How Great Thou Art
Also known as: O Store Gud, O Lord My God
Theological Analysis
A complete gospel presentation moving from creation to cross to coming again. The progression from natural revelation to special revelation to eschatological hope is masterful.
✓ Theological Strengths
- Natural revelation leading to worship
- Clear substitutionary atonement ('my burden gladly bearing')
- Eschatological hope prominent
- Personal response to God's greatness
- Balance of God's transcendence and immanence
Line-by-Line Analysis
"And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing; Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in"
Echoes Romans 8:32. The wonder of the incarnation and atonement is appropriately described as almost incomprehensible.
Full Lyrics
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
This hymn is in the public domain.