For God Alone: The Music of the Spheres
Recently, our congregation sang This Is My Father’s World in worship. Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock, (1858-1901), a Presbyterian minister in New York and Maryland, wrote this hymn text, just one of many he wrote during his short lifetime. Not only is this a worthy poem with solid theology, it is set to a good melody with singable harmonic and rhythmic structures. 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 ev’rywhere. 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 F...