Dr. Reinders was right – our “Christian liturgy is replete with songs and prayers full of the promises of what God will do.” Maybe those old hymn writers knew something about suffering and providence worth remembering and even clinging to today.
For example:
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.
And there are some old verses in familiar hymns I think we should bring back!
With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One, whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, who is this? Jesus Christ it is.
Of Sabbath Lord, and there’s none other God;
He holds the field forever.
John,
I love these words! I sing hymns to the Fox as I bathe him every morning….My hope is in the Lord….