This is My Father’s World

1. Read: Psalm 24:1-2 – “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.” (Psalm 24:1-2).

2. About the Text:

1) The song “This is My Father’s World” was written by Maltbie D. Babcock in 1901.

2) It was placed to a traditional English folk tune by Franklin L. Sheppard.

3) It appears in many hymnals today.

4) The phrase, “the music of the spheres” is something we don’t talk about anymore.

5) That was the belief that all of the celestial bodies made musical harmony.

6) It could be understood metaphorically, though, that the universe is orderly.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–His hand the wonders wrought.”

2. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

3. “You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You” (Nehemiah 9:6).

4. “For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: ‘I am the Lord, and there is no other.’” (Isaiah 45:18).

5. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters” (Psalm 24:1-2).

6. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? … To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7).

1. “This is my Father’s world: The birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker’s praise. This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair; In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.”

2. “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4).

3. “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Luke 12:27).

4. Read Psalm 148

5. Read Psalm 139:14-16

6. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20)

1. “This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father’s world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!”

2. “For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:28).

3. “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19).

4. “For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding” (Psalm 47:7).

5. “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses” (Daniel 4:32).

6. “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1).

7. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:16-18).

1. Remember that this hymn teaches us that . . .

1) God is the creator of all things.

2) God is glorified by all things.

3) God is in control of all things.

2. Invitation