This Is My Father's World

A 1919 publication of "This is My Father's World." The arrangement is in the public domain.

When Syracuse, New York minister Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858 - 1901) lived in the city of Lockport, he took frequent walks along the Niagara Escarpment to enjoy the overlook's panoramic vista of upstate New York scenery and Lake Ontario. Before leaving for his walks, Babcock would tell his wife he was "going out to see the Father's world". Shortly after his death in 1901, Mrs. Babcock published a compilation of her husband's writings, entitled Thoughts for Every-Day Living, that contained the poem "My Father's World." The original poem contained sixteen stanzas of four lines each. In 1915, Franklin L. Sheppard chose only three verses of the sixteen when he set Babcock's poem to music to a tune entitled "Terra Beata" (Latin for "Blessed Earth"). Scripture references in the original poem include Psalm 33:5 "He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love." and Psalm 50:12 "For the world is mine, and all that is it."

My Father's World
Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858 - 1901)

This is my Father's world. On the day of its wondrous birth
The stars of light in phalanx bright, Sang out in Heavenly mirth.

This is my Father's world. E'en yet to my listening ears
All nature sings, and around 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 that 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. From His eternal throne,
He watch doth keep when I'm asleep, And I am not alone.

This is my Father's world. Dreaming, I see His face.
I open my eyes, and in glad surprise, Cry, "TIle Lord is in this place."

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. Among the mountains drear,
'Mid rending rocks and earthquake shocks, The still, small voice I hear.

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. 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. His love has filled my breast,
I am reconciled, I am His child, My soul has found His rest.

This is my Father's world. A wanderer I may roam,
Whate'er my lot, it matters not, My heart is still at home.

This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget
That tho' the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's world. The battle is not done.
Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and Heaven be one.

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.

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