Now Thank We All Our God

 The Lord is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusts in Him and I am helped.

My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to Him in song.

Psalm 28:7

At the age of 31, Martin Rinkart became a pastor in Eilenberg, Germany, just as the 30 Years War started - a war that has been described as the worst in all history.  Because Eilenberg was a walled city, it became an over-crowded refuge for fugitives.  The city endured several waves of deadly disease;  The plague of 1637 was particularly severe.  At its height, Rinkart was the only clergy alive to care for the sick and the dying.  In the midst of all this. Now Thank We All Our God was born.  -Amazing Grace, Kenneth W. Osbeck