“Standeth God within the shadow keeping watch above his own.”

“Standeth God within the shadow keeping watch above his own.”

Hymn: “Once to Every Man and Nation”

Text: James Russell Lowell (1819-1991)

Typical Tune: EBENEZER

This is definitely a “picture this” Hymn Line! Immediately we visualize the God of all Creation standing just off-stage… just over there in the corner… out of sight – keeping an eye on the ways of his world and the actions of his people. Unaware of his presence, the Watchman is ever-present, keeping an eye on us, protecting us, warning us, parenting us.

Like the theater-prompter, God knows the drama of our life inside and out. The plot is known to him… written by him… now directed by him. The dream of every prompter is to never be needed; he/she is delighted to see the curtain come down without ever being called upon to jump in and give a “line”… or a forgotten stage direction.

Once while doing an in-the-round staged production of BRIGHT NEW WINGS, my cowboy sheriff character got so lost in his solo that the prompter was flipping pages trying to find him so she could help him get back. Since we were performing with a recorded trax, her task was futile. Fortunately, the sheriff heard a familiar few measures and jumped back on to finish the show – to the delight of the prompter.

Our Prompter must get frustrated at times when we lose our place as we perform this life. He knows the script and is there in the shadows to get us back on the planned scene’s outcome. But the frustration comes when we keep “acting” on our own, unheeding of his direction.

This hymn text is rarely sung in worship… except maybe the week before a national election; however, the next time this phrase comes past, picture our hovering God standing in the shadows, being himself… providing what we need: direction.

This hymn sung slowly by London Philharmonic Chorus: 

https://youtu.be/CUrfzo6Urng