This hymn, a beloved part of many Billy Graham crusades, has many parallels with another ancient song of praise — the 100th Psalm.
In 1885, Carl Boberg, a Swedish minister, wrote a poem entitled “O Store Gud” which translates to “O Mighty God.” It was basically forgotten until Stuart Hine (an English missionary) expanded the words and composed his own arrangement of the original Swedish melody.
Dr. J. Edwin Orr heard the hymn being sung in India and brought it to the US. The popularity of the hymn continued to grow. George Beverly Shea contributed to its popularity as he often used it in Billy Graham crusades.
In this hymn meditation we have included two audio version of the hymn: (1) “O Store Gud”, sung by Sissel, and (2) “How Great Thou Art” sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
As we examine the powerful words of this hymn, we find verse one and two focusing on the greatness of God as displayed in our physical world. Verse three focuses on the greatness of God as manifested in His plan of salvation by grace through Jesus. Verse four anticipates the second coming of Jesus and His taking us home to be with Him.
As is often the case, many passages relate to these inspiring words and critical truths from God’s Word. Given those many options, I have selected the very familiar Psalm 100 as our passage for analysis and meditation.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
Psalm 100
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
In the psalter, Psalm 100 is listed as a psalm for giving grateful praise (or for giving thanks). We are to shout for joy and worship Him. The refrain of this classic hymn concludes with these powerful words of praise: “How great though art, how great thou art!”
The first two verses of this hymn provide a number of compelling reasons why God is so great. We see them all around us. In Psalm 100, His greatness and goodness are, in part, because He made us. Not only did He make us, but He created the entire universe and everything that “dwells within.”
The third verse of the hymn focuses on the greatness of God as revealed in His plan of salvation. Christ “bled and died to take away my sin.” In Psalm 100, the psalmist writes: “we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
In John 10:14-16, we read these words of Jesus:
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
Later on in that same chapter, the Jews continue to question Him; “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus responded with these words (John 10:25-30)
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
In this passage, Jesus makes a clear distinction between those who believe and those who do not believe. Those who believe are His sheep, given to Him by God. Jesus promises them eternal life…they shall never perish! So, we praise God for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives through faith in Jesus, which enables salvation. His death and resurrection, and our faith in Him as Savior and Lord, provide for us to “enter His courts with praise” and to enjoy His love which “endures forever.”
As we combine the powerful words of this hymn with God’s truth as spoken to us through Psalm 100, we conclude that God’s greatness is manifested through the following ways:
1. The creation of the world;
2. The creation of man … male and female;
3. The plan of salvation;
4. The everlasting nature of His love and faithfulness.
As people made by God and chosen to be in His pasture, may our souls sing, “my Savior God to thee; how great thou art, how great thou art!”
Hymns for Him 