ONE AFTERNOON, PASTOR CARL BOBERG WAS CAUGHT IN A MIDDAY THUNDERSTORM. HE WAS IN AWE OF THE FLASHING VIOLENCE THAT SUDDENLY GAVE WAY TO BRILLIANT SUNSHINE. HE HEARD THE CALM, SWEET SONGS OF BIRDS IN NEARBY TREES. HE FELL TO HIS KNEES IN "HUMBLE ADORATION."
THE YEAR WAS 1886 IN SOUTHEAST SWEDEN. THE PASTOR PENNED OUT A NINE STANZA POEM ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE.
SEVERAL YEARS LATER AT A RELIGIOUS CONFERENCE, PASTOR BOBERG WAS QUITE SURPRISED TO HEAR HIS POEM SUNG TO THE TUNE OF AN OLD SWEDISH FOLK SONG. THE POETIC SONG WAS CALLED
"O STUR GUD." TRANSLATED: "OH, GREAT GOD."
THE SONG WAS TRANSLATED YEARS LATER TO GERMAN, THEN FROM GERMAN TO RUSSIAN. A BRITISH MISSIONARY, STUART HINE, LOVED THE SONG. HE WAS INSPIRED BY THE SONG AND THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS TO TRANSLATE THE SONG TO ENGLISH WHICH
HE DID IN 1899. HE WROTE THREE VERSES.
HE ADDED THE FOURTH VERSE DURING WWII.
GEORGE BEVERLY SHEA MADE "HOW GREAT THOU ART" FAMOUS DURING BILLY GRAHAM'S FIRST LONDON CRUSADE. THE SONG WAS APPROVED AND ENDORSED BY CHRISTIAN HYMNAL PUBLICATIONS,
AND IS NOW IN NEW HYMNAL EDITIONS.
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
