“I SING THE MIGHTY POWER OF GOD”
I sing the mighty pow’r of God, that made the mountains rise,�That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.�I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;�The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,�Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.�Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,�If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.
There’s not a plant or flow’r below, but makes Thy glories known,�And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;�While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;�And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God, art present there.
Story behind “I SING THE MIGHTY POWER OF GOD”
“I Sing the Mighty Power of God” was written by English theologian Isaac Watts in 1715, originally titled “Praise for Creation and Providence”. It was created for his collection Divine Songs for Children to teach kids about God’s omnipotence through nature, aiming to make complex theology accessible.
Key facts about the hymn:
Origin: Written in 1715 for Divine Songs Attempted in Easy Language, for the Use of Children.
Purpose: Watts, a prolific hymn-writer, wanted to provide children with simple, engaging songs that described God’s power and wisdom in creation.
Background: As a young man, Watts was dissatisfied with the rigid, uninspired psalm-singing in his church, prompting his father to challenge him to write something better, resulting in a career that produced over 750 hymns.
Theme: The lyrics focus on God’s power (mountains, seas, sky) and his presence everywhere.
Tune: Often sung to the German tune “ELLACOMBE”.
Despite initial resistance from traditionalists who preferred only biblical Psalms, the hymn became widely accepted and remains a classic, often used to highlight the wonders of nature and the Creator’s sovereignty.
-Debra
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