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O God, Our Help in Ages Past
 | Our God, our help in ages pastAuthor: Isaac Watts (1719)Tune: ST. ANNE (Croft) Published in 1002 hymnals Printable scores: PDF, SibeliusAudio files: MIDI | |
Author: Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >For Leaders
Text
This text was written by Isaac Watts in 1714, shortly before the death of Queen Anne of England. This was a time of great crises and turmoil, as the successor of Queen Anne was as yet undetermined, and the fear of a monarch who would reinstate the persecution of Protestants was great. King George I prevented such persecution, but the fear before Anne’s death was great. This was the context in which Watts wrote his powerful text, now lauded as “one of the grandest in the whole realm of English Hymnody” (Bailey, The Gospel in Hymns, 54).
Watts’ text was published in The Psalms of David Imitated, 1719, in nine stanzas. Now, the original first, second, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth stanza are commonly sung. In 1738, John Wesley changed “Our God, our help” to “O God, our help” for Collection of Psalms and Hymns.
Tune
ST. ANNE was first published as a setting for Psalm 42, but in 1861, for Hymns Ancient and Modern, it was made a setting for Watts’ text, and the two have been paired together ever since. It is most probably that the tune was composed by William Croft, though there is no documentation that guarantees this. Erick Routley calls this “the most celebrated of all English tunes” (Westermeyer, Let the People Sing, 172). This hymn requires a moderate tempo, a stately manner, and a big sound – whether that be with festive organ, trumpets, or lower octave piano.When/Why/How
As a declaration of trust, an assurance of God’s providence, and a reminder of our own limitations, this hymn can be sung at just about any time in any circumstance. It is particularly fitting for Old/New Year services, for funerals, services of lament/comfort, or celebrations of God’s faithfulness. The Psalter Hymnal Handbook editors write that this hymn “expresses a strong note of assurance, promise, and hope in the LORD as recorded in the first part of Psalm 90, even though the entire psalm has a recurring theme of lament” (PHH).Thus, this hymn is appropriate for celebration, but particularly as an assurance in times of lament or fear, or as a song of our own faith and trust in the face of trials. It is often sung during services of civil memorials, such as Canada’s Remembrance Day or British civic holidays.
- Alternative Harmonization for Organ:
- Behnke, John. The Creative Organist
- Burkhardt, Michael. Easy Hymn Accompaniments for Organ
- Alternative Harmonization for Piano:
- Mark Hayes. Hymn Harmonizations by Hayes (Creative accompaniments for the church pianist
- Hopson, Hal H. The Creative Use of the Piano in Worship.
- Ferguson, John. O God, Our Help in Ages Past
- McDonald, Mary. Our Hope for Years to Come
- Johnson, Victor C. Our Dwelling Place - original text by Victor Johnson, culminating with two verses of "O God Our Help in Ages Past"
- Schwoebel, David. O God, Our Help in Ages Past-(Choral Score)- for Choir, Congregation, piano and handbells. Organ and instrument parts also are available
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