Great is thy faithfulness
“Great is Thy Faithfulness”
Thomas Obadiah Chisholm lived a highly active Christian life between 1866 and 1960. During his lifetime he was a teacher, a Methodist minister, an insurance broker, and an editor of a Christian newspaper. He wrote many Christian articles, over 1000 poems and several hymns. His most famous song continues to inspire people globally, who put their trust in God’s unending faithfulness. That hymn is “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” Many people can sing this hymn from memory.
The words of the lyrics are:
“Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassion they fail not, as Thou has been Thou forever will be.
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun moon and stars in their courses above, join with all angels in manifold witness, to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.”
Thomas Obadiah Chisholm
The composition of this hymn reflects the experiences and testimony of God evidently moving in the life of Thomas. Through the lyrics we are encouraged, as we are in Hebrews to believe that:
“Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13 v 8
God never changes and He has no favourites. He is a generational God. The Apostle Luke said:
“And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.” Luke 1 v 50
Our reverence of our Father God brings generational blessings. We can all equally experience the realities based on the scriptural foundation of the hymn ‘Great is Thy Faithfulnes2 when we too choose to put our trust in God and to wait on Him. King David said:
“My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” Psalm 130 v 6
He was actively looking for the presence of God. In another generation the prophet Isaiah said:
“O Lord be gracious to us. We wait for you. Be our arm in the morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.” Isaiah 33 v 12
In yet another generation Ezra encouraged the people and that encouragement extends to us today to:
“Seek the Lord and His strength. Seek His presence continually.”
1 Chronicles 16 v 11
Let us make waiting and seeking God our daily mission.
There are many scriptures that speak of God’s faithfulness. They are not just words to be read. We must open our spiritual ears to hear our Father God speaking. Christ is the embodiment of the Living Word, who now speaks to our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. He lives within the life of every believer who welcomes him.
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for I entrust my life to you.” Psalm 143 v 8
Yesterday’s grace was enough for yesterday. Like King David, we need to be committed and diligent in seeking God’s help EVERYDAY, in a new day.
Because prayer defined a huge part of his lifestyle, King David had faith that God would hear him. Therefore, he was able to say:
“But I will sing of your strength. I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of trouble.” Psalm 59 v 16
You can only speak of God’s faithfulness in our life if you come to Him as your Father. It matters how you relate to God. You an only speak of God’s faithfulness in your life when you stand on the Truth of His Word and promises – but only if you stand in faith.
Like Thomas Obadiah Chisholm, his contemporaries, and like many Christians before and after him, you must believe that God is your source and your resource. Believe that He is your provider. How does God provide for us in the natural? Through His creation.
“The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” Psalm 19 v 1
Why? They want us to be knowledgeable in knowing that:
“He made the moon to mark the seasons, the sun to know its time of setting.” Psalm 104 v 19
“He covers the heavens with clouds. He prepares rain for the earth. He makes grass grow on the hill.” Psalm 147 v 8
What great news for the farmers! God’s promise says:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my Word be that goes out from My mouth, it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55 v 10 – 11
Where the faithfulness of God is, we do not expect to see barrenness, a waste land or a desert. Like the persistent widow (Luke 18 v 1 – 8) we need to remain constant in prayer. Just because we do not see an immediate answer to prayer does not mean that our Father God is slow in answering prayer. Learn from the season of growth.
“Be patient, therefore brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.” James 5 v 7
Remember that our Father God promises that:
“He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil.” Deuteronomy 11 v 14
We often think of the former and the later rain as describing the outpouring of God’s anointing and Holy Spirit in the life of the believer and in the life of a nation to bring revival. God said
“He will!”, so let us continue to believe that for our generation.
God feeds us naturally, but He also feeds us supernaturally. That is to say He feeds us spiritually. The Scripture says that:
“Jesus replied “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.” Matthew 13 v 37
“Now the parable of the sower is this: The seed is the Word of God.” Luke 8 v 11
Let God plant seed in your life by spending time in prayer and time in His Word.
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiple your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9 v 10
It benefits and blesses us to spend time in God’s presence.
Our righteousness should be like His righteousness – evidently seen by others. Isaiah describes God’s righteousness like this:
“His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.” Isaiah 61 v 11
The pursuit of righteousness requires active participation and an individual response.
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap steadfast love, break up the fallow ground for it is time to seek the Lord, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10 v 12
In the natural, when we pass through a season of winter and begin to see the flowers of spring coming through, we feel hope as we look forward to brighter days, much more daylight and progressively warmer weather. How much more should we be hopeful in the spiritual? So much more! The apostle Paul said:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15 v 13
And what is that hope? The apostle Peter said:
“Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
1 Peter 1 v 3
And finally:
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we are professing for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10 v 23
Amen xxx