Isaac Watts

God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus, the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So, God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.
Genesis 1:31; 2:1-3

 I Sing the Mighty Power of God

 1    I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise,
     that spread the flowing seas abroad and built the lofty skies.
      I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
      the moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

2    I sing the goodness of the Lord who filled the earth with food,
      who formed creation with a word and then pronounced it good.
      Lord, how your wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
      if I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky!

3    There’s not a plant or flow’r below but makes your glories known;
      and clouds arise and tempests blow by order from your throne;
      while all that borrows life from you is ever in your care,
      and ev’rywhere that I could be, you, God, are present there.

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, alt.

Isaac Watts was a child progeny.  He learned Latin at four, Greek at 8, French at age 11 and Hebrew at age 13.  As an adult he wrote books on theology, psychology, logic and astronomy.  He was a confirmed bachelor, never had any children, but the first book he ever wrote; one he wrote for parents; eventually became popular for children was a collection of hymns called: “Divine and Moral Songs for Children”.

His idea was that he would create a book that adults could use to train their children in ways that were moral and upright.  It included songs like “Against Quarreling and Fighting” ( a song we might want to relearn in this contentious time) its words were; “Let dogs delight and bark and bite cause that’s the way God made them.  Let bears and lions growl and fight for that’s their nature too. But children should not let passions rise, their little hands are not made to tear out eyes…”  Not great poetry, but the lesson is clear.  We are not made to fight and growl, we are made to get along! And that is why the first song of the collection – a song meant to set the tone, was “I Sing the Mighty power of God” to remind both parents and children that the God who created this vast and wondrous universe, loves and keeps us all in his care.

Prayer:  Almighty God, we are blessed with our children and the children of others. They remind us that we are given the next generation as a gift of grace.  We stand in awe before the wonder of creation.  And we remember that you have given it to us as well to tend, to love, and to cherish as a gift of grace. Keep us mindful of these gifts and of our responsibility to care for them.  In Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.

Here are a couple of different versions: Enjoy!

 An English Tune from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the traditional tune in our hymnals