Gregg DeMey 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst, CRC'S daily dose of the word of God. It's Friday, July 29 and Sunday's coming. This is Greg DeMey and I serve as lead pastor at ECRC. This Sunday's opening song on our livestreamed worship (because it's Fifth Sunday Serve) is one of the great hymns of the last century: This Is My Father's World.
Gregg DeMey 0:27
This hymn was written by a Reverend Maltbie Davenport Babcock - what an amazing name - and was published after his death in 1901. It was originally written as a poem which contained 16 verses of 4 lines each. Reverend Babcock had a friend named Franklin Shepherd who set the poem to music in 1915, and selected 3 of the 16 verses for the final hymn. Now, Reverend Maltbie Davenport Babcock lived in Lockport, New York (upstate New York) and he would often take walks overlooking a cliff where he would enjoy a beautiful vista of Lake Ontario and upstate New York scenery. As he prepared to leave for his walks, he would often tell his wife or co-workers that he was, quote, "Going out to see my Father's world."
Gregg DeMey 1:17
I love this both theologically - to acknowledge that everything we see and sense was made by our good God - and personally, because I love to walk or run and ride and take the vibrant life of this world in through my senses. Especially in the summer months when everything is green and growing. As beautiful as this world is and as wondrous as it can be, it is also broken. The final verse puts it especially poignantly. You can listen to a version by singer Amy Grant linked in the show notes. I'll read you the lyrics of the final verse.
Gregg DeMey 1:49
This is my Father's world. Oh, let me never forget that though the wrong seems off so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father's world. Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King, let the heavens ring. God reigns, let the earth be glad. If you're watching at home, I invite you to sing these words wholeheartedly so we can worship together and spirit.
Gregg DeMey 2:17
Let's pray to close. I'm going to use the first verse of the song for our prayer. God our Father, this is your world. And to our listening ears, all nature sings, and round us rings the music of the spheres. God my father, this is your world. And today I rest in the thought of rocks and trees of skies and seas. It's your hand that the wonders rot. And into your hands, I commend my life this day. In Jesus name, Amen.