"Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord, my Father, morning by morning new mercies I see, All I have need of, Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, dear Lord to me."
 |
| Scripture graphic highlighting the biblical foundations of the classic hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." |
The YouVersion Bible App scripture selection for today is Lamentations 3:22 to 23. When I read it, it immediately reminded me of an old hymn we used to sing when I was a child in church: Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Do you recall all the words? If so, your memory is much better than mine! As you can see above, my memory scrambled the chorus a little bit.
Here are the original 1923 public domain lyrics by Thomas Chisholm, exactly as he wrote them:
Verse 1:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Chorus:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Verse 2:
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
[Chorus]
Verse 3:
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
[Chorus]Reflections on Needs and Provision
It's surprising how many things we think we need, but when it comes right down to it, we really don't need as much as we think. Sometimes, more is actually less.
For example, if you have running water, you have to find a way to keep those pipes from freezing when the harsh winter cold hits. It can cost a fortune just to keep a place hot enough to protect your plumbing. If you have a car, you have to shell out for insurance, gas, and constant upkeep—those prices get steep quickly.
When I lived on the street, there was a very kind man who used to offer to send me things. My reply? “As long as I have God, I have everything I need.” I didn't want to miss one second of the great adventure He had set before me. Each morning, I wondered: who am I going to meet today that needs an encouraging word, or an opportunity to show who they can actually be?
The Story Behind the Hymn
Learning the history behind Great Is Thy Faithfulness makes its message mean even more to me. It is one of the most widely recognized and beloved hymns of the 20th century. Originally written as a poem in 1923 by the American Methodist minister Thomas Chisholm, the song is a powerful declaration of God’s unchanging reliability, unwavering promises, and constant presence.
Origins and History
- The Lyricist: Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960) was a Kentucky-born minister who suffered from poor health and financial hardships throughout his life. Unlike many hymns born out of a sudden, dramatic tragedy, Chisholm wrote this text simply as a reflection on God's steady, daily provision over his lifetime.
- The Composer: Chisholm sent the poem to his friend, William M. Runyan (1870–1957), a musician associated with the Moody Bible Institute. Runyan composed the dramatic, soaring melody specifically for Chisholm’s words.
- Rise to Popularity: The hymn was published by the Hope Publishing Company in 1923. It became an international staple after it was frequently featured by the Moody Bible Institute radio station and sung during evangelist Billy Graham's global crusades.
Biblical Foundations
The lyrics pull directly from prominent themes in scripture, most notably Lamentations 3:22–23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Saturating our minds in these unchanging biblical truths is essential, especially as we see the Creator's prophetic clock winding down much faster than traditional calendars suggest. You can dive deeper into this timeline in my study on the shocking Hebraic time warp.
- Verse 1 focuses on the unchanging character of God, borrowing imagery from James 1:17 ("with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change").
- Verse 2 looks outward at creation, highlighting the rhythmic reliability of the seasons, the sun, and the stars as physical evidence of a dependable Creator.
- Verse 3 turns inward to personal spiritual experience, celebrating forgiveness ("pardon for sin"), emotional peace, daily strength, and hopeful expectations for the future.
Meaning of the Lyrics
The core message of the hymn centers on the theological concept of divine immutability—the belief that God's nature and character do not alter over time. Words like "manifold witness" point to the multi-layered ways life proves God’s reliability, while phrases like "morning by morning new mercies I see" emphasize that comfort is renewed every single day.
Modern Legacy & Covers
The song remains a staple in church hymnals worldwide and is frequently re-recorded by mainstream and gospel artists alike.
In 2020, the group Canton Junction released the album Great Is Thy Faithfulness, featuring this beloved hymn alongside several other "oldies but goodies" such as "How Great Thou Art," "I Must Tell Jesus," and "What a Meeting in the Air."
If you love their rich, male four-part harmony version of this hymn, you can pick up a copy of the recording Great Is Thy Faithfulness here on Amazon.
Join Turtle Dove Thoughts
Sign up to receive peaceful scriptural insights, encouraging testimonies, and updates straight to your inbox.
