Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#606

606. O God of Every Nation

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Hope Publishing: one copy

In order to use resources from the Hope Publishing Company, you must reside in the United States or Canada. Hope Publishing Company owns or administers the contents in these territories.
You may download one copy of this selection for your own personal use. To make any further copies or to perform the work you must get permission from Hope Publishing Company or belong to and report the copying activity to CCLI, LicenSing or OneLicense.net. By selecting "I Agree" you are verifying that you reside in the U.S. or Canada and will only legally use this selection.

Text Information

• First Line: O God of every nation
• Title: O God of Every Nation
• Author: William W. Reid, Jr. (1958, alt.)
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  Isaiah 2:4
  ;
  Isaiah 9:5-7
• Topic: Industry & Labor; King, God/Christ as; Society/Social Concerns; War & Revolution; Nation; New Creation; Peace
• Copyright: © 1958, The Hymn Society of America. Used by permission
• ONE LICENSE: 09615

Tune Information

• Name: LLANGLOFFAN
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Key: f minor
• Source: Welsh, 19th cent

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 2 = Isa. 2:4
st. 4 = Isa. 9:5-7

In 1958 William W. Reid, Jr. (PHH 597), submitted this hymn text to a contest sponsored by the Hymn Society of America in conjunction with the Department of International Affairs of the National Council of Churches. The text won first place and was sung at the opening session of the Fifth World Order Study Conference held in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 13-21, 1958. It was published in the Hymn Society's Twelve New World Order Hymns (1958).

"O God of Every Nation" is a beautiful prayer for God's shalom to reign over the whole world; for truth, love, and justice to preside over human affairs; and for an end to Warfare with its "trust in bombs that shower destruction" (st. 2). As war and rumors of War continue to plague our world; the final stanza holds before us the vision of a new heaven and earth in which "Christ shall rule victorious."

Liturgical Use:
In times of war or when you want to express your solidarity with others who are in war torn areas; peace services and similar occasions that stress Christian servanthood and social responsibilities; Advent.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

LLANGLOFFAN is a Welsh carol or ballad tune, which appeared as a hymn tune in Llwybrau Moliant (The Paths of Praise). That collection of tunes for use by Baptists was edited by Lewis Jones and published in Wrexham in 1872. LLANGLOFFAN is named for a town in Glamorgan, Wales, at one time presumably the location of a church that honored St. Cloffan.

This is a sturdy tune in a minor key. You may wish to modulate after stanza 3 into the major form of this tune (LLANFYLLIN) and sing the final stanza in that bright major key.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook