The Thirty Years' War

Guest (Female): Welcome to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Here's Joni to share the inspiring story behind a beautiful hymn of the faith.
Guest (Male): And the story is set in Germany during the 30 Years' War, which raged in the 1600s. It was a terrible war that resulted in the deaths of over 20 percent of the German population, making it one of the most destructive conflicts in human history. Millions died, decimating Germany and causing plague and famine, which ravaged the entire region. The walled city of Eilenburg became the refuge for political and military refugees, but the result was overcrowding and deadly pestilence and famine. Armies overran the city three times. Pastor Martin Rinkart did everything he could to show the love of Christ to the refugees which kept flooding through the city walls. His home was a shelter for victims, even though he was often hard-pressed to provide for his own family. During the height of a severe plague in 1637, Rinkart was the only surviving pastor in Eilenburg, conducting as many as 50 funerals in a day. He performed more than 4,000 funerals in that year, including that of his own wife. At last, in 1637, only Martin Rinkart of all the Christian leaders was left. It was a time of great despair and discouragement, but the Germans looked to Pastor Rinkart as their leader. People were amazed that he never fell ill even while ministering to so many sick families and refugees. God was protecting him for such a time, because when the Swedes mustered outside the city gates demanding a huge ransom—again, this is during the 30 Years' War—Martin Rinkart was the only one who rose to the occasion. He left the safety of the city walls to walk outside and negotiate with the enemy. And he did it with such courage and faith that there was soon a conclusion to the hostilities and the period of suffering subsided. Out of that experience, Pastor Rinkart wrote this hymn for the survivors of Eilenburg, and there is not a hint of "woe is me" in the words, only grace and gratitude. And the hymn goes: Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom His world rejoices; who from our mother's arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. Oh, 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 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.
Joni Eareckson Tada: Oh friend, Bob and I just love that hymn, and we're sharing the story and the hymn with you today because we all know something about suffering and disease and death. Yes, we have been shaken to the core at times, but as Henry Ward Beecher said, we are not the first to have been on God's forge. He has had thousands on His anvil before. He knows the infliction of every instrument and how to temper every blow. Oh friend, whatever this upcoming season may hold, let's remember the courage and the character of Pastor Martin Rinkart. And like him, may there not be a hint of "woe is me" in our words, but only grace and gratitude as we thank our God.