Sometimes it makes sense to let someone else do the writing—in this case, someone from almost 400 years ago. His name was Martin Rinckart, a Lutheran musician/pastor in Eilenburg, Germany. This fortress town was a haven for refugees from the Thirty Years War that raged during Rinckart’s entire career. It didn’t take long for famine, disease and war to take their toll on the population. When he became the town’s only surviving pastor, Rinckart was performing as many as 50 funerals per day. Although destitute, he shared his resources to feed others and keep the congregation’s musicians working.
Rinckart wrote this hymn not because he was grateful for overflowing abundance. Instead, he wanted to acknowledge God’s lasting providence in spite of present circumstances. Somehow, his familiar words ring as true today as they did in 1636.
Read these verses as a prayer, perhaps with the hymn’s tune playing in your mind. See how Rinckart’s words and story connect with your life right now.
Today let’s thank God, all of us!
Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this 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;
and keep us still in 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 heaven adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
