Page Copyright 2001, Music for the Church of God
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Page last modified on:
07/29/2004
O God of Every NationWords: William W. Reid, Jr. Music: 1. O God of ev'ry nation,
Of ev'ry race and land.
Redeem the whole creation
With your almighty hand;
Where hate and fear divide us
And bitter threats are hurled,
In love and mercy guide us
And heal our strife-torn world.
2. From search for wealth and power
And scorn of truth and right,
From trust in bombs that shower,
Destruction through the night
From pride of race and station
And blindness to Your way.
Deliver ev'ry nation,
Eternal God, we pray.
3. Lord, strengthen those who labor
That all may find release
From fear of rattling saber,
From dread of war's increase;
When hope and courage falter,
Your still small voice be heard;
With faith that none can alter,
your servants undergird.
4. Keep bright in us the vision
Of days when war shall cease,
When hatred and division
Give way to love and peace,
Til dawns the morning glorious
When peace on earth shall reign
And Christ shall rule victorious
O'er all the world's domain.
A very similar song was written in 1906 by C.K. Chesterton, one of C.S. Lewis' favorite
authors. 1. O God of earth and altar,
bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter,
our people drift and die;
The walls of gold entomb us,
the swords of scorn divide;
Take not Thy thunder from us,
but take away our pride.
2. From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
From all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men;
From sale and profanation
of honor and the sword;
From sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!
3. Tie in a living tether,
the prince and priest and thrall;
Bind all our lives together,
smite us and save us all;
In ire and exultation
aflame with faith and free,
Lift up a living nation,
a single sword to Thee.
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