Eternal Father, Strong to Save

“Eternal Father, Strong to Save” (LSB 717) was written by William Whiting (1827-1878) in 1860. This hymn is known throughout the world as the “sailors’ hymn,” and it may have been written for a student of Whiting’s who was about to sail to the United States. Its opening lines are inscribed over the chancel of the chapel at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

In the present version of the hymn, Robert Nelson Spencer (1877-1961) added the second and third stanzas to include a plea for God’s protection for those who travel by land and air as well as for those on the high seas.

Stanza one speaks of God appointing the limits to the ocean and brings to mind the creation, when God made an expanse in the midst of the waters and separated the waters from the waters. It also recalls the story of Jesus stilling the stormy sea in response to His disciples’ cries of fear (Mark 4:35-41).

Spencer’s stanza two speaks of the protecting hand of the Lord. Spencer’s stanza three recalls the creation when “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). This stanza describes the Spirit as the “Wind of heaven.” This recalls Acts 2:2, when the Holy Spirit came from heaven to the disciples on Pentecost “like a mighty rushing wind.”

The first three stanzas are each addressed to a different member of the Godhead. Stanza four praises the whole Trinity with “glad praise from air and land and sea.” The Triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — is worthy of praise for the protection He bestows and the salvation He brings.

1 Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

2 O Christ, the Lord of hill and plain,
O’er which our traffic runs amain
By mountain pass or valley low;
Wherever, Lord, Thy people go,
Protect them by Thy guarding hand
From ev’ry peril on the land.

3 O Spirit, whom the Father sent
To spread abroad the firmament;
O Wind of heaven, by Thy might
Save all who dare the eagle’s flight,
And keep them by Thy watchful care
From ev’ry peril in the air.

4 O Trinity of love and pow’r,
Our people shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad praise from air and land and sea.
Text (sts. 1, 4): Public domain

Text (sts. 2–3): © The Church Pension Fund. Used by permission: CPH Limited Promotional License no. 119000000
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The following stanzas are from the original Navy Hymn:

1 Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

2a O Christ, whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep
And calm amid its rage didst sleep:
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

3a Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace:
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

4 O Trinity of love and pow’r,
Our people shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad praise from air and land and sea.
Text: Public domain