Psalms 104

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How Great Thou Art

May 1, 2022 | Psalm 104 | hymns

In today’s sermon, we’re going to look at the hymn “How Great Thou Art.” This hymn has quite an involved history. It was written by Swedish poet, Carl Gustav Boberg, in 1885. He had the poem printed in a Swedish newspaper and an unknown man put it to music, using the melody is an old Swedish folk song. In 1949, it was translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own composition. It was popularized by George Beverly Shea during Billy Graham crusades in 1957.

Boberg is said to have written the words after a thunder storm suddenly appeared on a walk home. 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 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) — O LORD, my God, When I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands hath made..

Today, we’re going to look at a psalm that expresses that same sense of awe. In Psalm 104, David wrote to encourage himself and others to praise the Lord for His greatness. We can be encouraged by praising the Lord for His greatness.

“May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord” (Psalms 104:34 NLT).

May 4, 2019

SURRENDERING EVERY THOUGHT TO THE LORD The psalmist expressed his desire that “all” his thoughts would please the Lord. Stated in the subjunctive, the psalmist recognized that his desire was more like a wish or prayer, than a certainty. For who can control their thoughts? We can be determined to rejoice, but our minds often

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being” (Psalm 104:33 NKJV).

November 2, 2017

The psalmist made a determined promise to himself that he would always sing praises to the Lord. As long has he had breath, he had decided in advance that he would worship God.

When I would visit my grandmother in the nursing home, she no longer remembered my name. Old age had stolen much of her mind. Yet, when my mother and I would begin to sing a hymn, her face would immediately light up, and she would join in, remembering every word. She and my mother had been in a gospel quartet for many years, so she automatically took the alto part, while my mother took the soprano and me the bass. She didn’t remember her daughter or grandson, but she still knew her Lord. And she sang His praises as long as she lived.

I desire to follow her example.

“I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD” (Psalm 104:33-34 ESV)

May 4, 2013

While this psalm has no inscription, it certainly sounds like that great song writer and musician, David. The psalm opens and closes with him talking to himself, encouraging his own soul to “Bless the Lord, O my soul!” After singing of how all creation blesses the Lord and proclaims His glory, David expresses his desire to join the chorus for his entire life. Also prominent, is David’s hope that God will be pleased with his song, as he performed for an audience of One. Whose applause do you seek?

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!” (Psalm 104:33)

May 4, 2012

I praise God not because I wish to bargain with Him. I praise Him because He is God and worthy of my worship. Even when suffering and death cross my path, my heart is determined to praise Him. For He is God and there is no other. Today, I praise Him for letting me see my grandson Conner, if only for a moment. He was always Yours. Now we return him to You. Blessed be Your Name our LORD.

How Great Thou Art

October 3, 2010 | Psalm 104:1-9 | hymns

The hymn, “How Great Thou Art” was written through the contributions of many people. In the conclusion of this series, we are looking at Psalm 104, a poetic retelling of the creation story that reveals how great our God truly is.