Thursday Hymn Reflection: “America the Beautiful”

[Each Thursday, we reflect on a hymn. If you would like us to write about your favorite songs, leave a comment with up to three of your favorites and we will add them to our list.]

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Today is Veteran’s Day, so I thought it would be appropriate to consider a hymn that reminds us of our heritage as a nation grounded in the principles of God’s Word. It was hard to select just one of these patriotic songs, though, as nearly all of them have a message grounded in a faith in God and the Bible.

The words “purple mountain majesty” are the key to the history of “America the Beautiful.” Katharine Bates traveled to the state of Colorado to teach in a university, but also took short excursions to local sites. One of those was Pike’s Peak. Standing on that poem, some words came to her. She wrote them down that night in her her room under the title “Pike’s Peak.” Later, she sent to a newsletter for churches named The Congressionalist, and the poem, under the new title “America,” was published in the Fourth of July edition of 1895.

The music had been written earlier (1882) by Samuel Ward, but he felt that it fit the words to Bates’ poem, so it was worked out to be published as a hymn and song. Ever since, “America the Beautiful” has been considered one of the finest patriotic songs, and is even considered by some to be the “unofficial” national anthem of the United States of America.

The song contains several references to the God of the Bible, and is often sung in worship services as a prayer to God to continue His blessings on our nation. The line “God shed His grace on thee” is the most well-known reference to God, but it is not the only one in the song. In fact, each of the four verses in Bates’ poem contains a reference to God and a prayer for His protection, forgiveness, or bountiful blessing.

The words to the poem are a much-needed reminder that our nation is truly built upon the principles of, and respect for, the God of the Bible. While many try to hide that truth, songs such as this one continue to connect modern America with the foundation of Christian principles that built her.

As we take time today to reflect on the sacrificial work of our veterans, may we also take a few moments to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice given by Christ, and how that one life led to the foundations of our republic. America really is beautiful, but she will not be if we fail to remember our Lord in every aspect of our lives.

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Countless videos of this song are available, but here is one short, but good, version of the song that I hope you enjoy as you leave your comments.