Today’s video features a popular hymn sung at Thanksgiving time, “Now Thank We All Our God.” Martin Rinkart wrote the lyrics in 1636. He was born in Eilenburg, Germany in 1586 and spent time in both Leipzig and Elienburg studying and serving as diaconus and archdiaconus. A large portion of his life occurred during the Thirty Years War, and Rinkart had to deal with pestilence and famine from the overcrowded town. Rinkart was a prolific writer and a good musician, though much of his work has been lost. The text for today’s hymn was written during the year prior to the death of his wife, who fell victim to the epidemic in 1637.
Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom His world rejoices;
Who, from our mothers’ arms,
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
Thro’ all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace,
And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son, and Him who reigns
With them in highest heaven,
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
Thank you for listening!
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:14-17
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