This is hymn 46 of the Open Heavens daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
HYMN 46: O LORD MY GOD WHEN I’M IN AWESOME WONDER
1. O Lord My God,
When I In Awesome Wonder,
Consider All The Worlds Thy Hands Hath Made
I See The Stars,
I Hear The Rolling Thunder,
Thy Pow’r Thro’out
The Universe Displayed:
Refrain:
Then Sings My Soul,
My Saviour God To Thee;
How Great Thou Art!
How Great Thou Art!
Then Sings My Soul,
My Saviour God To Thee;
How Great Thou Art!
How Great Thou Art!
2. When Through The Woods
And Forest Glades I Wander,
And Hear The Birds
Sing Sweetly In The Trees;
When I Look Down
From Lofty Mountain Grandeur
And Hear The Brook
And Feel The Gentle Breeze;
3. And When I Think
That God, His Son Not Sparing
Sent Him To Die,
I Scarce Can Take It In;
That On The Cross,
My Burdens Gladly Bearing,
He Bled And Died
To Take Away My Sin
4. When Christ Shall Come
With Shouts Of Acclamation,
And Take Me Home,
What Joy Will Fill My Heart!
Then I Will Bow
In Humble Adoration,
And There Proclaim,
My God, How Great Thou Art!
O LORD MY GOD WHEN I’M IN AWESOME WONDER HYMN COMMENTARY
Beloved in Christ, few hymns capture the full sweep of Christian worship as majestically as “How Great Thou Art.” It is a panoramic journey that moves from the awe of general revelation in nature to the wonder of special revelation in redemption, culminating in the hope of glory. It teaches us that true worship is the soul’s inevitable, eruptive response to the overwhelming evidence of God’s power, love, and grace.
Why Sing This Hymn
We sing this hymn to cultivate a spirit of awe, to connect the beauty of the world with the glory of the Gospel, and to express our deepest gratitude and hope. It is a hymn that expands our vision of God from Creator to Saviour to Coming King, compelling our souls to sing.
1. It is a Hymn of Cosmic Awe and Divine Power (Verse 1)
Worship begins with observation and contemplation. “When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy hands hath made.” The hymn calls us to stop, look, and listen—to see the stars, hear the thunder, and perceive the displayed power throughout the universe. This is not a distant, impersonal force, but the handiwork of a personal God. The sheer scale and power of creation provoke a sense of holy awe that demands a response. That response bursts forth in the refrain: the soul cannot stay silent but must sing directly to “my Saviour God” the truth it has beheld: “How Great Thou Art!”
2. It is a Hymn of Intimate Beauty and Sensible Grace (Verse 2)
God’s greatness is not only in cosmic power but also in intimate detail. The evidence shifts from the thunderous to the tender: the sweet song of birds, the grandeur of mountains, the murmur of a brook, the caress of a breeze. In the quiet of the woods, we see His beauty, hear His melody, and feel His gentle presence. His greatness encompasses both majesty and mercy, strength and sweetness. All of creation, from the vast to the minute, points to the artistry of a great and good God.
3. It is a Hymn of Sacrificial Love and Personal Redemption (Verse 3)
Here, worship reaches its deepest intensity as we move from creation to the cross. “And when I think…” The greatest wonder is not a starry sky, but a divine sacrifice: “That God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die.” The soul is overwhelmed (“I scarce can take it in”) by the personal love revealed: Christ bore my burdens and died to take away my sin. The Creator’s power and the world’s beauty are now eclipsed by the Saviour’s love. This is the heart of the Gospel, and it makes His greatness infinitely personal.
4. It is a Hymn of Glorious Hope and Eternal Acclamation (Verse 4)
The hymn culminates by fixing our eyes on the future. The same great God who created and redeemed will consummate His plan. The thought of Christ’s return “with shouts of acclamation”to “take me home” fills the heart with ultimate joy. Then, in His very presence, our earthly songs of awe will find their perfect fulfillment: “Then I will bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim, ‘My God, how great Thou art!’” Our worship here is a rehearsal for the eternal anthem of heaven.
A Word for Your Spirit Today
What fills your vision today? Is it a problem, a worry, or the noise of life? This hymn calls you to a holy interruption.
Go outside. Look up. Consider His handiwork. Let creation preach to you of His power and care. Then, move your gaze inward to the cross. Think. Ponder the unbearable cost He paid for you. Let your heart struggle to “take it in.”
And as you do, do not suppress the song. Let your soul sing it out, even if it’s a whisper: “How great Thou art!” Let this be your prayer, your praise, and your perspective. For you are loved by the God who hung the stars, painted the woodlands, and sent His Son to die. One day, you will see Him face to face, and you will know—fully and finally—just how great He truly is.
Then sings my soul!
In the name of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.
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