Eric Reece
My elementary school library had a good selection of biographies. The books were written for the elementary reading level.
I read the life stories of presidents, sports greats, generals and folk heroes. Seeing their struggles and triumphs growing up – and their achievements as an adult – inspired me to dream and wonder about my goals for the future.
Biographies are still some of my favorite types of literature to read. When I run across a name and hear a story I want to understand more. I am rarely disappointed as I have read some very interesting life stories.
Let me tell you about the life of the writer of one of the most powerful Christian hymns, Martin Rinkart (1586-1649). I heard of his courage in the face of many obstacles and wanted to know more.
He was a poet, gifted hymn writer and Lutheran pastor. Much of his life’s work was spent during the horrors of the Thirty Years War.
He was called to serve a church in Eilenburg, Germany. With war erupting in Europe, the city found itself with many refugees seeking safety within its walls. The city was not prepared and soon, disease and famine spread. Four of the pastors in town died and Rinkart officiated their funerals. The superintendent of the city left and the townspeople looked to him for leadership.
He could have fled with his family to safety – but as the only pastor, he chose to stay. Soon, he was officiating 50 funerals a day. It is estimated he read the services of over 4,480 people – including his wife, who died in 1637. Over 8,000 people died and toward the end, many were buried without a service because it was impossible.
When the Swedish army was threatening the city, they demanded money. Rinkhart met with the general to intercede on their behalf and pleaded for mercy. When the Swedes would not budge, he told his people to trust in God. Two years later, the Swedish army again demanded 30,000 silver coins and Rinkart approached them pleading for mercy. He was in a no-win situation, as the citizens expected miracles and the Swedes demanded resources.
The war finally came to an end in 1648. By then, many countries had fought in the war over religion and who would control Europe. Between 5-8 million people perished. The war dramatically changed Europe, both socially and politically. With his strength gone and the city still looking to him to do the impossible, Rinkart died a year later.
Why am I telling you all this? Because with all the horrors and distress he experienced, during his lifetime he wrote one of the greatest hymns on gratitude, “Now Thank We All Our God.” It has been published in 692 hymnals. It was written as a table blessing:
“Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done, in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.”
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.