God Our Help In Ages Past

Preliminary:

Today is a very special birthday 350 years ago a bundle of joy was placed in the arms of Sarah Taunton Watts’ arms in Southhampton, England

Little Isaac is to be the first of eight children born to the Nonconformist Watts family - in fact the father, according to some historians was probably in in prison at during this birth for his nonconformity.

Watts was a brilliant young man and even from a young age had a love for poetry.

The story is told that

One evening during family devotions, while his father was reading scripture and lead in prayer, Isaac saw a mouse climbing up the bell-pull rope and was heard to giggle.

When questioned by his father, why he was laughing he replied:

There was mouse for want of stairs Ran up a rope to say his prayers.

Osbeck tells us that Watts had an annoying habit of rhyming everyday conversation. One day when his dad had has his fill and became irritated and scolded him for it,

...Isaac Watts cried out...

“O father, do some mercy take, and I will no more verses make.”

At age six, his mother found some verses he had written down, and wondered if he had written them himself at such a young age. So she seated him at the kitchen table and asked him to write a poem. He quickly did just that, using the ten letters of his name:

I am a vile polluted lump of earth,

So I’ve continued ever since my birth;

Although Jehovah, grace doth daily give me,

As sure this monster Satan will deceive me,

Come, therefore, Lord, from Satan’s claws relieve me.

Wash me in They blood, O Christ,

And grace divine impart,

Then search and try the corners of my heart,

That I in all things may be fit to do

Service to Thee, and sing Thy praise too.

Isaac Watts became frustrated and bored with the church music of his day and went to his father about it, who advised him to write his own hymns, which he set out to do.

For two years he wrote a new hymn for every Sunday.

Isaac Watts is now known as the “Father of English Hymnody,”

he is credited with authoring more than 500 Osbeck calculates 600 hymns, including “Joy to the World” and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”

I want to talk about one that perhaps isn’t quite as well known but is a paraphrase of Psalm 90 - “O God Our Help in Ages Past”

Let’s read Psalm 90 and then we will have a better understanding of the text of the hymn:

Read Psalm 90

Psalm 90 KJV 1900

A Prayer of Moses the man of God. 1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 3 Thou turnest man to destruction; And sayest, Return, ye children of men. 4 For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night. 5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: In the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; In the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 7 For we are consumed by thine anger, And by thy wrath are we troubled. 8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: We spend our years as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 13 Return, O Lord, how long? And let it repent thee concerning thy servants. 14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, And the years wherein we have seen evil. 16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, And thy glory unto their children. 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: And establish thou the work of our hands upon us; Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Psalm 90 is prayer of Moses, reflecting on God's eternity and human frailty.

As it is a Psalm of Moses it is one of the oldest Psalms in the Bible.

The probable historical context for Psalm 90 is during the 40 years of wilderness wandering described in the books of Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

We see three items to note from that time reflected in this psalm

Rebellion and Judgment: This period was marked by the rebellion of the Israelites and God's subsequent judgment, where He declared that the generation that left Egypt would not enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:26-35).

Human Mortality: The wilderness journey underscored the brevity and frailty of human life, as an entire generation perished in the desert due to their disobedience.

Divine Eternity: In contrast to human mortality, the eternal nature of God was a central theme. God had been the refuge of His people from generation to generation, transcending human limitations.

Psalm 90 can be divided into several sections:

Verses 1-2: God's Eternity and Sovereignty

Verses 3-6: Human Frailty and Mortality

Verses 7-12: The Consequences of Sin and the Brevity of Life

Verses 13-17: A Plea for God's Mercy and Blessing

Now I would like to read the lyrics to the hymn - You can read along if you would like in SING HIS PRAISE page 52

We only have four verses in our hymnal I believe the original had 9, the Methodist hymnal eventually dropped it to 6 and now we have four. I will mostly talk about these four verses:

Logos Digital Hymnal (O God, Our Help in Ages Past)

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 Thy throne,

Still may we dwell secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone,

And our defense is sure.

3 Before the hills in order stood,

Or earth received her frame,

From everlasting Thou art God,

To endless years the same.

4. O God our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Be Thou my guide while life shall last,

And our eternal home.

