Hymn of the Week – Oh God Our Help in Ages Past

This week’s Hymn of the Week is the well known Isaac Watts poem, Oh God, Our Help. the hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 90. The original version began, ‘Our God, our help’ but was changed to ‘Oh God our help’ by John Wesley. It is frequently sung to the tune St Anne’s.

One of my fond memories of my ministry at Albert Bridge Congregational Church in Belfast, was singing this hymn at the Remembrance Sunday service, – it’s powerful words complimented by the power and majesty of the pipe organ.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun..

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day..

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.