a Hymn Devotion for 18 March 2025 Anno Domini
the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” Psalms 8:9
I have mixed emotions in writing about this Lenten hymn authored by Henry Ustick Onderdonk in 1825. My reasons have nothing to do with the quality of the hymn, but with the indiscretion. Of its author. Onderdonk was named Bishop of Philadelphia in 1836 but was later dismissed for alcoholism in 1846. He was later reinstated based upon living a meritorious life after recovery from that malady. I do not doubt that the Lord can amend the character of any believer, but to fall from such a level of ministry seems somewhat amazing.
The hymn itself is a Godly hymn of praise filled with truths directly related to Scripture. The tune, LYONS, is the same tune for the great hymn, O Worship the King.
Click link to listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCaBM5MuJ3I
HOW WONDROUS AND GREAT THEY WORKS
1 How wondrous and great thy works, God of praise!
How just, King of saints, and true are thy ways!
O who shall not fear thee, and honor thy Name?
Thou only art holy, thou only supreme.
2 To nations of earth thy light shall be shown;
their worship and vows shall come to thy throne:
thy truth and thy judgments shall spread all abroad,
till earth’s every people confess thee their God.
1 How wondrous and great thy works, God of praise! How just, King of saints, and true are thy ways! O who shall not fear thee, and honor thy Name? Thou only art holy, thou only supreme. When we cease to view the works of God with utter amazement, we need to pause and re-examine our inner hearts. Men contribute time and money to so-called ministries of miracles but fail to witness a single true miracle. If they but opened their eyes to the circumstances of birth and the beauty of nature, they could observe miracles with farl= less effort and expense. His justice is measured in truth and love. Fear is the beginning of wisdom, but not the end. The mortal fear of the sinner is transformed into fear of bringing dishonor upon the name of a great and loving Father.
2 To nations of earth thy light shall be shown; their worship and vows shall come to thy throne: thy truth and thy judgments shall spread all abroad, till earth’s every people confess thee their God. The laws of every nation on earth observes the law of God to some extent; but their observance is often mixed with sinful shortcomings. In all cases, murder and fraud are proclaimed illegal, but in most cases, justice depends upon the influence of the offender. It may seem unlikely that the truth and judgments of God shall spread until all peoples confess God as the Lord; however, that time will not come until the last day when every knee shall bow and every mouth proclaim Him Lord. Whether motivated by faith or not, the great power of God is sovereign over all the earth.
