O God, our help in ages past

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1
O God, our help in ages past,
  Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
  And our eternal home.
2
Under the shadow of Thy throne
  Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
  And our defence is sure.
3
Before the hills in order stood,
  Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
  To endless years the same.
4
A thousand ages in Thy sight
  Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
  Before the rising sun.
5
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
  Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream
  Dies at the opening day.
6
O God, our help in ages past,
  Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
  And our eternal home.
231
Ana Lara

United States

This hymn, considered to be one of the greatest in English hymnody, is a paraphrase of Psalm 90, a psalm of Moses. It is more than a metrical version of this Psalm; its is a commentary on the whole subject of time, which is the theme of this Psalm. Originally the hymn had nine stanzas but today it has been shortened to stanzas one, two, three, five and nine. In 1738 John Wesley in his hymnal

“Psalms and Hymns, changed the first line of the text from “Our God” to “O God. ” the hymn was originally part of “The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, ” published by Isaac Watts in 1719. In this book he paraphrased in Christian verse the whole book of Psalms except for twelve Psalms which he felt unsuited for hymn usage. This hymn ranks as one of the finest of over 600 hymns Watts wrote during his lifetime.


Abiola Oyede

Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria

The holy spirit brought this song to me, at midnight today, while wondering about this covid-19 pandermic, with it's devastation. God used this song to remind me, he is our only helper at this time, and he is well and able to protect his own, that believe in him. l tell you there is a very high level of assurance of his help within my soul, after listening to this song, that cast away all fear of being a victim.


Kwesi Hervie

Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

This particular song just gives me the chill and the hope that despite what we might seem to face anytime in life, God is with us, as he has been with them in times past.

We can even see the truth of it in the life of our fathers of faith

Lord, be thou our guide while life shall last and our eternal home!


Gabriel

Just sitting this evening and this good old song came to me , I look it up and then sang it , it brought back sweet memories to me , I hope with Yahweh's help it do the same for you , before we used to sing with G-d but praises to the most high he had reveled his Name Yahweh to us , may you also receive this blessings by using his name Yahweh Hallelu Yahweh Shalom


Bernard Brechum

Accra, Central, Ghana

This hymn came to mind when I read a friends WhatsApp status on December 31st. The words has been a sure comfort, a repose and beacon of hope to me tonight. May the Lord use it to lift up many spirits that are down-casted.


Omoyajowo Sunday Ajayi

Maianga, Luanda, Angola

The indebt of this song unfolded the mystery of God, His Majesty, His supremacy, His Mightiness and His unending grace. More than a song if well meditated. May God's unfalling grace never siezed over us and this perverse generation. Amen.


Stella Iheoma Odiaka

Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

God bless you for such freshening, inspirational hymn. The hymn came to my mind this morning as a reminder of God's faithfulness over the past years. A real comfort. I am strengthened.


Sean

Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, United Kingdom

Beautiful hymn. It helps me immensely to lift myself from despair.


William

Cape Town, South Africa

Like a number of people before me, this hymn came to me this morning as I was giving my day to the Lord. Since a child it has always been a source of comfort, trusting in God’s constant and eternal presence as we journey through life’s twist and turns and beyond.


Chijioke Godfrey Nwafor Obele Esiobu

Lagos, Nigeria

Whenever my spirit is down this hymn inspires me, uplifts my spirit. Indeed Our God is awesome. He alone is God its also my dad's favorite.