Have You Thought About It Lately? He's Got the Whole World In His Hands! Think About It?

This Is My Father's World

“The Story Behind the Hymn”

This hymn has been a popular one for several years. Maltbie Davenport Babcock was an outstanding athlete, baseball pitcher and champion swimmer. As the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Lockport, New York; it was his habit to have a run nearly every morning. The run took him about two miles to the top of a high overlook where there was a vista of Lake Ontario. Before he made his run, he would comment to his Church staff; “I am going out to see my Father’s world.” [1]

Babcock loved nature and all things out-of-doors. He was also an accomplished musician who played the organ, piano, and violin. So, it is a natural outflow of his personality that he should write and perform music extoling the merits of God’s grand creation. Consider his worshipful words of one line in particular: “This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.” [2]

Verse One:

This is my Father's world, And to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--His hand the wonders wrought.

Verse Two:

This is my Father's world: The birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker's praise. This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair; In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.

Verse Three:

This is my Father's world: O let me ne'er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father's world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad! [3] 

[1] Robert K. Brown & Mark R. Norton, editors and compilers. & William J. Petersen & Randy Petersen, devotional writers; “This is My Father’s World,” One Year Book Of Hymns: 365 Devotional Readings Based on Great Hymns of the Faith (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.), May 10.

[2]Ibid.

[3] Lyrics found at https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/this-is-my-father-s-world/