O God of truth, the power of nations free

Representative Text

1 O God of truth, the power of nations free;
Source of all wisdom, strength and liberty;
Giver of faith, on whom our hopes depend;
Hear us as hymns of praise to Thee ascend.

2 Armed by thy might, our fathers set us free;
Bind us to them in faith and loyalty;
Set high our aims that justice may prevail;
Fill us with love, and hope that cannot fail.

3 Fix high our purpose in this fateful hour;
Save from the shame that blights the gift of power;
Forgive our foolish pride, we humbly pray,
Yet grant us courage equal to our day.

4 Thus let us falter not at duty's call,
Which bids us seek a brotherhood for all,
Building through all the coming years with thee
A Commonwealth united, strong and free.

Source: Churches of Christ Hymn Book #452

Author: Daniel B. Merrick

Merrick Daniel B. (Bloomington, Illinois, April 29, 1926--November 11, 2004). Married Dagmar Gustafson in 1952 while a student at Phillips Theological Seminary (A.B., 1948; B.D., 1954); three children. Served churches in Sandoval, Ill.; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Panama Canal Zone; Peoria, Illinois; and Havana, Ill. Won his first hymn writing contest in the mid-1950s. The hymn "O God whose Love Compels Us" was a winning entry for a theme hymn for the American Baptist convention in 1967. Edited the Chalice Hymnal for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). --DNAH Archives Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O God of truth, the power of nations free
Author: Daniel B. Merrick
Meter: 10.10.10.10
Copyright: © 1956, by the Hymn Society of America, admin. Hope Publishing Co.

Tune

TOULON

TOULAN was originally an adaptation of the Genevan Psalter melody for Psalm 124 (124). In one melodic variant or another and with squared-off rhythms, the tune was used in English and Scottish psalters for various psalm texts. It was published in the United States in its four-line abridged form (cal…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)
Text

Churches of Christ Hymn Book #452

Hymn Society of America [Hymns Published for Special Occasions, and on Special Subjects] 1942-79 #d136

Two More New Hymns for Youth by Youth #1

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