What God Ordains is Always Good
Words by Samuel Rodigast, music composed and arranged by Josh Bauder
The year was 1675. Severus Gastorius lay gravely ill in the university town of Jena in what is now Germany; he knew he may never rise from his bed of sickness. He reviewed in his mind the wonderful truths of the gospel, and knew that if he did die he would immediately be in the joyous presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet he longed to continue his work as the music director at his church.
He was glad to see his close friend, Samuel Rodigast, a university professor, enter his bedroom with papers in his hand. With a sad but reassuring smile, Samuel asked if he could read a poem he had just written to comfort both of them at this difficult time.
“What God ordains is always good;
His will is just and holy….”
Those words reached out and grabbed Severus. “Yes,” he thought, “my head knows this to be true, but my heart does not.” He continued to listen.
“… What God ordains is always good;
He is my Friend and Father.
He suffers naught to do me harm
Though many storms may gather.
Now I may know both joy and woe;
Some day I shall see clearly
That He has loved me dearly…”
Severus’s heart began to stir with renewed faith in his loving, wise Lord.
“…What God ordains is always good;
This truth remains unshaken.
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
I shall not be forsaken.
I fear no harm, for with His arm
He shall embrace and shield me;
So to my God I yield me.”
As Samuel finished his poem he was greatly encouraged to see his friend with peaceful reassurance now on his tired face.
The Lord chose to raise Severus up from his illness, and he was eager to put these powerful words to music. Soon many Christians were singing these words to themselves and to each other.
The Lord has for centuries used this hymn to comfort His people. It is said to have been the favorite hymn of King Frederick William III of Prussia. Classical composers, such as Pachelbel, Bach, Telemann, Liszt, Reger, and Forrest, have incorporated Severus’s hymn tune into their sacred works.
In 2013 Josh Bauder wrote a most fitting and beautiful tune for the poem, that when wed with such gloriously comforting and powerful words, is truly a hymn worth singing, meditating on, and memorizing.
I need the words of this hymn! How many times have I come back to them to remind myself that no matter how the circumstances argue to the contrary, God, my Father loves me dearly, and He always does what is right and good. Please listen to this hymn and follow the words. May the Lord use it in your life as well!