Watts composed three metrical paraphrases of portions of Psalm 90 which appeared in his famous Psalms of David, Imitated (1719). The version that we use is the second paraphrase, originally in nine stanzas, appearing under the title “Man Frail and God Eternal.” The Wesley brothers made extensive use of Isaac Watts hymns.

John Wesley altered Watts’ hymns for many reasons when they were published in his collections.

The first stanza of this great hymn contains one of John Wesley’s most significant alterations:

Watts originally wrote, “Our God, our help in Ages Past”

Wesley changed it to “O God, our help in Ages Past” From John Wesley’s perspective, the use of “our” as an adjective to God implied a narrower Calvinistic God who was the province only of the “elect.”

For the Wesleys the grace of God was open to all, not just the elect.

“O God Our Help in Ages Past” is “considered to be one of the grandest in the whole realm of English hymnody.”

Osbeck calls it “a grand commentary on the whole subject of time.”

It is still sung at many festive occasions in England.

Now I want to attempt to weave the scripture passage and the lyrics together with the Lord’s help:

I want us to notice four things:

1. God's Eternal Nature and Our Hope (Psalm 90:1-2)

Verse from Psalm: "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

Application:

I believe what both Moses and Isaac Watts is trying to get us to see is that God has an unchanging nature and an eternal presence.

God has been a refuge, or home to humanity since humanity has existed

While human experience and illustrations fail to fully explain this though -

A series of incidents that happened during the Crimean War shows us a little of this.

Florence Nightingale was a pioneering nurse and she and her team of nurses were dispatched to the British base hospital in Turkey.

Conditions were deplorable

The soldiers suffered not only from war injuries but also diseases like cholera and typhus.

The serious issues were compounded and made worse by unsanitary conditions and inadequate medical care.

But in all of this Nightingale became known for her nightly rounds - faithful, could be counted on no matter the weather, the battle, the condition - Nightingale was going to walk through to check on the troops.

Whats more, she had a habit of carrying a lamp as she walked through the dark wards that earned her the nickname “The Lady with the Lamp.”

She made sure that even in the darkest hours and the most horrific of circumstances that no soldier ever felt abandoned or alone.

Moses is saying God through all forty years of our wandering in the wilderness - you have been there - not “The Lady with the Lamp” but the

Exodus 13:21–22 KJV 1900

21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

I like how Watts captures this:

Hymn Verse 1: "O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home!"

The second thing to note:

2. Human Frailty and God's Protection (Psalm 90:3-6)

Verse from Psalm: Psalm 90:3–4 “3 Thou turnest man to destruction; And sayest, Return, ye children of men. 4 For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night.”

Application:

Humanity is so frail, fragile and transient - Psalm 90:10 “10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten (70) ; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years (80), Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

We could not survive if God was not our protector and helper

I often think of the tremendous happenings of Brother Andrew

Brother Andrew, born in the Netherlands in 1928, felt a calling to serve God by bringing Bibles to Christians living behind the Iron Curtain. He began his mission in the 1950s, a time when possessing a Bible could lead to imprisonment or worse in many Communist countries.

Stories of God's Protection in Brother Andrew’s Life:

1. Smuggling Bibles into Communist Countries:

Miraculous Border Crossings: Brother Andrew often recounted how God protected him during his missions. On numerous occasions, he prayed for "seeing eyes to be made blind" as he approached border crossings with his car filled with contraband Bibles. Miraculously, guards would wave him through without inspecting his vehicle, despite the evident risk and thorough searches conducted on other cars.

Example: One of the most famous incidents involved a border crossing into Yugoslavia. As he approached the checkpoint, he openly placed several Bibles on the passenger seat, praying for a miracle. The guard, who should have confiscated the Bibles and arrested Andrew, looked into the car, saw the Bibles, and inexplicably allowed him to pass without a word.

2. Facing Imprisonment and Persecution:

Encounters with Authorities: Brother Andrew faced numerous threats from authorities in various countries. However, he continually experienced God's protection. In one instance, while speaking at an underground church, secret police raided the meeting. Despite the danger, Brother Andrew remained calm, praying for protection. The police left without arresting anyone, which was a clear indication of divine intervention.

