Now Thank We All Our God

Text: Martin Rinkart; Trans. by Catherine Winkworth 
Music: Johann Cruger; Harm. by Felix Mendelssohn 
Tune: NUN DANKET


Martin Rinkart (1586-1649) was a Lutheran pastor in his home town of  Eilenburg, Saxony, Germany.  He began his services there at the beginning of the Thirty Year War (1618-1648).  Eilenburg became a refuge for political and military refugees and became highly over-crowded.  It was plagued with pestilence and famine, and was overrun by armies three times.

Rinkart's home was a refuge for the victims, even though he was struggling to care for his own family.  During the height of the plague in 1637, Rinkart was the only remaining pastor.  As a result he conducted 40-50 funerals a day, totaling 4,480 in all, including that of his own wife.

Despite the death and disease that he dealt with everyday, he kept his heart full of gratitude.  It was during this time of great affliction that he wrote this hymn "Nun danket alle Gott"  (Now thank we all our God) for his family to sing as a prayer before mealtimes.   The hymn became so widely known that it was sung at a celebration for the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the Thirty Year War.

This hymn has so much more meaning for me now that I know the circumstances it was born of.  I feel like I'm generally a grateful person, but I don't have much to make me feel ungrateful, I guess.  So this example of pastor Rinkart's thanksgiving to God amidst such terrible tribulation really inspires me.  I think if I were in his position, I would be longing to die and be released from this lone and dreary world. But instead of wishing for death, Martin Rinkart taught his children gratitude as they sang this hymn before sharing their meager meals.

Now Thank We All Our God

Now thank we all our God,

With hearts, and hands, and voices

Who wondrous things hath done,

In whom His world rejoices

Who, from our mothers' arms,

Hath blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love,

And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God

Through all our life be near us,

With ever-joyful hearts

And blessed peace to cheer us,

And keep us in His grace,

And guide us when perplexed,

And free us from all ills

In this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God

The Father now to be given,

The Son, and Him who reigns

With Them in highest heaven:

The one eternal God,

Whom earth and heaven adore;

For thus it was, is now,

And shall be evermore.