O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST

During his life, one of the things that Isaac Watts set as an objective, was a massive project to adapt the Book of Psalms for Christian worship.  In 1719, his book entitled, “The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament,” was published.  His hymn, Joy to the World, that we sing at Christmas time was based on Psalm 98.

In Psalm 90 we read, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations” …and… “from everlasting to everlasting, You are God!”  Psalm 90 became the basis for Isaac’s beloved Hymn, O GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST.

This most embracing hymn was played on the radio by BBC as soon as World War II was declared.  It was later sung at the funeral service for Winston Churchill.  This Hymn is often sung at Remembrance Day services still today.

Listen to the first verse, “O God Our Help in Ages Past, Our hope for years to come.  Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.”  Can you imagine the hope and comfo these words must have brought the soldiers in the war who were certainly in a stormy blast.  Their faith in the eternal home brought hope as they as they fought to  secure our freedom today?