comfort
This year I'm attending a weekly Bible study on the book of Genesis. This past Monday night we sang a hymn that was really comforting. Not that I'm going through any major trials right now, but I figured I should record it so that I can easily find it whenever I'm in need of comfort. The hymn is "O God Who Shaped Creation" and it's based on Gen. 1:1-3 and Gen. 26-27. William W. Reid, Jr., wrote/published it in 1987.
O God Who Shaped Creation
O God who shaped creation at earth's chaotic dawn,
your word of power was spoken, and lo! the dark was gone!
You framed us in your image, you brought us into birth,
you blessed our infant footsteps and shared your splendored earth.
O God, with pain and anguish a mother sees her child
embark on deadend pathways, alluring, but defiled;
so too your heart is broken when hate and lust increase,
when worlds you birthed and nurtured spurn ways that lead to peace.
Although your heart is broken when people scorn your ways,
you never cease your searching through evil's darksome maze;
and when we cease our running, your joys, O God, abound
like joy of seraching woman when treasured coin is found.
O God, when trinkets tarnish and pleasures lose their charm,
when, wearied by our wandering, we seek your opened arm,
with motherlike compassion you share your warm embrace;
you set for us a banquet and heal us through your grace.
In mercy and compassion your goodness is revealed;
with tenderness you touch us, and broken hearts are healed.
You claim us as your children, you strip our prideful shame;
with freedom born of mercy we bless your holy name!
O God Who Shaped Creation
O God who shaped creation at earth's chaotic dawn,
your word of power was spoken, and lo! the dark was gone!
You framed us in your image, you brought us into birth,
you blessed our infant footsteps and shared your splendored earth.
O God, with pain and anguish a mother sees her child
embark on deadend pathways, alluring, but defiled;
so too your heart is broken when hate and lust increase,
when worlds you birthed and nurtured spurn ways that lead to peace.
Although your heart is broken when people scorn your ways,
you never cease your searching through evil's darksome maze;
and when we cease our running, your joys, O God, abound
like joy of seraching woman when treasured coin is found.
O God, when trinkets tarnish and pleasures lose their charm,
when, wearied by our wandering, we seek your opened arm,
with motherlike compassion you share your warm embrace;
you set for us a banquet and heal us through your grace.
In mercy and compassion your goodness is revealed;
with tenderness you touch us, and broken hearts are healed.
You claim us as your children, you strip our prideful shame;
with freedom born of mercy we bless your holy name!