Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Saturday, 26 April 2014 "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" ELW 632

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise for Saturday, 26 April 2014 "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" ELW 632
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 your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
3. Before the hills in order stood
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same.
4. A thousand ages in your 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 our years away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the op'ning day.
6. O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
still be our guard while troubles last
and our eternal home.
An elderly gentleman walked slowly as he left the evening worship. He had listened as the congregation sang, "O God Our Help in Ages Past." He took my hand and spoke with tears in his eyes. "That hymn is all I need; it tells me all that I need to know about God."
As this man neared the close of his life, he bore witness to the way he had been surrounded by these strong words of assurance. The words of this familiar hymn continued to proclaim a God whose love and care had the filled the past and stretched into the ages to come. Amid the many uncertainties of life the good news had been proclaimed in a bold and beautiful way.
O God our Help, thanks for the songs of faith which surround us with words of assurance of your love and care. Amen.
Wayne Radke
Zumbrota, Minn. 
Master of Divinity , 1960
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