O God, Our Help in Ages Past (ELW 632)
Devotion
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.
Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, alt.
It seems to me that after reading about death and destruction and what some call the "end times," it is helpful to remember that God does not leave us alone to our own devices. The hymn "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" is a notable reminder for us that there is hope and that God's love is limitless. We are protected and secure because of God's love. We take comfort in being sheltered amid the storms of life, in knowing that God is with us and that we are connected to a God whose presence and power is everlasting.
As you ponder or sing the words of this hymn that is a favorite to many, I invite you to ask yourself, "What helps me be assured of God's love in this time and place?"
Prayer
Ever-present God, we are thankful for your strength. Help us to remember that you do not leave us alone. Give us the courage to continue to call out to you in times of trouble. Amen.