“This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears; all nature sings and round me rings, the music of the spheres.” (1)
Can you hear the music?
Nature sings.
The culture around us clangs.
This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.
Do you join me in this thing?
Let’s fight to hear it – for the peace we’re so hungry for. Our ‘listening ears’ hear so much noise at this time: disasters of the natural kind. Fights abounding and lies surrounding. Natural laws being changed by the mind, protectors of cities in danger of their lives. Political voices saying, “There is peace.” when there is no peace.
But the old song, which seems so foreign and far, sings, “This is my Father’s world …”
Stop right there.
Let’s wait one precious second. This just might be our first mistake – we thought is was all ours. All mine, all yours. We believe that ‘this world was your land, and this world was mine! (exclamation point needed).
Join me as we attempt to ‘cheer up’ inside and remind ourselves: “Lift up your eyes. Lift up your eyes.”
121 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121 verse 1,and 2, King James Version, at that. This is my hill. Fancy words and all -God’s word helps me ‘be still.’
“He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.” (2) Our Father in heaven is ever present and great. He knows, just as ‘Israel,’ we wrestle and strive. So He allows a ‘dislocation’ of sorts in our lives,
but in the agony and weakness within, He becomes clear as the sky, as He opens our eyes.
This may sound crazy, but next, we will close our eyes He has opened, and rest in our battle.(!) Now this is the kind of fight I like best. Where we bow the knee and seek the King, and all the Power and the glory of ‘our Father.’
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night. Psalm 121 verses 5 and 6, somehow give me ‘power’ that I might relax.
The song, the music, my ears begin to hear: “This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair, In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.”
“The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.” The hill of God’s word, even in closed in 4 walls, will be my refuge and fortress. A very present help in trouble.
Let our hearts sing together, today. Take a breath and even out loud say: “This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world; The battle is not done; Jesus who died, shall be satisfied, And earth and heaven be one.”
Jesus who died, shall be satisfied, …and earth and heaven be one.”
Let us not forget to look to the hills of the psalms and hymns and sing. Join me today, in our battle array?
(1) This is My Fathers World by Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901.
(2) Psalm 121:3-4.
1
2 This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
3 This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!