In 1885, Carl Gustav Boberg, unwittingly, birthed a timeless anthem in “How Great Thou Art,” its echoes traversing hymnals, denominations, and languages worldwide.
As a child, I vividly remember the chorus reverberating through the walls of a Romanian church, each word resounding the vastness of God’s greatness — “Atunci Îți cânt, Măreț Stăpânitor: Ce mare ești, ce mare ești!”
Therefore, the very notion of attempting to enhance or modify such a profound hymn demands not only artistic care but a sacred duty to preserve theological truth. In the midst of various unnecessary liberties taken to alter hymns of the past, I offer what I hope to be a slight modification that preserves and enhances a fundamental tenet of Christian doctrine – the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Let’s take a look at how the original English version of “How Great Thou Art” unfolds.
The initial two verses contemplate God’s grandeur in creation, weaving a tapestry of starry and heavenly marvels and nature’s beauty, acknowledging the sovereign hand behind it all.
The third verse gracefully shifts from creation to redemption, directing our gaze to the cross, where Jesus’ redemptive work unfolds—a pivotal moment in redemptive history.
Anticipating the grand crescendo, the final verse sets the stage for Christ’s return—a moment of joy and humble adoration, the redeemed’s proper response in the divine presence.
It is in between the third and fourth verse that I offer a new interlacing verse:
“And when I see the tomb so sweetly empty
He rose again, victorious o’er the grave
Not even death could keep the King of glory
From bursting forth with thunderous pow’r to save!”
Explicitly narrating Christ’s resurrection, the addition preserves the implicit truth of the original. No distracting guitar solos or slick tags, just a simple, melodious revelation of the resurrection.
In the symphony of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and heavenly session, we find our hope. The 1689 Confession succinctly declares the transformative power: “They who are united to Christ… having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection” (2LCF 13.1).
Here, it’s not only His death but also His resurrection that enlivens and empowers the once spiritually dead, fostering confidence, assurance, and unwavering hope in the face of adversity.
In this rendition, “How Great Thou Art” emerges as a profound journey through creation, redemption, and the triumphant melody of Christ’s resurrection while anticipating the future return of our sin-atoning and death-conquering savior.
If you end up using this with your congregation, drop a comment below and share your experience.