Fountainview Academy - How Great Thou Art Lyrics
Lyrics
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Video
How Great Thou Art | Steps To Christ | Fountainview Academy
Meaning & Inspiration
The majestic anthem "How Great Thou Art," performed by Fountainview Academy, was released on 2010-09-10 as a powerful track on their album "O Glorious Love - Steps to Christ in Song." This rendition carries forward the profound legacy of a hymn whose origins trace back to a Swedish poem penned by Carl Boberg in 1886. Inspired by a dramatic thunderstorm and the subsequent serene beauty of nature, Boberg's words expressed an overwhelming sense of God’s grandeur. The hymn gained widespread recognition and its current form through Stuart K. Hine's English translation and additional verses, which expanded its scope to include the redemptive work of Christ and the hope of His return. Fountainview Academy’s interpretation of this classic hymn serves as a reverent continuation of its deep spiritual narrative, inviting contemplation on the expansive nature of God’s character.
The song’s message unfolds as a magnificent journey of worship, beginning with an awe-struck reflection on God's creative power. The opening lines, contemplating "all the worlds Thy hands have made," immediately direct our attention to the vastness of the universe, the celestial bodies, and the mighty forces of nature. This initial imagery powerfully echoes the sentiment found in Psalm 19:1, where "the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." It’s a profound recognition that God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—are clearly perceptible through His creation, leaving humanity without excuse for not acknowledging Him, as described in Romans 1:20. The song transitions from the grand cosmic scale to the more intimate beauty of earthly landscapes. Wandering "through the woods, and forest glades," hearing birds, and observing mountain grandeur and gentle breezes, the narrative embraces God's presence in every detail of the natural world. This evokes the gentle care and provision God extends, reminding us that if He attends to the birds of the air, as Jesus taught in Matthew 6:26, how much more does He value and care for humanity. The recurring chorus, "Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art," acts as the heart of the song, a personal and passionate declaration of praise that links every observation back to the divine Author, much like the psalmist's vow in Psalm 104:33, "I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."
The hymn then makes a profound theological pivot from creation to the pivotal act of redemption, a transition Fountainview Academy communicates with a fitting reverence. The third stanza delves into the incomprehensible sacrifice: "that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in." This verse confronts the cornerstone of Christian faith – the immense love of God demonstrated through Jesus Christ’s willingness to bear humanity’s sin on the Cross. This truth finds its most potent expression in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life," and is further expounded in Romans 5:8, affirming that "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The burden of sin, gladly borne by Christ, underscores the depth of His compassion and the completeness of His atonement, a message profoundly articulated in Isaiah 53:5: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Finally, the song culminates in a triumphant anticipation of Christ's second coming. The vision of "Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home" inspires deep joy and hope for believers. This final stanza looks forward to a future where faith becomes sight, a promise illuminated by passages like 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which describes the Lord descending from heaven and His followers being caught up to meet Him. The ultimate response, bowing "in humble adoration" and proclaiming, "My God, how great Thou art!" reflects the complete surrender and eternal worship that awaits God's redeemed people in His glorious presence, echoing the universal reverence foretold in Philippians 2:10-11, where "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Fountainview Academy’s rendition of "How Great Thou Art" therefore serves not merely as a musical piece, but as a holistic exposition of God's majesty revealed in creation, redemption, and future hope, encouraging every soul to respond with profound adoration.