One of the leading Presbyterian ministers of his generation,
Maltbie Davenport Babcock, writer of “This is My Father’s World,” penned this
hymn with such concrete language that even children can understand its message
at a basic level. He followed Dr. Henry Van Dyke, author of the hymn “Joyful,
Joyful, We Adore Thee,” as the minister of Brick Presbyterian Church.
Maltbie Davenport Babcock' was born in Syracuse, New York, eldest son of Henry and Emily Babcock. His first American ancestor was James Babcock, a native of England, who immigrated in 1642, settling first at Portsmouth, Rhode Island and then in Westerly, where his descendants became prominent.
Maltbie Babcock was educated in the public schools of
Syracuse. As a young man, Babcock was described as “tall and broad-shouldered”
and a muscular swimmer and baseball player.
He graduated in 1879 from Syracuse University with
highest honors. He played baseball on the University's ball team and was a
member of the Psi Upsilon Fraternity. He was selected to give the Alumni
Address in 1895. He studied theology at the Auburn Theological Seminary
receiving his degree there in 1882.
On October 4, 1882, he married Katherine Eliot Tallman, the
youngest daughter of John Peck Higgins Tallman, a prominent lawyer of
Poughkeepsie, New York. They had two children, both of whom died in infancy.
Upon receiving his degree in theology in 1882, Babcock became
pastor of a church at Lockport, New York. He was described as having "an
unusually brilliant intellect and stirring oratorical powers that commanded
admiration, [that] won for him a foremost place among the favorites of his
denomination."
Babcock also served at Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church in
Baltimore, Maryland. He led a fund-raising effort to assist Jewish refugees
from Russia and was honored with a Doctor of Divinity degree from Syracuse
University.
Babcock was preeminently a preacher. He was a clear thinker
and a fluent speaker, with a marvelous personal magnetism which appealed to all
classes of people, and the influence of which became in a sense national. His
theology was broad and deep, yet without a touch of present-day uncertainty.
Added to the genius of spirituality he had the genius of work, and it was owing
to his unselfish devotion to the great work of uplifting mankind that he
literally wore himself out and died at the early age of forty-two.
When he was forty-two, his church presented him with a
special gift, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. With great excitement, Babcock
departed by ship. While in route at Naples, Italy, he was seized with a deadly
bacterial fever and died at the International Hospital in 1901.
After his death, his wife compiled his writings into a book
entitled, “Thoughts for Everyday Living,” published in 1901. Included was
Maltbie’s “This is My Father’s World.”
One of his poems gives insight into his approach to life: “We
are not here to play, to dream, to drift, We have hard work to do, and loads to
lift, Shun not the struggle; face it; ’Tis God’s gift.”
For Babcock, nature was not only a visual spectacle, but an aural experience. Perhaps the author’s skill as a musician contributed to the many auditory images: “listening ears” and “nature sings” and “birds their carols raise” and “rustling grass.”
Studylight.org, Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes: God testified to His approval of Christ’s preaching and the apostles’ preaching about Christ by providing authenticating miracles that showed God was with them . . . "Signs" emphasizes that the miracles signify something. "Wonders" emphasizes the reaction of awe that the miracles produced in those who observed them. "Miracles" emphasizes their supernatural origin and "gifts" the graciousness of God in providing them. The writer intended that reference to these miracles would bolster the readers’ confidence in the gospel that they had received.
Studylight.org, Clarke’s Commentary: The wondrous works of God. — Endless in their variety; stupendous in their structure; complicated in their parts; indescribable in their relations and connections; and incomprehensible in the mode of their parts, and in the ends of their creation.
Biblehub.com, The Treasury of David: "The Mighty God, even the Lord" - El, Elohim, Jehovah, three glorious names for the God of Israel. To render the address the more impressive, these titles are mentioned, just as in royal decrees the names and dignities of monarchs are placed in the forefront. Here the true God is described as Almighty, as the only and perfect object of adoration and as the self-existent One, "Hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun until the going down thereof." The dominion of Jehovah extends over the whole earth, and therefore to all mankind is His decree directed. The east and the west are bidden to hear the God who makes his sun to rise on every quarter of the globe.
Biblehub.com, Benson Commentary: He is the King and Governor, not only of Israel, but of the whole world, as the last clause of the verse expounds it; and accordingly He will, in His due time, set up His empire over all nations . . . It was the psalmist’s glory and confidence that, though the nations boasted of the power and splendor of their kings, and trusted to their military preparations, yet the Lord, the great Jehovah, the God of Israel, still reigned.
Biblestudytools.com: The King Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true Jehovah. God over all, the Lord God omnipotent: He has reigned, He was set up as King from everlasting; He reigned throughout the whole Old Testament dispensation; He was promised, and prophesied of, as a King; He came as such, in human nature, into the world, though His kingdom was not with observation; when He ascended to heaven, He was made or declared Lord and Christ, and was crowned with glory and honor; He now reigns in the hearts of His people, by His Spirit and grace; and, ere long, He will take to Himself His great power, and reign more manifestly; when the kingdoms of this world shall become His, and He shall be King over all the earth; and this His government will be still more apparent when He shall come in person, and reign with His saints on earth a thousand years; and, after that, for ever and ever, in heaven.
