Hymn: O God, our help in ages past

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

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.

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Feb 22 2015

Adepoju

PortHarcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

I love this hymn.

It is a reminiscence of the activities of past happenings, and also the expectations of the future.....

It has the effect of giving the courage ton face tomorrow with determine nation that all will be well.

God will bless the writer in Jesus' Name.

Jan 25 2015

Tochukwu C Igwe

Enugu, Nigeria

This song is wonderful and always encouraging to me.

I always sing the song during peace and war times of my life.

God is my only help.

Jan 22 2015

Olamilekan Alabi

Somolu, Lagos, Nigeria

As I leave my lecturer' office today who told me I am at the verge of failing his course. This song kept on ringing in my mind and as I remember the past help and goodness of the Lord in my life my soul is being lifted and my heart merry. Because God of yesterday is still God of today. Children of God as you read this comment kindly pray for me to receive favour from my lecturer as touching my examination such that I should not fail in them.

Dec 31 2014

Gbemisola Adeboye

Lagos, Nigeria

This Hymn is my best hymn, it was sang on my wedding day and I always sing it on the last day of every year, to show how grateful I am for the whole, and trusting God for the new year, Oh God Our help in ages past and also Our hope for years to come, been our guard while life shall last. God bless the writer of the hymn.

Dec 14 2014

Steve Miller

Detroit, MI, United States

This song is a paraphrase of Psalm 90 by Moses. It seems Moses wrote it when he was ready to depart this world.

Orthodox Jewish publications also use Watt's hymn [i.e. "Pentateuch & Haftorahs" pub. by Socino Press].

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Except for 12 psalms which he felt were unsuited for Christian usage, Watts paraphrased in song the entire book of Psalms in "The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament" published in 1719.

This hymn was sung at Winston Churchill's funeral.

It is the University Anthem of the University of California, Berkeley and of many other colleges. Stanza 5 above is quoted in many secular books. - Wikipedia

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The 1st and last stanzas, 1st line, originally says "Our God". John Wesley changed it to "O God" in his hymnal "Psalms and Hymns" in 1738. Both versions are in current usage. - Wikipedia

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Last stanza, 3rd line originally says:

Be Thou our guard while troubles last,

(The alternate "while life shall last" was in the Lutheran hymnal in 1814. -hymnary.org)

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There are additional stanzas that are usually omitted:

3b Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,

“Return, ye sons of men:”

All nations rose from earth at first,

And turn to earth again.

4b The busy tribes of flesh and blood,

With all their lives and cares,

Are carried downwards by the flood,

And lost in following years

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5b Like flowery fields the nations stand

Pleased with the morning light;

The flowers beneath the mower’s hand

Lie withering ere ‘tis night.

Feb 6 2014

Ranjani

Colombo, Sri Lanka

This is indeed a great hymn for ages past, present and in future.

Jan 26 2014

Setsan Santos

Caxias, RJ, Brazil

This Hymn sure brings peace and comfort to our souls. Glory to the Lord!

Jan 25 2014

Monica Bailley

Mclean, VA, United States

Franklin D. Roosevelt choose this hymn to be sung at the church service the morning of his first inauguration as the 32nd President of the United States. He knew he would need God's help as he undertook the enormous task of leading this country. In fact, he would eventually face the most terrible of wars during his time as President. This great hymn expresses so much about our dear Savior and Lord. Indeed, "Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saint have dwelt secure!"

Jan 15 2014

Nwadiliora Echezona

This is the summary of who God is to me. Beyond the colours of religion and denominations, God is our eternal strength and anchor. I live within the boundaries of this hymn, the past, the present and the sure future.

Jan 14 2014

Olaposi-Matthew

Issac Watts sure had a depth of understanding of the highly invaluable nature of that thing called Time! Someone has said life is not lost by dying. Life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand uncaring way. May the good Lord give us all an understanding of the invaluable potentials of that singular gift He has given to to all earth comers in equal amount irrespective of their family, pedigree or the color of their skin.

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