God Moves In A Mysterious Way Hymn Mp3 Download
Senaida Flinspach
"God Moves in a Mysterious Way" is a Christian hymn, written in 1773 by William Cowper from England. It was written by Cowper in 1773 as a poem entitled "Light Shining out of Darkness".[1]
The poem was the last hymn text that Cowper wrote. It was written following his attempted suicide while living at Olney in Buckinghamshire. John Newton published the poem the next year in his Twenty-six Letters on Religious Subjects; to which are added Hymns (1774).
The phrase, "God works in mysterious ways," has become a popular saying for moments when we seek answers that we cannot find. Sometimes used to try to offer comfort, sometimes used as a way to avoid deeper conversation, the top definition of the phrase on UrbanDictionary.com is the slightly humorous but ultimately truthful, "I have no idea why that happened." While based in scripture1, this phrase actually is derived from William Cowper's hymn, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way."2
The first two verses of the hymn place God within the larger context of creation, harkening to psalmic portrayals of the relationship between God and nature. God is not only the creator, but continues to move, live, and interact with creation. Cowper poetically uses two images of "the deep"--one of the sea, and one of the mine--to create the image of a God who is present in all parts of nature while also maintaining a sense of vastness and expansion.
The middle verses speak more specifically to the believer faced with seemingly impossible circumstances. Cowper makes three moves in which things are not what they seem and God's grace is found in the face of fear and sorrow. In the third verse, storm clouds are filled not with turmoil, but with mercy, which rains down blessings. In the fourth verse, God's smiling face is hidden behind a frowning providence. In the fifth, the bitter taste of the bud is redeemed by the sweet smell of the flower.4 The message is clear: those things in life that seem to bring forth our destruction are being used by God to bring us grace and life.
In some ways, this hymn sparks more questions than it gives answers. It is the work of a man trying to reconcile his own turbulent life with the image of a God who is sovereign. The questions of Cowper's own life echo in this hymn; the proclamation of God as mysterious and unknowable pour from a man who never truly trusted that God's salvation extended to him, and yet still found himself drawn to God. Cowper's questions still resonate through the centuries, as we try to make sense of our own lives, because they are the questions that theologians, poets, and all people have always asked. If God is good, why does tragedy happen? Does God cause it, in order to bring new life? How does God work in the world?
Cowper realizes that ultimately we cannot know why or how until that day when God makes it plain. There are times when all we can say is, "I have no idea why that happened." What we can do in those moments is stand in awe of, and trust in, this mysterious, powerful, merciful God.
Cowper was an 18th century poet and hymn writer who collaborated with his friend John Newton (author of many great hymns, including "Amazing Grace" and "Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder") to produce a hymnal called Olney Hymns. But Cowper had long struggled with serious mental illness, and as Newton and Cowper embarked on the project, Cowper was struck again with a serious depression from which he never recovered.
The words God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform... are hand lettered in a modern calligraphy font. They are hymn lyrics to bring courage and comfort to the soul. This A4 print is finished off with some pastel pink watercolour flowers below the five verses of the hymn.
The words of this hymn are so amazing, and were originally as a poem by William Cowper which he wrote after attempting suicide. The hymn has been recorded by a wide variety of Christian musicians such as Indelible Grace Music, Matt Papa, Jeremy Riddle and Josh Walker. No surprises there - the words are incredible.
In Pat Barker's novel Regeneration, one of the main characters, Dr. Rivers, is presented with a patient who is not mentally ill at all, but very sane. In trying to "heal" this patient, Rivers begins to have an internal conflict about the job he is doing and the job he should be doing. He is fighting with himself until on page 149, he is in a church where they are singing a very popular hymn, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way." At this point, Rivers is able to begin resolving his conflict. By using this hymn, Barker is able to emphasize one of the novel's theme: in times of war, reflection on religion not only brings peace to a country, but can bring peace within yourself.
