Featured Hymn for October 4: This Is My Father's World

In ancient times, people believed that as the planets revolved in the universe, they made music or harmony. This is the belief Maltbie Babcock referred to in the line, “and round me rings the music of the spheres.” Though this belief has since been disproven, we know that objects in space do in fact emit sounds. Even more amazing, the ocean is also making noices at its very lowest and darkest depths - sounds which scientists are still unable to identify. The whole universe is singing a song of its creation, revealing something to us about He who created it. But, as Albert Bailey writes, “in stanza three, the author realizes that all’s not right with the world” (The Gospel in Hymns, 553). Creation is fallen and broken. Yet, it also still belongs to God. We are thus charged to listen attentively to the voice of God in His world – from the heights of space to the depths of the ocean - and witness how He restores it, listening for our own calling to be stewards of Creation.

View worship notes, composer biographies, historical information and more about this featured hymn at www.hymnary.org.