May 2, 2005

Have faith in God –
Turn now from sin away;
Have faith in God –
No longer dare delay;
Have faith in God –
And take your stand today.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

This is My Father's World

Maltbie Davenport Babcock, 1858-1901

    He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. Psalm 33:5.

    While a pastor in Lockport, New York, Babcock liked to hike in an area called “the escarpment,” an ancient up-thrust ledge near Lockport. It has a marvelous view of farms, orchards, and Lake Ontario, about 15 miles distant. It is said those walks in the woods inspired these lyrics. The title recalls an expression Babcock used when starting a walk: “I’m going out to see my Father’s world.”
    Though Babcock published nothing during his life, his wife Catherine collected and published many of his writings after his untimely death. A volume of his poems contained This Is My Father’s World. Babcock, of course, never heard his famous hymn sung.

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music 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 everywhere.

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: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

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, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission