swords of scorn divide,
take not thy thunder from us,
but take away our pride.
2 From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honour and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!
3 Tie in a living tether
the prince and priest and thrall,
bind all our lives together,
smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation
aflame with faith, and free,
lift up a living nation,
a single sword to thee.
1 O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry, our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die; the walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide, take not thy thunder from us, but take away our pride. Almighty God is Sovereign over all the earth and Heavens. Anyone familiar with politics, especially our present quagmire in America, will not doubt the failure and perhaps debauchery of earthly rulers today. God has said that “My people perish for lack of knowledge,” and surely that truth is written in red above the fields of blood of both innocent civilians and armed soldiers. War is a failure of the political discourse and not “an extension of diplomacy by other means,” as Karl von Clausewitz wrote in his military manual, ON WAR! Our socio-political establishment is motivated more for gold than for the welfare of the people for whom they are bound in duty to serve. Julius Caesar was not the last to act on the principle of ‘divide and conquer.’ We are divided by every means available and laughed to scorn if we refuse to subscribe to a deluded social model. A people has never evidenced greater pride for far less reason than our leadership today in America and around the world. But we must never forget that great truth that over-shadows us: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
2 From all that terror teaches, from lies of tongue and pen, from all the easy speeches that comfort cruel men, from sale and profanation of honour and the sword, from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord! This verse cannot fail to remind us of that great coronation hymn by Rudyard Kipling in RECESSIONAL:
“Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
Truly, our churches and people are asleep being improperly labeled as ‘woke!’ Honor lies victim in the streets of America as even our military academies delete that motto, Duty, Honor, Country, from much of their training materials.
3 Tie in a living tether the prince and priest and thrall, bind all our lives together, smite us and save us all; in ire and exultation aflame with faith, and free, lift up a living nation, a single sword to thee.” Camouflaged between the lines of this verse is the Scriptural warrant for us to be One with Christ as He is One with the Father – as well as we to be One with each other in Holy accord. Such union must include not only the body of nations, but their heads as well – the ultimate Head being Christ our Lord. It may seem contradictory to claim that our only salvation may be brought on us by being sorely smitten, but such a blow may be the only resort to awaken us from our drunken stagger as a nation. Our single Sword is the Word of God, and our armor supplied by same. I think it appropriate to here quote the last two verse of Kipling’s Recessional that echoes the inspiration of truth in our hymn today:
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word—
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!
AMEN!
