This Is My Father’s World 

UMH # 144

Scripture Meditations

Psalm 50:12b  The world is Mine, and the fulness thereof.  

Jeremiah 10:12-13  He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

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.

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.

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 the earth be glad!

This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.
I ope ‘ my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.

Lyrics:  Maltbie Davenport Babcock

Music: “Terra Beata,” traditional English melody, arranged by Franklin L. Sheppard in his Alleluia, 1915

Born: August 3, 1858, Syracuse, New York
Died: May 18, 1901, Naples, Italy.

Maltbie Babcock was a Presbyterian minister who wrote poems in his free time.  He never published anything, but his wife, published his works after he died, so he never heard this hymn.  Before going on one of his frequent walks, it was his custom to say, "I'm going to see my Father's world."  This hymn is part of a 16 verse poem.  Each verse beings with "This is my Father's world."

The red verses above are not found in the United Methodist Hymnal.