The author of the famous hymn "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" is William Cowper. He was born to John Cowper and Ann Donne on November 26, 1731. In 1768, Cowper moved to Olney in Buckinghamshire ("William Cowper"). Three years later, he started what would be known as the "Olney Hymns," but because of severe melancholy, Cowper did not finish this work until 1779. The very last hymn in this book is "Light Shining out of Darkness" (Cowper). This hymn is the one that most Christians all over England would know as "God Moves in a Mysterious Way." Even though the hymn may not have been as popular among the soldiers on the battlefield, according to Alan Wilkenson's book, The Church of England and the First World War, "[a]t home, 'God moves in a mysterious way' was a very popular hymn" (157). Historians did not comment on why this particular hymn was so popular during the war. However, the verses in the hymn remind Christians that God is watching over them, and that He has a purpose for everything He does (Cowper). This idea may have provided some reassurance to the families and friends of soldiers on the battlefield. Those with loved ones serving their country may have found comfort knowing that God had a plan, and that He was watching over their soldiers.
Other hymns, as well as religion in general, were an important part of the soldiers' and officers' lives. Over forty million prayer books, hymn books, and Bibles were distributed among soldiers during the first two years of war by several different agencies. Many of the books had the typical inscription: "Please carry this in your pocket and read it every day" (Wilkinson 153). Hymns were also a very important part of the soldier's life because they were considered "a link with home." During the war, hearing soldiers sing was a very frequent occurrence. Some of the popular hymns were "Eternal father, strong to save," "Sun of my soul," and "Onward, Christian soldiers." The favorite hymn among soldiers at the front that were going up to the line was "Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling doom" (Wilkinson 153-157). The titles of these hymns are very suggestive, and one can clearly understand what the lyrics are probably about. By singing these hymns, soldiers may have been comforted by the feeling that someone (God) was watching over them. Also, by singing in unison with other members of their unit, the soldiers may have felt less alone, and some of the pressures of battle may have been relieved.
Barker eloquently emphasizes the importance of religion in her novel on page 149, when chapter fourteen opens with Dr. Rivers in church hearing the announcement, "Hymn No. 373," signaling that it was time to stand up and sing. In this church's hymnal, "Hymn No. 373" is "God Moves in a Mysterious Way." The first two lines of the hymn -- "God moves in a mysterious way/ His wonders to perform..." -- are quoted as Rivers realizes how popular this hymn has become; he realizes that he could not count the number of times he has heard it since the Somme -- a battle that was supposed to be a "decisive breakthrough," but turned out to be a "decisive failure" ending with approximately 420,000 British casualties ("Battle"). By including a scene where Rivers is in a church that is singing this hymn, the importance of hymns during this time in history, especially "God Moves in a Mysterious Way," is emphasized to the reader. Barker also emphasizes the irony of battles becoming disasters rather than victories during the war by mentioning the popularity of the hymn "since the Somme" (Barker 149). This hymn was probably popular after this battle because it helped people cope with the unexpected terrors of war. By using the character of Rivers, who is thinking about the hymn and the irony of battle, readers can better understand the thought process that he is going through that will eventually lead to his peace.
Singing a hymn is not the only religious aspect that has an impact on Rivers' character in this scene. In the middle of the hymn, as Rivers' eyes begin to wander around the church, he sees Abraham and Isaac painted on the east window and his mind also begins to wander. He begins to think about "the bargain" that patriarchal societies are based on, in which the young men must obey their fathers and be prepared to sacrifice their lives, and in return, they will receive an inheritance and the same bargain with their sons. Rivers then realizes that this war is causing the citizens of England to break this bargain -- all the young men actually are sacrificing their lives, while the older men and women of society do nothing to stop it. It is at this point when Rivers' thoughts are interrupted by the final four lines of the hymn, which defer all understanding to God, and then he sits down to wait for the sermon. Just as the sermon begins, the church scene ends and Rivers' thoughts of "the bargain" are not mentioned again. There is tremendous significance in this scene of the novel, because religion is what causes Rivers to start questioning his views on war and the job he is doing. He begins to question the sacrifices his country is making, and whether or not those sacrificed lives are senseless. Unlike the other members of the congregation, at this point Rivers is not comforted by the hymn. In fact, it is the hymn that prompts the questions that will eventually lead to a resolution.