“Now Thank We All Our God”
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 might have been a life verse for Martin Rinkart the son of a poor coppersmith in Eilenburg. By hard work, thrift, and the use of his musical talents, he scraped together enough to pay his own way through the University of Leipzig. He studied theology, intending to become a pastor.
But when he applied for an open post as a deacon in 1610, he was turned down. He did not grumble but took work in a Lutheran church school. On May 28, 1611, he undertook duties as a deacon f St. Anne’s Church in Eisleben, a common step toward a pastorate. Rinkart completed his Master’s degree in Theology in 1616, and then his hometown Eilenburg offered the position of archdeacon in 1617.—just as the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) was about to begin.
Since Eilenburg was a walled city, it became a haven for political and military refugees. Rinkart soon endured the horrors of quartering soldiers in his home and the frequent plundering of his meager household goods. Things got still worse. The Swedish army demanded a ransom of 30,000 thalers from the city. Rinkart risked his life by going to the Swedish general and begging for mercy. There was none. He returned to town and said, “Come, my children, we can find no hearing, no mercy with men. Let us take refuge with God.” Rinkart fell to his knees and pleaded so earnestly in prayer that the Swedish general heard about it and lowered the ransom to 2,000 florins.
Despite all this, in 1630 Rinkart penned the hymn, and soon Lutheran families were singing Rinkart’s hymn as a table prayer. In 1648, the year in which the Thirty Years’ War ended, this hymn was sung at a national celebration of peace. In 1649, Martin Rinkart died.
This Thanksgiving remember the words from the prophet Habakkuk, “The fig tree may have no buds. The vines may have no grapes. The olive tree may fail to produce. The fields may yield no food. The sheep may be cut off from their flock, and there may be no cattle in the barns, but I will delight in the Lord and rejoice in God who saves me” (3:17,18). That’s what Martin Rinkart did when his world was falling apart around him. With his eyes fixed on eternity and his heart grounded on the Lord’s grace, he sang, Now Thank We All Our God.
Shared by Lindrew Johnson, Director of Worship
