I always find it interesting to learn more about favorite traditional hymns. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” is such a hymn. Thomas Obadiah Chisolm was born in Franklin, KY in 1866. He became a teacher at age 16 and at age 27 became a Christian. In 1893 he was associate editor of The Franklin Favorite. Upon moving to Louisville, KY he was the editor of the Pentecostal Herald. Due to poor health Chisolm moved to a farm in Indiana where he took comfort that God was his strength and provided his needs. He died in 1960 at the Methodist Home for the Aged in Ocean Grove, NJ.
He wrote over 1200 poems. He shared much of his poetry with his friend William Runyan. In 1923 Runyan wrote the music for “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” In 1945 George Beverly Shea began singing this beloved hymn at Billy Graham Crusades. Another poem by Chisolm is “Trust in the Lord.”
Chisolm’s favorite bible scripture was Lamentations 3:22-23 (King James) It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
1)Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Chorus:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
2)Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Chorus:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
3)Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Chorus:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
Submitted By:
Pam Jackson
Knoxville, TN