Unless stated otherwise, my source for hymn texts and tunes is The Lutheran Service Book.

Friday, June 22, 2018

"How Great Thou Art"

Back in August, "How Great Thou Art" was mentioned in the sermon on Worship for Shut-Ins (back when it was still called Worship for Shut-Ins), and I noticed something about the last "How great Thou art" in the refrain.  "How great Thou art" is sung twice to this phrase (from the tune "O store Gud"):


There's a cross inscription in the last four notes, so this particular "How great Thou art" seems to point to Jesus' death on the cross for the sake of all sinners as one specific example of that greatness.  This is also described in the third verse of the hymn:
But when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in -
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin;