Martin Rinkhart

Isaiah 12:4-6
And you will say on that day: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

 Now Thank We All Our God LBW

 1    Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices,
     who wondrous things has done, in whom his world rejoices;
      who, from our mothers’ arms, has blest us on our way
      with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

2    Oh, may this bounteous God through 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 harm in this world and the next.

3    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 Rinkhart, 1586-1649; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

      Other than “A Mighty Fortress” this is the most popular hymn of the Reformation; written by a Lutheran Pastor named Martin Rinkhart, who was a pastor in the walled city of Eilenberg during the 30-Year-War.  Eilenberg was a border city that housed many refugees from battle.  Rinkhart was the only pastor who remained in it during the hostilities.  Eilenberg, being on the front line, was first overrun by the Swedes, then the Austrians, then again by the Swedes until it was finally recaptured by the Germans.  During one year of the war Pastor Rinkhart presided over 5000 funerals, including that of his own wife.  So when he wrote the words; “guide us when perplexed” he was not puzzling over which stock to invest in when he retired!

      Despite the dire circumstances in which it was written, this hymn redounds with thanksgiving, and was popularized by another Lutheran Pastor named Johann Kruger in 1644, as the 30-Year-War still raged.  He said that of all the hymns he had ever heard, this one, promising that God would be with them "in this world and the next” spoke most powerfully to his faith.

Prayer:  Lord, as we begin to see the end of our time of exile, help us to emerge a wiser, more thankful people.  Give us the courage to sing the song, proclaim the good news, and be a thankful people for all that you have given and have yet to give!  Amen.