“Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great” (Psalm 104:1 KJV).
It’s hard to point to the one person responsible for writing and composing the song “How Great Thou Art.” It might be best to say that God’s Spirit inspired many to contribute to this favorite hymn.
The original lyrics were written by Carl Gustav Boberg (1859–1940) in Sweden in 1885. The melody was based on a Swedish folk song. Boberg is said to have written the words after a thunder storm suddenly appeared as he walked home one day. A severe wind began to blow, a driving rain and darkness fell. After Mr. Boberg arrived home, wet and chilled to the bone, the storm stopped as suddenly as it had came. He looked out his window over the clear bay and heard church bells ringing in the distance. A sense of profound wonder and peace came over him as penned the words O Store God (Swedish for “O Great God”).
It was later translated into German and then into Russian, where an English missionary to Russia, Stuart K. Hine, heard it. He was so moved by the song that he translated it into English and added two verses (verses three and four).
Members of the Billy Graham Crusade encountered the song in London and carried it back with them to America. It was popularized by George Beverly Shea during Billy Graham’s famous New York Crusade in 1957, where the song was so requested that Mr. Shea sang it over 100 times that summer. It was ranked second (after “Amazing Grace”) on a list of the favorite hymns of all time in a survey by Today’s Christian magazine in 2001.
I think God’s greatness is magnified when He works through many to accomplish one great thing (or song). I am profoundly aware of God’s greatness today after signing the closing papers on our church’s new property. We had to raise nearly $75,000 in 40 days in order to close. There were no “rich” contributors. Just 87 individual givers, each giving sacrificially and according to their faith. And it was more than enough. God made us come together for one great purpose.
We can’t point to one person who made this happen in our church. We can only point to God. I think that’s how He wanted it. He has brought us through many storms and trials. And today, there’s a sweet peace in the air as we give God thanks for His great provision.
O Lord my God! How great Thou art!