O God, Our Help in Ages Past
The sermon emphasizes the importance of relying on God's eternal nature and character for guidance and protection throughout all of life's challenges.
Isaac Watts, in his sermon, emphasizes God's eternal nature as our help, hope, shelter, and eternal home. He highlights the transient nature of human life compared to the everlasting presence of God, urging listeners to find security and defense in Him alone. Watts reminds the congregation of the brevity of life and the importance of seeking God's protection and guidance in the midst of troubles, knowing that He is constant and unchanging throughout all ages.
Text
1 O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
2 Under the shadow of thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.
3 Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth receiv'd her frame,
From everlasting thou art God,
To endless years the same.
4 Thy word commands our flesh to dust,
'Return, ye sons of men':
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.
5 A thousand ages in thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
6 The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by thy flood,
And lost in following years.
7 Time like an ever-rolling stream
Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
8 Like flowering fields the nations stand
Pleas'd with the morning light;
The flowers beneath the mower's hand
Lie withering ere 'tis night.
9 Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
Sermon Outline
- God's Eternal Nature
- Human Mortality
- Time's Passage
- Human Folly
- God's Protection
- Be thou our guard while troubles last
- And our eternal home
Key Quotes
“A thousand ages in thy sight / Are like an evening gone;” — Isaac Watts
“Time like an ever-rolling stream / Bears all its sons away;” — Isaac Watts
“Be thou our guard while troubles last, / And our eternal home.” — Isaac Watts
Application Points
- Recognize God's eternal nature and unchanging character as the foundation for your faith and trust.
- Acknowledge the temporariness of life and the inevitability of human mortality.
- Rely on God's guidance and protection to avoid the pitfalls of human folly.