16 April 2016

Is this not

the most eloquent meditation upon Psalm 104's great truth (and it's a crying shame that TLH and LSB gutted the whole first article context of this rejoicing!).

  1. I will sing my Maker’s praises
    And in Him most joyful be,
    For in all things I see traces
    Of His tender love to me.
    Nothing else than love could move Him
    With such sweet and tender care
    Evermore to raise and bear
    All who try to serve and love Him.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  2. As an eagle spreadeth over
    Her young brood her shelt’ring wings,
    So the arm of God did cover
    Me against affliction’s stings.
    He who life and being gave me,
    Even in my mother’s womb,
    From the cradle to the tomb
    He shall ever guard and save me.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  3. Yea, so dear did He esteem me
    That His Son He loved so well
    He hath given to redeem me
    From the quenchless flames of hell.
    O Thou Spring of boundless blessing,
    How could e’er my feeble mind
    Of Thy depth the bottom find
    Though my efforts were unceasing?
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  4. God His Spirit to instruct me
    In His holy Word hath giv’n,
    That He safely may conduct me
    Through this weary world to heav’n.
    He my heart’s dark chamber filleth
    With the clear pure light of faith,
    Which destroys the pow’r of death,
    Yea, e’en hell itself it stilleth.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  5. All that for my soul is needful
    He with loving care provides,
    Nor of that is He unheedful
    Which my body needs besides.
    When my strength cannot avail me,
    When my pow’rs can do no more,
    Doth my God His strength outpour;
    In my need He doth not fail me.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  6. All the hosts of earth and heaven,
    Wheresoe’er I turn mine eye,
    For my benefit are given,
    That they may my need supply.
    All that’s living, all that’s growing,
    On the heights or in the woods,
    In the vales or in the floods,
    God is for my good bestowing.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  7. When I sleep, He still is near me,
    O’er me rests His guardian eye;
    And new gifts and blessings cheer me
    When the morning streaks the sky.
    Were it not for God’s protection,
    Had His countenance not been
    Here my guide, I had not seen
    E’er the end of my affliction.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  8. Ah! how often doth the devil
    Cause some great calamity!
    But my life from all such evil
    Till this moment has been free.
    For the angel whom God sendeth
    Wardeth off each threat’ning hurt,
    Ev’ry evil doth avert
    That mine enemy intendeth.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  9. As a father never turneth
    Wholly from a wayward child,
    For the prodigal still yearneth,
    Longing to be reconciled,
    So my many sins and errors
    Find a tender, pard’ning God,
    Chast’ning frailty with His rod,
    Not, in vengeance, with His terrors.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  10. All His strokes and scourges truly
    For the moment grievous prove,
    And yet, when I weigh them duly,
    Are but tokens of His love:
    Proofs that He is watching o’er me,
    And by crosses to His fold,
    From the world that fain would hold
    Soul and body, would restore me.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  11. On this thought I dwell with pleasure;
    For it granteth joy and peace.
    Christ’s cross hath its time and measure,
    And at last will wholly cease.
    When the winter disappeareth,
    Lovely summer comes again;
    Joy is giv’n for woe and pain
    Who His cross in patience beareth.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.
  12. Since, then, neither change nor coldness
    In my Father’s love can be,
    Lo! I lift my hands with boldness,
    As Thy child I come to Thee.
    Grant me grace, O God, I pray Thee,
    That I may with all my might,
    All my lifetime, day and night,
    Love and trust Thee and obey Thee
    And when I’ve had but my day,
    Praise and love my God for aye.

2 comments:

Pastor Peters said...

Did this even make it into LSB?

William Weedon said...

It's in the extra section in the organist edition and in the Builder.