Eternal Father, Strong to Save (ELW 756)
1 Eternal Father, strong to save,
whose arm has bound the restless wave,
who bade the mighty ocean deep
its own appointed limits keep:
oh, hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.
2 O Savior, whose almighty word
the winds and waves submissive heard,
who walked upon the foaming deep,
and calm amid the storm didst sleep:
oh, hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.
3 O Holy Spirit, who didst brood
upon the chaos dark and rude,
and bid its angry tumult cease,
and give, for wild confusion, peace:
oh, hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.
4 O Trinity of love and pow’r,
all trav’lers guard in danger’s hour
from rock and tempest, fire and foe,
protect them wheresoe’er they go;
thus evermore shall rise to thee
glad hymns and praise from land and sea.
Devotion
Known as the Navy Hymn from its line about “those in peril on the sea,” writing in 1860, William Whiting is said to have received inspiration for its words from a description of the dangers of the sea described in Psalm 107:23-30: “then they cried to the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them from their distress.”
The sea is symbolic of the trials and challenges of life. We remember biblical stories of the parting of the Red Sea, of Jonah and the large fish, or of Jesus stilling the stormy waters for his terrified disciples. They remind us we are people of the water by virtue of our baptisms.
On D-Day, 77 years ago today, Allied forces crossed the English Channel to confront the Nazi armies. It was a day of tremendous peril on the sea and in the air, done to bring freedom to the captives and to restore hope to the oppressed. Peace be to them all, and to those who still strive to be peacemakers in our time.
Prayer
Abba Father, you are with your people wherever we are, in every situation in life. Be with those who venture into the difficult places for the betterment of this world. May we remember the sacrifices our fathers and mothers made to make this a better world. May we, too, be so inspired. Amen.