O God Our Help In Ages Past Series

Isaac Watts 1674-1748

- Considered by many the best known of the 800 hymns written by Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts is often called the "Father of English hymns"

- Some of his hymns in our Hymn Book

• O God Our Help

• Joy To The World

• Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed

• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

• At the Cross

• We're Marching to Zion

- This Hymn has been sung often on great public occasions —

- At the Funeral of King Edward VII

- At the unveiling of the Queen Victoria Memorial before Buckingham Palace

- Sung at the funeral of Winston Churchill.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt choose this hymn to be sung at the church service the morning of his first inauguration

- The hymn is often sung as part of the remembrance day service in Canada

- Used on festive occasions in England.

- Has been called "The Church's National Anthem"

- No matter our situation, no matter our struggles and fears, no matter doubts, we are told to have courage, for the Lord is our God.

- God is all we have

- God is all we need

- There is a future for you in Christ

- Paraphrase of Ps 90

- This song refreshes the spirit at the end of every year

- It gives new hope for the year ahead.

- We need Our God every second, minute, hour, day, week, month year, decades, generation and century.

We only see a little of the ocean,

A few miles distance from the rocky shore;

But oh! out there beyond

—beyond the eyes' horizon

There's more—there's more.

We only see a little of God's loving,

A few rich treasures from his mighty store;

But oh! out there beyond

—beyond our life's horizon

There's more—there's more.

- Ps 90 described as a prayer

- Could Moses be the first Psalm writer?

"O God Our Help In Ages Past"

- Moses could remember God's faithfulness at the burning bush

- Struggles in Egypt

- Red Sea & Pharaoh

- Water from the rock - Or manna each day

- Also further back God had been the refuge of Jacob and Isaac, of Abraham, Noah

- In all of events & times God had been a help

- v.2 – Before creation or the beginning of time

He was there

- The eternal God is everlasting

We Look At Our Own Generations

v. 1 Generation - The act or process of bringing into being

- The term of years, roughly 30-35 yr.

- We could use this as a time frame or event in our lives

- Can you really say time after time God has failed you?

- Just looking at the past year let alone our entire lives we have been blessed

- Sure there are times of hurt, lost, pain & disappointment

-Through it all have you seen God's faithfulness?

- Have you learned to trust in God?

- Have you experienced the promise "I will never leave you or forsake you?

"Our Hope For Years To Come"

- Moses was old when he penned this Ps.

- When he stood on Mount Pisgah seeing the land was he seeing Israel future?

- Kings, The Temple, Captivity, Messiah?

Hope

- Today there is much discouragement

- Suspicion drudgery & pessimism abounds

- When we become critical we never give room for wonder of God's work

- Hope is not a vague wish that something will happen

- Hope is a confident expectation for the future

Psalm 71:5 (AV)

5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

- Jesus encouragement just before arrest

John 14:1–3 (AV)

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 16:33 (AV)

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 (AMP)

33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Our Hope For Years To Come