Supported in His Mighty Hand

Great God, We Sing Your Mighty Hand
Words by Philip Doddridge

Great God, we sing Your mighty hand
By which supported still we stand;
The opening year Your mercy shows,
That mercy crowns it ’til its close.

Lamentations 3:22-23
The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

By day, by night, at home, abroad,
Still are we guarded by our God,
By His incessant bounty fed,
By His unerring counsel led.

The second verse reminds me of the Israelites in the dessert. God guarded them by day and by night, leading them to their new home in the Promised Land. He provided manna so they wouldn’t be hungry and made rocks burst forth with water so they wouldn’t be thirsty. Best of all, he provided the law (His unerring counsel) to lead them in the way of righteousness. Unfortunately, they didn’t obey. They were a grumbling group, complaining often, especially when they were sick of the manna and when they thought the “giants” in the Promised Land would overtake them. God provided even then! He gave them so much quail it was coming out of their nostrils! (Talk about incessant bounty!) And in His unerring counsel he punished those who lied about the inhabitants of the land, and led Joshua, Caleb, and those who obeyed and feared God into the Promised Land.

With grateful hearts the past we own;
The future, all to us unknown,
We to Thy guardian care commit,
And peaceful leave before Thy feet.

Can you leave the unknown future peacefully at His feet? Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us that peace is attainable even in the most distressing situations in our lives; we can have peace when we, in thanksgiving, make our requests known to God.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In scenes exalted or depressed,
Thou art our joy, and Thou our rest;
Thy goodness all our hopes shall raise,
Adored through all our changing days.

Let's resolve to adore Him throughout our changing days, regardless of our situations and circumstances. God's great mighty hand is still moving in our world. He never changes, and we can rest in that assurance.