Memorial Day Sunday, 2006, Part 1 of 2

Psalm 121 has been called the "Traveler's Psalm," because it petitions God to watch the comings and goings of His people. In this blog, I have also selected verses from this psalm as a wish and blessings for my site visitors (see sidebar).

Hymnals of the 19th century frequently contained a collection prayer-hymns for God's care of travelers, more so for mariners. The most notable mariner's hymn, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" was written by William Whiting of England. See Part 2 of this post.

Whiting at one time had survived at sea on a storm damaged ship. He respected the might of the sea nearly as much as he respected the God who made and reigned over it. When later in 1860 a student was sailing for America confided to Whiting his fear of the ocean. The latter penned several verses of poem which he named, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save."

Compilers of an 1861 hymnal revised the poem fitting to the John Dykes' hymn tune "Melita," a name for the island of Malta. It was on this island where the apostle Paul was shipwrecked. In 1869, Whiting rewrote the entire hymn in 1869. It is this version which is found in most hymnals.

In 1879, the first verse of "Eternal Father" was sung at the conclusion of the U.S. Naval Academy's Sunday Services. Of this institution, this hymn is popularly known today as "The Navy Hymn." Other branches of the military services have also adapted verses to this hymn. The hymn is also sung on French and British ships or played at state funerals.

During World War II, an allied troop transport ship, the Dorchester, was torpedoed by a German U-boat in the North Atlantic. Among more than 900 men aboard the Dorchester, were four young Army chaplains - a Methodist minister, a Jewish rabbi, a Dutch Reformed Minister, and a Catholic priest - helped many soldiers to safety. They gave up their own life vests so four more soldiers could be saved.

Eighteen minutes after it was hit, the Dorchester sank with a loss of 675 lives, including the four chaplains. It was later reported that they were linked arm-in-arm at the top of the ship and sang hymns, among which was "Eternal Father, Strong to Save."

It is fitting on this Memorial Day Sunday to play "Eternal Father" in honor of the men and women who have served in harm's way. More important and comforting to note, our God is greater than all forces on earth, seen or unseen.