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Martin Rinckhart

This Thanksgiving, all across the land, we will gather our families together and in the spirit of joy and gratitude, sit down to sumptuous feasts. At most of those tables, someone will be asked to pray, expressing on behalf of all gratitude for blessings received. It is in consideration of those table prayers that will be offered that I ask you to consider the following story.

In the year 1617, Martin Rinckhart, 31-years-old, was appointed pastor of the Lutheran congregation in his hometown of Eilenburg, Saxony in Germany. One year later, war broke out in Europe. It would prove to be one of the deadliest wars in Germany’s history. It is known in hindsight as The Thirty Years War and caused the death of more than 8 million people.

Eilenburg escaped the ravages of the war for a time, but by 1631, the war reached the city. As armies rampaged across the countryside, refugees fled to the walled city seeking food and protection. Very quickly, the city’s resources were exhausted and people began to starve. And then to compound the misery, disease and plague swept the streets. In just one year 8000 people died in the town. So desperate with hunger did the citizens become that it is written “that thirty or forty persons might be seen fighting in the streets for a dead cat or crow.”

At the beginning, four clergyman served the people. One fled and would not return, and the other two succumbed to the plague. Only Martin remained. In that year, he conducted more than 4000 funerals, including the last rites for his own beloved wife. It became so bad with so many dying that they were forced to dig mass graves to inter the bodies—the most heart-rending of those deaths were innocent school children

Martin gave his all, organizing relief efforts, distributing food, ministering, serving, and loving as well as he could, even to the point of opening up his own home and mortgaging his own future earnings to support the poor. His door was considered a haven of refuge and was “surrounded by crowds of poor starving wretches.”

And yet, in the midst of so much hate and chaos, Martin never lost faith—never lost the larger view. He composed a song to be sung by his children at the table. It is both a song and a prayer. It would become the most well-known hymn that Martin Rinckhart ever wrote and a traditional favorite at this time of year.

Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his earth rejoices;
Who, from our mothers’ arms,
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.

Oh, may our bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever-joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us,
And keep us in his love,
And guide us day and night,
And free us from all ills,
Protect us by his might.

Sources:

https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/Rinckart.htm
https://forthefainthearted.com/2011/09/14/an-a-z-of-hymnwriters-martin-rinkart/ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/music/library/hymns/now-thank-we-all-our-god?lang=eng