Martin Rinkart

Martin Rinkart (1586-1649) came to pastor St. Anne’s Church in Eilenberg, Saxony (modern Germany) in 1618, coinciding with the start of the Thirty Years War. As a walled city, Eilenberg became a place of refuge for neighboring people. A deadly plague broke out, from which people had no place to flee. There were four pastors in town–one left and the other two fell victim to the plague. Martin alone was left to care for the sick and dying. He conducted forty to fifty funerals daily, nearly forty-five hundred people died in all, including his wife. The plague was followed by a severe famine. Eventually conquering Swedes took control of the city, demanding excessive tribute. Martin approached the Swedish general to lower his demands. When he refused, he turned to the people, “Come, my children, we can find no mercy with men, let us take refuge in God.” Martin dropped to his knees and prayed with such fervor that the general agreed to the lower payment.
The brutal Thirty Year’s War lasted until 1648. Martin was exhausted, aged prematurely and died a year later. Given the ravages of war, plague, famine, and death, what kind of hymn would you write? Martin composed the thanksgiving hymn “Now Thank We All Our God!” He wrote it in 1636 as the war raged and the plague worsened. It was set to music in 1647, and we’ve been singing it ever since. The only reference to his dire circumstances is the phrase, “And guide us when perplexed and free us from all ills, in this world and the next.” The hymn rings with thanksgiving. What better song to lead us into Thanksgiving: