Hymn:  Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

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21
Nov '20

Hymn:  Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Posted on Nov 21, 2020 by Ken Durham in Devotions, General |

21
Nov '20
Seize the Moment – Day 249

Hymn:  Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Hymn 18
 

Psalm 92:1

 

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, 

to sing praises to your name, O Most High” (ESV)

 

The first thanksgiving was decreed by Governor Bradford in 1621 in honor of the pilgrims’ harvest. But it wasn’t until 1941 that Congress passed a bill proclaiming the fourth Thursday of each November as Thanksgiving Day. And this hymn has become a tradition of this holiday. So what is the history of this hymn?

 

Henry Alford was born in 1810, and was raised by his Anglican clergy father and grandfather to have a special love for God’s Word. He became a renowned biblical scholar, earning his degree from Cambridge. He was later assigned to be the vicar of a small parish and connected well with the people there because he had a knack for explaining things in a way the simple people could understand.

 

He wrote this hymn to celebrate the beautiful harvest festival in the English countryside. He wanted everyone to join in, recognizing the glory of God’s breathtaking creation and lovingly responding to a faithful God with praise!

 

Wake up and recognize all that God has done in your life! Why? Because a thankful heart is pleasing to God!

 

“Come, ye thankful people, come!
Raise the song of harvest home.
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin;
God our maker doth provide, for our wants to be supplied.”

 

If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
 
 

YOUTUBE:

If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
 
 
If you would like to read the words to this hymn or hear the melody played, click on this link:
 
1
Come, ye thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest home;
all is safely gathered in,
ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide
for our wants to be supplied;
come to God’s own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.
2
All the world is God’s own field,
fruit as praise to God we yield;
wheat and tares together sown
are to joy or sorrow grown;
first the blade and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.
3
For the Lord our God shall come,
and shall take the harvest home;
from the field shall in that day
all offenses purge away,
giving angels charge at last
in the fire the tares to cast;
but the fruitful ears to store
in the garner evermore.
4
Even so, Lord, quickly come,
bring thy final harvest home;
gather thou thy people in,
free from sorrow, free from sin,
there, forever purified,
in thy presence to abide;
come, with all thine angels, come,
raise the glorious harvest home.
 
 

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