America's reliance on the God of the Bible is evidenced in the official hymns of each of the branches of our Armed Forces.
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In the case of the Navy hymn, Rev. William Whiting, a clergyman who had survived a furious storm at sea in 1861, wrote the words, which were eventually set to the beloved music. In 1879, Rear Adm. Charles Jackson Train, the choirmaster at Annapolis, began the tradition of closing every worship service with the beloved hymn. It has become a universal favorite of those with a naval background, and was sung at the funeral of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945.
The words to the hymn are a prayer that is appropriate for this time in our nation's history, as it has been for over a century. They attest to the saving and protecting power of the Almighty and Triune God. They are an ideal way to pray for all of our service personnel through these continuing days of peril and endangerment for all our troops.
Navy Hymn
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Ho, hear us when we cry to Three,
For those in peril on the sea!
Verse 2:
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Three,
For those in peril on the sea!
Verse 3:
Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea?
Verse 4:
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethern shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them whereso'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad humns of praise from land and sea.
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