Text: Genesis 9:8-17, Psalm 90:1-17, Lamentations 5:19
Isaac Watts never wanted to write hymns. In fact, he didn’t even enjoy singing. A scraggly and rebellious teenager in Southampton, England, Watts was a poet who refused to sing psalms in church because they didn’t rhyme.
Watts’ lyrical appreciation and incessant poetics were an annoyance to everyone around him, including his own preacher father, who threatened to whip his son if he continued his daily rhyming. The son replied, “O Father do some pity take, and I will no more verses make!” (McKay 67).
After his anger subsided, Watts’ father challenged his writer son to create something “better” than King David’s psalms. At just 18 years old, Watts began writing hymns that were loosely rooted in the Psalms and aligned with his own singing preferences (which, of course, included rhyming). He aimed to communicate timeless gospel truths in contemporary language, as if King David was writing in the present-day 1700s (Watts 15).
His hymn “O God, Our Help In Ages Past” is based on Psalm 90:4:
For in Your sight a thousand years
are like yesterday that passes by,
like a few hours of the night.
When Watts’ signature style is applied to this passage, it becomes a singable hymn:
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
Whether sung in original psalmic context or modern rhyming prose, the importance of recalling God’s character remains the same. When we adopt the practice of recalling His past faithfulness, we are reminded of His present kindness.
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Isaac Watts
Our 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 your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same.
A thousand ages in your sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
soon bears us all away;
we fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.
Our God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
still be our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home!
McKay, Graham. A Hymn a Day. Franklin, TN: O’More Publishing, 2003.
Watts, Isaac. The Psalms of David – Imitated in the Language of the New Testament and Applied to the Christian State and Worship. Qontro Classic Books, 2010.
Good morning, She’s! Glad to be here with you and enjoying this study! (thank you SEARCHING for organizing us!) When I was growing up, my dad was the pastor of a tiny church in VT and these hymns were our Sunday morning staples. It’s been sweet to revisit them. Norton Hall Band has quite a few albums of hymns if you are looking for another listening option :)
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. – Psalms 90:14
Nothing satisfies that whole in our heart but God!
Oh, I just love this little narrative this morning. I can imagine an annoying teenager going around with his rhymes because he can’t contain his giftings & needs to grow in discipline by the Holy Spirit. Amazing that God blessed him and allowed his music to reach generations. It reminds me of Joseph, Jacob’s son, who shared his dreams before he understood the gravity of them. God still blessed him and used him. God loves young people, despite their lack of wisdom in using their gifts, lol. This is a good reminder for me to have a heart of mercy for those in their teen years and early 20s. I think of some of you have listed prayer requests for your children this age. <3 may God show His mercy.
@Teresa Donley– I am glad to know it isn't anything serious and they were able to help you! I didn't know that about Tums, but it makes sense. Thank you for updating us and glad you are doing better :)
Good Morning She’s!
This is another unfamiliar hymn, I feel like I’m 0-4, but I am excited already to see that I know tomorrow’s title! I really love the Psalm scripture today, as some of you mentioned already, where it says “our days are numbered” and help us to develop wisdom in our hearts! I have prayed for wisdom for some time now. My mother had great wisdom, she seemed to always know what to say. Me, on the other hand, seem to struggle for the right words to say on command! I so want to dish them out when talking to my son, grandkids, or even as I lead in groups or prison. Yet..! But, I know God is more than able to use each of us, and that is my motto this year. That I don’t have to THINK I’m able, but know THROUGH HIM I am able. He can use me in my “plain” speak, fumbling phrases! lol. (I helped teach a little more yesterday in Jail Ministry, so I am slowly getting there!) And my small group did want to continue this Fall, so I couldn’t have been too bad, right, lol?! In my mind I want to be able to explain my joy and love for the Lord yet it comes out stuttering like Moses, but I remember God uses all of us in great ways!! God use my days for your GLORY! God is our help in all things.
My heart aches for my son that is going through a painful break-up with his girlfriend. He is only 23, but has dated her since he was a senior, his first and only gf. They were living together for the last year, and he is moving out next week back to his dad’s. Even though we know everyone experiences these heartaches, it still hurts a momma’s heart!
Prayers lifted for you all!
This is another one I knew. (I am now 3 & 1.) What I am really enjoying, though, is slowing down to read and digest the words of these hymns. I think that too often we (ummm… I) can sing right through them and not see the meanings of the words and phrases that are RIGHT THERE in front of our (ummm…MY) eyes. What I took away today is the He was, is and will always be God, and he has numbered our days and will see us through all of them. Remember that He is with you today and every day, sweet sisters.
This is a new hymn to me, I’m 2 for 2 so far. Psalm 90 clicked with me today, especially the reminder to number our days so that we gain a heart of wisdom (awesome KELLY (NEO) that it’s one of “your” verses ❤️). Praying to remember these words when I’m spending time on things that don’t matter, realizing the number of my days may be short or long – and I shouldn’t waste them regardless.
O God our hope in ages past (how many times can I recall, how many have I forgotten)
Our Hope for years to come (however many years that may be, He will ALWAYS be there for me)
LYNNE FROM AL – Happy Birthday Week, dear sister!! You mentioned it was this week, but not the day ❤️ Praying for Gina, you and Jack
GRAMSIESUE- praying for Laurel W, her son and family
KRISTINE LOUGHMAN – praying for your family’s health!
CEE GEE – ❤️ thank you for mentioning Pam’s Piano – I looked her up and listened to several. Another resource I found today for hymns is happyhymnody.Wordpress.com – a hymn of the month site – also has a channel on youtube. Under the Printables/Index tab, she has the ones for past months listed alphabetically.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. – Psalms 90:14
I notice it doesn’t say “satisfy us with all the things we’ve asked for”. But instead, we are to be filled up, satisfied, with God’s love for us. That love is what should make us rejoice and be glad. It’s not dependent on things, or answered prayers, or signs and wonders. No, when I wake up each morning, all I should need is the never ending love of God.
Sickness is currently running rampant in my household, threatening to upend travel plans and activities and giving this mama no end of anxiety. God, fill me with knowledge of your steadfast love, filled to the brim so there is no room for anxiety or fear.
I’ve often prayed this verse back to the Lord “Teach us to number our days carefully
so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts” and it was good to see it today.
Loved this from Kaitlin, “When we adopt the practice of recalling His past faithfulness, we are reminded of His present kindness.”
GRAMSIESUE – prayers for God’s provision for Lauren and Brooks. Thanks for the update on Nahla
LYNNE FROM ALABAMA – continued prayers for Gina
NICOLE BURKE – may the Lord grant your family extra strength for the harvest.