God of Grace and God of Glory–a Just God

Is God a Just God?  As I was looking at a variety of hymns for the topic of entrusting one’s cause to Christ (the final principle in our series on Overcoming), I discovered that many of the hymns on standing firm in the Christian battle– trusting in a Just God–arose out of war protests or are from poems written by Christian pacifists.  I find this quite interesting, especially considering the potentially historic choice facing the United States at present.

In any circumstance and any decision we might face, there are 5 Kingdom Principles for Overcoming Suffering that Jesus showed us by His example from 1 Peter 2:21-23.

1. Kingdom expectations; 1 Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you,
2. Kingdom perspective; leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
3. Kingdom actions; 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
4. Kingdom time frame; 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate;
5. Kingdom power; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Let’s finish verse 23 and see that when we have Kingdom expectations, a Kingdom perspective, demonstrate Kingdom actions, adopt a Kingdom time frame, we will embrace Kingdom power and become genuine Overcomers.

The hymn God of Grace and God of Glory was written by the controversial Baptist pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick.  Perhaps I’ll talk about his controversial writings some day with regard to the Christian Fundamentals I hold to, but for now, I won’t let my disagreement with his modernist views detract from what is, frankly, a great hymn.  After all, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

About this hymn, Richard Niell Donovan is cited as saying,

This hymn is a prayer — a prayer for God to bestow power upon the church — and wisdom — and courage “for the facing of this hour.”  The hour that they were facing at that time was the Great Depression — an economic disaster that drained the nation of life and hope.  “For the facing of this hour,” however, is a timeless phrase, because there is never a time when we do not need God’s help “for the facing of this hour.”

“Save us from weak resignation” is an important part of the prayer.  “Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore.”  We are always tempted to believe that the evils that we face far outstrip our resources to deal with them — tempted to retreat into a safe place and wait for the storm to blow over — but evil unopposed doesn’t blow over.  It takes the sacrifices of dedicated men and women to build a better world.

“Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour.”  That was a good prayer when Fosdick first wrote this hymn in 1930.  It is a good prayer today.

 

I agree.  Enjoy listening to this version of God of Grace and God of Glory with a septet of horns or on the cyberhymnal.

God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.

Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee Whom we adore,
Serving Thee Whom we adore.