A Hymn for Such a Time as This

Here in America, in a country overflowing with every kind of food imaginable, streets lined with glittering stores stuffed full of clothing and toys, and amenities like water and electricity at our fingertips, we have been brought to a sudden and complete standstill by the world-wide pandemic called COVID-19. We feed our anxiety by following every news report, watching the stock market roller coaster, and stock piling such things as toilet paper and hand sanitizer. But it could be and has been worse.

In 1618, the future Holy Roman emperor Ferdinand II, in his role as king of Bohemia, attempted to impose Roman Catholic absolutism on his domains, and the Protestant nobles of both Bohemia and Austria rose up in rebellion. Thus began what was known as The Thirty Years War, one of the most destructive conflicts in human history. It resulted in eight million fatalities not only from military engagements but also from violence, famine, and plague.

A walled city, Eilenburg, Germany, quickly became a place of refuge for thousands of frightened and displaced Germans fleeing the devastating conflict. The sudden overcrowding caused widespread food shortages, and starving residents soon began fighting in the streets for dead cats and birds.

On top of the famine, densely-packed humanity and filth soon led to an outbreak of plague. The four ministers in the town began officiating ten or more funerals a day -- each. One overwhelmed pastor eventually fled and two others died, leaving Martin Rinkart the sole minister in the desperate and overpopulated city.

Alone, Rinkart was tasked with burying up to 50 people a day, including his own wife. By the end of the ordeal, he’d conducted nearly 4,500 funerals. The dead eventually became so numerous they had to be buried in mass trenches without services.

In the face of overwhelming pressure, constant risk and horrendous conditions, Rinkart never stopped ministering to the people of his city. He gave away nearly everything he owned to the poor and needy, though he could barely clothe and feed his own children. He mortgaged his own future income to provide for his family and his community.

After nearly thirty years of ceaseless struggles, it began to look like peace was within grasp. Wanting to give his children a song to sing to God in thanks at the dinner table, Rinkart sat down and wrote what would become one of the most well known Thanksgiving hymns of all time -- “Now Thank We All Our God.” Set to a simple tune by Johann Crüger, it's been said that aside from Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," no other song is sung more often in Lutheran churches today than Rinkart's table grace.

Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom this world rejoices.
Who, from our mother's arms,
Hath led us on our way,
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

listen to one of these renditions of this great hymn. Perhaps you can sing along. The first is the traditional choir and organ, the other is a more contemporary, acoustic solo version.
Now Thank We All Our God

Now Thank We All Our God by Reawaken (Acoustic Hymn)