Here’s a contemporary hymn suitable for Independence Day or Canada Day celebrations, or other national holidays. It was written by Fred Pratt Green. See below for tune suggestions.
It is God Who Holds the Nations
(15.15.15.7.)
It is God who holds the nations in the hollow of his hand;
It is God whose light is shining in the darkness of the land;
It is God who builds his City on the Rock and not on sand:
May the living God be praised!
It is God whose purpose summons us to use the present hour;
Who recalls us to our senses when a nation's life turns sour;
In the discipline of freedom we shall know his saving power:
May the living God be praised!
When a thankful nation, looking back, has cause to celebrate
Those who win our admiration by their service to the state;
When self-giving is a measure of the greatness of the great:
May the living God be praised!
God reminds us every sunrise that the world is ours on lease -
For the sake of life tomorrow, may our love for it increase;
May all races live together, share its riches, be at peace:
May the living God be praised!
~ written by Fred Pratt Green, copyright © 1976 Hope Publishing Company. See it on the Hope Publishing Site here. Use of these words is covered by your CCLI or OneLicense copyright license. If you don’t have a copyright license, contact Hope Publishing Company for permission to use.
Tune suggestions:
I first saw this hymn set to the tune, BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC. If that tune is too martial for your tastes, you might try HERITAGE by Austin C. Lovelace. You can view a PDF of that hymn tune on the Hope Publishing Company website (link above).
For more resources suitable for national celebrations, click on National Prayers in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