3. Divine Guidance and Provision:

Provision of Resources: Throughout his ministry, Brother Andrew witnessed God's provision and guidance. Whether it was financial resources, transportation, or safe houses, God provided exactly what was needed at the right time, demonstrating His protective care and support.

Watts saw this and answered Moses with:

"Hymn Verse 2: "Under the shadow of Thy throne, still may we dwell secure; sufficient is Thine arm alone, and our defense is sure."

still another noteworthy connection:

3. God's Timelessness and Consistency (Psalm 90:4)

Verse from Psalm: Psalm 90:4 “4 For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night.”

Application:

This speaking of God's timelessness and His consistency over the ages.

God's eternal nature provides stability and confidence in an ever-changing world.

I think of light - something we take for granted and may not think of it until we need it - but light is fascinating:

Ole Rømer, a Danish astronomer, first measured the speed of light in 1676.

Despite the technological limitations of his time, Rømer's work paved the way for understanding a fundamental constant of the universe,

Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity: In 1905, Albert Einstein published his special theory of relativity, which established that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant and a fundamental aspect of the universe.

This constancy can be seen as a reflection of God's unchanging nature.

Light as a Constant: The speed of light, approximately 299,792,458 meters per second, (186,000 miles/sec)

What is fascinating is a constant that remains unchanged regardless of the observer's motion or the light source's movement. Say for instance the light from a speeding car's headlights, travels at the same speed as light from a stationary source, like a lighthouse.

This can symbolize God's eternal nature, always constant and unaffected by the passage of time or external circumstances.

The gospel songwriter put it this way:

The night may be dark But why fear the darkness I'm walking with Jesus The light of the world Yes, Christ is my guide He walks by my side When sorrow abounds And darkness surrounds In Him I confide The outlook is dark But bright is the up-look I lift my eyes upward And there is the light He says don't despair Cast on Me your care The forces of night Just can't stand the light When Jesus is there.

The darker the night The brighter the light shines I'm walking with Jesus The light of the world Yes, He is the light In Him is no darkness The darker the night The brighter the light When I walk with Him.

Isaac Watts in talking about God always being there - God’s timelessness and consistency:

Verse 3: "Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame, from everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same."

The last thing to note:

4. A Plea for God's Guidance and Eternal Home (Psalm 90:12-17)

Verse from Psalm: Psalm 90:12–17 “12 So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (get a heart of wisdom) . 13 Return, O Lord, how long? And let it repent thee concerning thy servants. (have pity on your servants) 14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, And the years wherein we have seen evil. 16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, And thy glory unto their children. 17 And let the beauty (favor) of the Lord our God be upon us: And establish thou the work of our hands upon us; Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.”

Application:

I have said it before - but this Psalm reiterates the fact - we are so dependent on God!!!

I love the story of George Muller:

Provision for Daily Needs

George Müller ran multiple orphanages without ever directly asking anyone for money or provisions. He believed in relying solely on prayer to communicate his needs to God. One famous instance involved a morning when the orphanage was completely out of food. Müller gathered the children and staff for their usual breakfast prayer, thanking God for the food they were about to receive, despite having nothing in the pantry. As they finished praying, a baker knocked on the door with enough fresh bread to feed everyone, explaining that he had felt compelled to bake extra bread that morning. Almost simultaneously, a milkman’s cart broke down right outside the orphanage, and he offered all the milk he had to avoid it spoiling, providing the children with a complete meal.

Hymn Verse 4: "O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, be Thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home."

1. God's Eternal Nature and Our Hope

2. Human Frailty and God's Protection

3. God's Timelessness and Consistency

4. A Plea for God's Guidance and Eternal Home

I would like us to close by singing this great hymn:

I don’t know if Isaac Watts is aware of things on earth or not. I like to beleive that every once in a while or perhaps more frequently than we think - God pulls back the curtain and allows those on the other side to see us:

Maybe - just maybe tonight God is calling Isaac Watts over on his earthly birthday and pointing down to the little corner at Third and Bebe in Wichita, KS and saying - Look and listen they’re about to sing your song.