Although the family gathered ’round him wept openly, Pastor Martin Rinkhart held back his own tears as men lowered another townswoman into her grave. It was his forty-second burial that day; and a few more would require his administration before sundown.
The next day promised more of the same as the plague ravaged the city of Eilenburg, Germany, Rinkhart’s hometown. But this wasn’t their only tragic circumstance. Long before in 1618 the Thirty Years’ War had begun, devastating much of Europe—especially Germany.
Now it was the mid-1630s, and numerous refugees had crowded into the walled city of Eilenburg to escape death and destruction at the hands of the Swedish army. The plague had soon followed.
Eight thousand people died, including many children, two clergymen from nearby neighborhoods, and Rinkhart’s wife. He would bury nearly 4,500—forty to fifty per day– before mass graves were instituted.
Martin Rinkhart could never have imagined such heartbreak when he earned his degree in theology in 1602. He no doubt looked forward to shepherding a little flock of believers, leading them to grow in faith and ministering to their needs.
And for fifteen years or so, Rinkhart did serve as music minister or pastor in several locations. Then in 1617, at age thirty-one, he was invited back to his native Eilenburg.
Eilenberg, Germany today
Shortly after his relocation, the Thirty Years’ War began—one of the longest, most destructive conflicts in European history, taking eight million lives [1].
The Swedish army caused much suffering. Soldiers plundered livestock, food stores, and household goods. They demanded to be billeted in citizens’ homes. Even as Rinkhart endured these same hardships, he continued to faithfully care for his hurting parishioners.
No sooner did the plague subside than famine gripped the land. Rinkhart did his best to help others, reducing rations for his own household until he found himself mortgaging his future income in order to purchase food and other necessities for them.
During this time, the Swedish army returned, besieging Eilenberg for several months. They finally demanded an exorbitant ransom to leave the city. Rinkhart met with the general to plead the city’s case, but he wouldn’t back down.
One account explains that Rinkhart called together his parishioners and others to pray. “Come my children,” he invited. “We can find no hearing, no mercy with men; let us take refuge with God” [2].
Evidently the general was present as Rinkhart prayed fervently for God’s deliverance. The Swede acquiesced, and lowered the ransom considerably.
During these decades of suffering, in 1636, Rinkhart wrote a mealtime prayer-song for his two children. They sang it at bedtime too.
Most of us would expect a prayer pleading for relief and rescue by God’s power and mercy. Instead, Rinkhart focused on gratitude:
His prayer became the basis for a beloved hymn, chosen to be sung at the national thanksgiving service when the Thirty Years’ War ended. It’s still sung today:
https://youtu.be/ItfKjxkXhMk?si=TXR0eN0Tj9rP0Of4
I marvel how someone could write such lyrics—about the wondrous things God has done, his blessings along the way, and countless gifts of love—all while suffering terrible hardship and grief.
But I’m thankful for Martin Rinkhart’s example, demonstrating what it means to trust in the Lord with all your heart, in all circumstances [3].
Still, the question remains: WHY. “Why Lord?” we plead toward heaven. “Why must good people suffer?”
Herbert Lockyer would have us understand:
“Harsh plowing yields joyful, bountiful harvests . . . the believer ‘grows rich by his losses, rises by his falls, lives by dying, and becomes full of being emptied’” (Unknown) [4].
No doubt Rinkhart embraced those truths. He also understood: Gratitude to God nurtures hope in him, the One who brings good out of all circumstances [5].
[1] https://enjoyingthejourney.org/hymn-history-now-thank-we-all-our-god/
[2] https://www.thedestinlog.com/story/lifestyle/faith/2018/11/20/story-behind-song-pastor-gives-praise-thanks-during-darkest-of-times/8320618007/
[3] Proverbs 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:18
[4] Seasons of the Lord, 371.
[5] Romans 8:28
Additional Source: http://www.baptistnews.com/article/now-thank-we-all-our-god/
Art & photo credits: http://www.picryl.com (Artist: Jozef Szermentowski); http://www.wikimedia.org; http://www.rawpixels.com.
From the Inside Out 