Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Granted in What He Ordaineth

This morning I'm listening to the beautiful hymn, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," based on Joachim Neander's German choral written in 1680. In particular, I love this question that, in translation, reads:

Hast thou not seen
how thy desires ever have been
granted in what He ordaineth?  

I ponder the question all morning. Have I not seen how my desires have been granted, are granted, and will be granted in what God ordains for my life?

Have I not seen this? Might I truly believe it?

I remember that God knows the desires of my heart; He put them there and knows exactly how to fulfill them in my life. I offer the desire--without articulating how God will meet it--and rest assured that this thing will "ever have been granted in what He ordaineth."

Amen.

Enjoy the hymn in its entirety below:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
Now to his temple draw near,
Join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires ever have been
Granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee!
Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;
Ponder anew
What the Almighty will do,
If with his love he befriend thee!

Praise thou the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee,
Decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee.
How oft in grief
Hath not he brought thee relief,
Spreading his wings to o'ershade thee!

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen
Sound from his people again;
Gladly for aye we adore him.


Trans: Catherine Winkworth
1863

1 comment:

Kristin S said...

One of my all time favorites.

These.... "Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,Shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!"