Nun danket all Gott - “Now Thank We All Our God”

 

Recently, I became fascinated by the life of Martin Rinkhart. Rinkhart was born in 1586 in Eilenburg, Saxony, Germany where, as a child, he put his musical talents to good use as a member of the choir in the renown St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. Later in life, Rinkhart completed his studies and went on to serve as a Lutheran pastor in various German towns before coming full circle to serve in his native home of Eilenburg.

Rinkhart’s life was not without hardship. By the age of 31, he endured a tumultuous war followed by a devastating plague that claimed the lives of 8,000 Eilenburg residents which included his dear wife. After the plague, Eilenburg was hit yet again by “a famine so extreme that 30 or 40 people might be seen fighting in the streets for a dead cat or crow”. Despite the devastation and misery, Rinkart was a faithful and caring pastor who not only attended the needs of the sick and hungry, but also did his “best to help and give away everything, keeping only the barest rations for his own family.” In 1648, Rinkhart died in his beloved town of Eilenburg, but his legacy remains to this very day.

What was the key factor in anchoring Rinkhart through such life storms? Through “grief, and loss, suffering and death, Rinkhart always looked to His Savour Jesus - his “anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). As a statement of his faith, abiding trust and gratitude toward God, Rinkhart’s legacy burns bright to this very day as captured in his best-known hymn called “Now Thank We All Our God.” (Originally in German, Nun danket all Gott).

 

“Now Thank We All Our God”, Sung at Royal Albert Hall, London.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s99dNPKYtHk

 

Reference

“Story Behind the Song: Pastor gives praise, thanks during darkest of times”, by Pam Coffin, The Destin Log. Retrieved from: https://www.thedestinlog.com/news/20181120/story-behind-song-pastor-gives-praise-thanks-during-darkest-of-times