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Joby Martin
Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.
Kyle Thompson
Happy Wednesday, y'. All. This week on the Daily Blade, we're looking at five of my favorite hymns of all time, and we're digging into the lyrics and the biblical truths therein. Also, I'm giving you guys my picks for the best versions of each of those songs. Now, today is a special day because it's a day that the Lord has made right. But also it's a special day because it's my birthday, y'. All. So happy birthday me. So as is my God given right, on my birthday, I'm going to be a little selfish. So before I go and eat my weight in the best banana pudding in the world, which is actually downstairs right now, and it's being made by my wife, I need to tell y' all about my favorite hymn, which is How Great Thou Art. So this hymn was derived from a poem called oh, Great God, which was written by a young Swedish preacher named Carl Gustav Boberg. And as a story goes, he wrote the poem down after a sudden thunderstorm in the following calm. So it actually caused Boberg to reflect on God's mighty power and his creation. And the best version of this song, dare I say the greatest live performance of any song ever, was by Oklahoma's very own Carrie Underwood and Oklahoma's very own Vince Gill, who is probably the most underrated country music artist of all time, in my opinion. And it was performed during the Academy of Country Music event that was held in 2011. Seriously, guys, go watch it on YouTube. It is absolutely incredible. If you don't tear up while watching it, you might be dead. So here are the lyrics, and I'll just read the refrain once at the end. Oh, Lord, my God. When I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power throughout the universe displayed when through the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur I hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze and when I think that God his son not sparing sent him to die I scarce can take it in that on the cross my burden bear gladly bearing he bled and died to take away my sin When Christ shall come with shout of Acclamation and take me home what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim my God how great thou art Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee how great thou art how great thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee how great thou art how great Thou art. I mean, I just. Guys, I can't even. It's so stinking good. Like, what an amazing psalm. Now, we don't have a lot of time, and I'm gonna. You know, I'm not gonna talk any slower, so you guys are just gonna need to listen a little faster. But this hymn is absolutely chock full of biblical truth. So verse one, you know, we're talking about God's creation and sovereignty. The lyric here. O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made. I mean, that's Genesis 1:1. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. But also Psalm 8, 3 and 4. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained. Then we get into verse two, Nature, basically, you know, reflecting the majesty of God. The lyric is, when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, you have that entire verse. I look at job 12, 7, 10. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee. And I'm reading from the King James version. It seems appropriate considering this one. And the fouls of the air, and they shall tell thee, or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee. And the fishes of the sea, sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this. In those hand is the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Then in verse three, you know, this is our redemption through Christ. The lyric is, God his Son, not sparing, sent him to die. Obviously the most famous verse ever, probably least in America, is John 3:16. For those. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Then in verse four, we see, you know, this is Jesus's second coming. The lyric, when Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home. We look at 1 Thessalonians 4, 16 and 17. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. And then we get to the refrain. Probably the best refrain that I can, you know, think of in, in music, certainly in hymns. Full on praise and worship, guys. I mean, then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, how great thou art. So go to Psalm 145, verse 3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. And his greatness is unsearchable. So guys, you could spend the rest of the year just focusing in on the scriptural truths in this psalm alone and still not get all the way through it. But I'll leave you with this. The world is obsessed with greatness, right? I mean, it's all over the place. Like it's the. It's the goat debates, if for sports or movies or music or whatever. And for men, many of us have even fallen victim to the siren song of the pursuit of personal glory, right? Glory for our name. But there is only one who is worthy of the title great, and that is our God. And our souls should sing to him.
Joby Martin
Thank you for listening to today's episode. Before you go, if you want to help, equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five star rating and review. Stay sharp.
The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson Episode #156 - Kyle Thompson // How Great Thou Art Release Date: August 6, 2025
In Episode #156 of The Daily Blade, hosts Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson delve into the profound depths of one of Kyle's favorite hymns, "How Great Thou Art." Released on August 6, 2025, this episode blends personal reflection with theological insights, providing listeners with both spiritual enrichment and practical application of biblical truths.
Kyle Thompson opens the episode with a personal touch, sharing that it’s his birthday—a moment he chooses to celebrate by focusing on his beloved hymn, "How Great Thou Art" (00:20). This hymn, originally a Swedish poem titled "O Store Gud," was penned by Carl Gustav Boberg amidst a serene aftermath of a thunderstorm, inspiring contemplation of God's majestic power and creation.
Notable Quote:
"Today is a special day because it's my birthday, y'all. So happy birthday me." (00:20)
Kyle narrates the transformation of Boberg's poem into the hymn cherished by many today. He highlights the emotional and spiritual impact of "How Great Thou Art," emphasizing its capacity to evoke deep awe and reverence for God’s creations.
Notable Quote:
"If you don't tear up while watching it, you might be dead." (00:20)
Kyle expresses his admiration for the rendition of "How Great Thou Art" by Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill. He considers their 2011 live performance at the Academy of Country Music Awards the "greatest live performance of any song ever," urging listeners to experience its moving execution.
Notable Quote:
"Seriously, guys, go watch it on YouTube. It is absolutely incredible." (00:20)
Kyle meticulously breaks down the hymn’s lyrics, connecting each verse to specific biblical passages, thereby unveiling the deep theological foundations embedded within the song.
Lyric:
"O Lord, my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made."
Kyle relates this to Genesis 1:1 and Psalm 8:3-4, underscoring God's role as the creator of the universe and the intricate design of His creation.
Notable Quote:
"That's Genesis 1:1. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth." (02:15)
Lyric:
"When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
I hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze."
Kyle connects this to Job 12:7-10, illustrating how observing nature can lead to a deeper understanding of God's greatness.
Notable Quote:
"Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee." (03:00)
Lyric:
"When I think that God His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in."
This verse is tied to John 3:16, highlighting the sacrificial love of God through Jesus Christ for humanity's salvation.
Notable Quote:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son." (03:45)
Lyric:
"When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart."
Kyle references 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, discussing the anticipation of Christ’s return and the hope it brings to believers.
Notable Quote:
"The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout." (04:10)
Kyle praises the hymn's refrain for encapsulating pure worship and adoration toward God. He links it to Psalm 145:3, reinforcing the message that only God deserves ultimate praise and recognition.
Refrain:
"Then sings my soul, my Savior God,
To thee, how great thou art;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God,
To thee, how great Thou art."
Notable Quote:
"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised." (04:50)
Concluding his analysis, Kyle contrasts the world's obsession with greatness—be it in sports, entertainment, or personal achievement—with the true greatness of God. He cautions against the pursuit of personal glory, urging listeners to recognize and honor God's unparalleled greatness.
Notable Quote:
"There is only one who is worthy of the title great, and that is our God." (05:10)
Joby Martin wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to share the podcast, leave reviews, and support the mission of equipping men for spiritual battles.
Episode #156 serves as a heartfelt homage to a timeless hymn, intertwining personal celebration with profound theological exploration. Kyle Thompson’s passionate discourse invites listeners to not only appreciate the beauty of "How Great Thou Art" but also to internalize its scriptural truths, fostering a deeper relationship with God.
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