Hymn Reflection: Now Thank We All Our God
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
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to 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.
TEXT: Martin Rinkart MUSIC: Johann Crüger
Thanksgiving is a common theme throughout Scripture. The instruction for the people of God to be filled with gratitude is found everywhere from the Old Testament Psalms to the letters of Paul in the New Testament. Thankfulness should be a hallmark in the life of a Christian.
It follows then as no surprise that the worship music of the church should also be filled with songs of praise. What may be surprising however, is the circumstances under which some of these hymns and songs of faith are written. Much like the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk, sometimes our declaration of “Yet I will rejoice (Habakkuk 3:18)” come out of the severest trials of life.
Such was the birth of the Reformation Hymn, “Now Thank We All Our God.”
Historical Context
The uneasy peace found between Catholics and Protestants at the end of the 16th century was torn wide open in the first half of the 17th century. The spirit of tolerance for religious expression that is so prevalent in Western Society today was not present in Central Europe in 1618. In fact, religious unity was the goal as the leadership of Holy Roman Empire sought to reestablish the preeminence of the Roman Catholic church throughout its territories.
An immense power struggle began as 100 years of Lutheran thought and worship practice was under threat from the powers of the Holy Roman Emperor and his allies. Protestant princes and cities united to resist the political and military pressure of the Catholic kingdoms and the result was an armed conflict of unimaginable proportions known as the Thirty Years War (1618–1648).
Into this backdrop we meet our author, the Lutheran Pastor and musician, Martin Rinkart. Called to serve in his hometown of Eilenberg, Saxony before the outbreak of hostilities, Martin remained in ministry throughout the conflict. As the tides of war crossed back and forth across Germany, those who suffered most were the ordinary people. Battles brought refugees and cramped cities brought diseases. Famine was another byproduct of the war as the countryside was ravished by competing armies. Through it all, Martin Rinkart sought to serve the congregation and people where the Lord had sent him. Author Rob Morgan points out that at one point in the conflict, Martin was the only clergyman left in Eilenberg and would sometimes perform as many as fifty funerals in a day.[1] Out of this suffering, came the words for one of the most uplifting hymns of thanksgiving in the history of the church.
The tune NUN DANKET was composed by Johann Crüger and first appeared paired with the Rinkart text in a 1647 hymnal publication. This is the primary melody associated with the hymn and was established within the lifetimes of the two contributors.[2]
Theological Content
Each verse of this hymn is rich with theological content and instruction for worship in the life of the believer.
Verse one begins with the present nature of worship and the practical nature of our worship. In fact, the opening line of this hymn may be the most concise call to worship in the entire hymnal. Our English translation begins with the word “Now.” Observe how not one word is wasted in establishing the theme of our praise.
The time to worship is “Now.” The form of worship is to “thank.” The call of worship is to the people of God, “we all.” And the object of worship is “our God.”
“Now thank we all our God,” six words which completely describe the purpose of our hymn, yet is only the beginning of a subject matter which listed in full could fill 100 hymnals.
Verse one continues with the process of our worship, “with heart and hands and voices,” and then gives a reminder of the sovereign guidance of God in our lives from “our mothers’ arms” right up until our current “today.”
Verse two continues the theme of God’s presence in our lives and the joy and strength He gives even when we are perplexed and face hardships. We are encouraged by the reminder that He will “free us from all ills” even into eternity.
Verse three begins with a robust tribute to the Triune God and reminds the Christian that the praise and thanksgiving we offer now is the praise we will get to sing “evermore.” A thankful heart is not determined by our temporary circumstances, but on His eternal goodness!
Application
While this hymn is certainly appropriate for use around the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, it is equally appropriate at any worship gathering of celebration. The third verse has a special doxological theme with its emphasis on the Trinity and would also be a strong congregational song in response to the preaching of the Word or as a hymn of benediction.
