God's care

​Psalm 121

“Eternal Father, Strong to Save”
 
Eternal Father, strong to save,
whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid’st the mighty ocean deep
its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
for those in peril on the sea!
 
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
and hushed their raging at Thy Word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
for those in peril on the sea!
 
Most 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!
 
O Trinity of love and power!
Our fam’ly shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
 protect us wheresoev’r we go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
 
                                                                        William Whiting, 1860
 
 
Several years ago, a movie version of the Christmas story was released. It was called The Nativity – and it beautifully told the story of Mary and Joseph and Jesus. To me, the most poignant part of the movie focused on Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. Until I saw the movie, I’m not sure that I ever realized how difficult and dangerous that journey was.
 
The hymn that is quoted here is a hymn celebrating God’s protection of travelers. I know that Mary and Joseph did not travel on the sea – but I still love this hymn as a great reminder of God’s care for those who travel. What courage it must have taken for Mary and Joseph to take this dangerous journey! And how marvelous of God to take care of them every step of the way!
 
This hymn is sometimes called “the Navy Hymn” because of its close connection with the Naval Academy in Annapolis. It was said to be Franklin Roosevelt’s favorite hymn – and it was sung at his funeral. Many of us, perhaps, still remember the strains of this hymn accompanying the casket of John F. Kennedy as it was carried up the steps of the United States Capitol to lie in state.
 
The tune is called MELITA – a variation of the name “Malta,” where the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked in Acts 27. Even in a rather dramatic shipwreck, God found a way to protect His messenger Paul. And hundreds of years later, a hymn celebrating God’s care of travelers was written with that shipwreck in mind.
 
We take so much for granted as we travel from place to place. This hymn reminds us of how desperate we are for God’s care. Sometimes called “the traveler’s psalm,” Psalm 121 echoes this same theme: “The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore!”