This Is My Father’s World - Maltbie D. Babcock

 

The author of this hymn, Maltbie D. Babcock, was said to have the singing voice of David, the zeal of Paul, and the heavenly spirit of John. He was born in New York in 1858 and was educated at Syracuse University and Auburn Theological Seminary. In school, he excelled in music, drama, athletics, and spiritual leadership.

After ordination, he pastored the Presbyterian Church in Lockport, New York. In 1899 he succeeded well-known Pastor Henry Van Dyke at the prestigious Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City.   Babcock’s personality and powerful preaching drew large numbers of people. It was said that a “manlier man” never stood in a Christian pulpit and was such a great inspiration to other men because of his strong convictions and character.

Babcock loved spending time outdoors in what he called “his Father’s world.” When he served as a pastor in Lockport, he would get up early to hike to the top of a hill to enjoy the view of Lake Ontario and the surrounding countryside. Babcock wrote “My Father’s World” as a poem to celebrate God’s magnificent creation and His sovereign rule over all things, reflecting what he heard and saw. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (Revelation 4:11).

Babcock’s close friends said he saw everything in the sunniest light, although he had experienced grief and pain. He and his wife had lost two children in infancy. The move to New York City took him away from the nature that had given him so much pleasure and relaxation. His duties at the bigger church caused him to be so exhausted that the church gave them a vacation to the Holy Land. On the return trip, he contracted Mediterranean Fever and tragically died in 1901 at the age of forty-two, just eighteen months after becoming pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church.

Soon after his death, his wife published a collection of Babcock's poems entitled “Thoughts for Every-Day Living” that contained the poem "My Father's World." It was originally composed of sixteen four-line stanzas, each beginning the title line. Babcock’s friend, Franklin Shepherd, arranged a tune from an English folk song he’d learned from his mother as a child. He named the tune TERRA BEATA, which means “blessed or beautiful earth.” Shepherd organized portions of the original text into three stanzas. The hymn first appeared in Shepherd's hymnal, “Alleluia,” a Presbyterian Sunday School book published in 1915. Hymnbook editors have made numerous changes to the original text over the years, but most hymnals still use only three stanzas.

This hymn is a reminder for believers to take great joy in God’s creation and to trust His sovereign rule in all things. Even though the world is in chaos, it’s God’s creation, and He’s still in control. The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; (Psalm 97:1).

 

This is my Father’s world. Its day of wondrous birth
The stars of light in phalanx bright Sang out in heav’nly mirth.
This is my Father’s world. E’en to my list’ning ears
All nature sings, and ‘round me rings The musick of the spheres.
 
This is my Father’s world. I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas, His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world. The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker’s praise.
 
This is my Father’s world. He shines in all that’s fair.
In the rustling grass I hear him pass, He speaks to me ev’rywhere.
This is my Father’s world. From his eternal throne,
He watch doth keep when I’m asleep, And I am not alone.
 
This is my Father’s world. Dreaming, I see his face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise Cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In bush ablaze to my wond’ring gaze God makes his glory known.
 
This is my Father’s world. Among the mountains drear,
‘Mid rending rocks and earthquake shocks, The still, small voice I hear.
This is my Father’s world. From shining courts above,
The beloved one, his only Son, Came - pledge of deathless love.
 
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to heav’n bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod, No place but is holy ground.
This is my Father’s world. His love has filled my breast,
I am reconciled, I am his child, My soul has found his rest.
 
This is my Father’s world. A wand’rer I may roam,
Whate’er my lot, it matters not, My heart is still at home.
This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
 
This is my Father’s world. The battle is not done.
Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and heav’n be one.
This is my Father’s world. Should my heart be e’er sad?
The Lord is King – let heavens ring God reigns – let earth be glad.

 

 

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