Thomas Chisholm – Great Is Thy Faithfulness

I was going to start this post by describing the band Austin Stone Worship (formerly Austin Stone), how much like other artists reviewed in the past, including Hillsong and Passion, they are a church-based worship band from The Austin Church in, you guessed it, Austin, Texas.  I was going to mention that Christian superstar Chris Tomlin is one of its founding members, someone who has eluded my peering eye since this site’s inception in January 2018 and that we were close with Good Good Father and that he covered it rather than wrote it.

However, unbeknownst to me, the poll voters, and the original requester, Hope Publishing Company published the song sung by Austone Stone in 1951, based on the work of Thomas Chisholm, who originally wrote the song as a poem. Chisholm sent the words to William Runyan, who is affiliated both with Moody Bible Institute and Hope Publishing Company.  It was popularized by preacher Billy Graham and the aforementioned Moody Bible Institute.

Luckily for us, the song entered into the public domain this year.  Woohoo!

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

The title is based off Lamentations 3:23 in the King James Version, a rare moment of praise and worship in this otherwise lament about the death of King Josiah, one of the best kings of Judah.  The entire song is in King James style and speaks to the many truths and attributes about God, including:

1. Great faithfulness;
2. Unchanging nature;
3. Eternality;
4. Provider;
5. Worshipped by His creation;
6. Forgives sin;
7. Guides;
8. Strengthens; and
9. Gives hope.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

All lyrics agree with the Bible.  Since this song does not have verse/chorus/bridge formatting, I will differentiate by stanzas.

Since this song is public domain, there is no copyright associated with it.

[Stanza 1]

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

As mentioned in section 1, this references Lamentations 3:23.

There is no shadow of turning with Thee,

A derivative of James 1:17 making the same point: God’s nature does not change (also see Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6, and Hebrews 13:8).

Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,

The first part confirms my commentary in line 2; the second refers to God’s love, which does not fail (1 Corinthians 13:8).

As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Refers to God’s eternality, as described in Deuteronomy 33:27, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Job 36:26, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 90:2-4, Psalm 102:12, Psalm 102:26-27, Proverbs 8:23, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 41:4, Habakkuk 1:12, John 17:5, Romans 1:20, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 1:11-12, 1 Peter 1:20, 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 11:17, and Revelation 22:13.

[Stanza 2]

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see

Chisholm references the first portion of Lamentations 3:23.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Jehovah Jireh, one of the titles of God, means “The Lord Provides”.  Though the Bible is replete with references, some great examples include Genesis 2:15-16, Genesis 9:3, Genesis 22:8, Exodus 16:1-36, Psalm 18:2, Psalm 34:10, Psalm 81:10, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 107:9, Proverbs 10:3, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 6:25-30, Matthew 7:7-8, Matthew 21:22, John 14:13-14, John 14:26, John 15:1-10, John 15:16, Romans 8:32, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:8, and 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

A derivative from the title.

[Stanza 3]

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

All of creation worships God (Psalm 148:1-14).

[Stanza 4]

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

A nod to God’s forgiveness (Matthew 26:28, Act 2:38, Act 5:31, Act 10:43, Romans 4:7, Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:13-14, James 5:15, James 5:19-20, 1 John 2:1-2, and 1 John 2:12) and internal peace God gives to us (John 14:27, John 16:29-33, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-15, and Colossians 3:15).

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

God is with us, gently nudging us along the way (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5-9, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 139:7-10, Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Zephaniah 3:17, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38-39, and Revelation 3:20).

Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow

Our strength comes from God (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 118:14, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 33:2, Isaiah 40:29-31, Habakkuk 3:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 6:10, and Philippians 4:13), who gives us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.

Though I have not personally counted, ten thousand blessings could either be an exaggeration or reality.  I’m leaning more towards reality, given the immense number of blessings we take for granted, such as walking, clean water, and cute kittens.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

As if the many attributes of God and His wondrous works were not enough, the explicit mention of God at the beginning of this song should put to rest any interpretation that is not founded in Christianity for those who do not believe.  It even carries with it the Ye Olde English style, often attributed to the King James Version of the Bible.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

God’s great faithfulness, as the title suggests.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

It is often the case that hymns are much better than modern Christian music in terms of quality and theological accuracy, focusing on substance rather than feelings, even if they were not written in the 1600’s before the 20th century.  Thomas Chisholm’s Great Is Thy Faithfulness is no exception, a truly wonderous and timeless masterpiece that brings glory to God.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Great Is Thy Faithfulness (listen to Austin Stone’s version)

Artist: Thomas Chisholm

Album: N/A

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: 1923

Duration: N/A

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.

10/16/2020 – Cleaned up the grammar in sections 2-3 and added some humor to end section 2.