Hymn Sing

#3 From Psalm 117   From all that dwell below the skies Let the Creator's praise arise: Let the Redeemer's name be sung Through every land, by every tongue.   Eternal are thy mercies, Lord; Eternal truth attends thy Word: Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore Till suns shall rise and set no more.   Alleluia!

Psalm 117 The LORD's Faithfulness Endures Forever  1(A) Praise the LORD, all nations!    Extol him, all peoples! 2For(B) great is his steadfast love toward us,    and(C) the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. (D) Praise the LORD!   (ESV)

 

The above comes from the Trinity Hymnal.

These two verses are jam-packed with doctrine. We see creation and its purpose, missions, doctrines concerning God and hint at the final days of earth. I think this is why I love the hymns so much. How many CCM songs, that are not scripture based, contain as much doctrine? Notice also who the focus is on, it is on God not us and that I think is the most foundational idea of praise music. We praise God. Praise isn't about us.

Hymn Sing #2

Based on Psalm 145



God, my King, thy might confessing,

Ever will I bless thy name;

Day by day thy throne addressing,

Still will I thy praise proclaim.



Honor great our God befitteth;

Who his majesty can reach?

Age to age his work transmitteth,

Age to age his power shall teach.



They shall talk of all thy glory,

On thy might and greatness dwell,

Speak of thy dread acts the story,

And thy deeds of wonder tell.



Nor shall fail from memory's treasure

Works by love and mercy wrought;

Works of love surpassing measure;

Works of mercy passing thought.



Full of kindness and compassion,

Slow to anger, vast in love,

God is good to all creation;

All his works his goodness prove.



All thy works, O Lord, shall bless thee;

Thee shall all thy saints adore:

King supreme shall they confess thee,

And proclaim thy sovereign power.

Hymn Sing – Psalm 100

The hymns we will be looking at come from the Trinity Hymnal. For too long, we have laid aside the hymns for more "contemporary" (meaning generally out of style faster than a carton of milk on a summer day) music. By doing so, we not only have lost some great music, but some great theology. This may be cursing the darkness, rather than lighting a candle, but I am eager to see that the hymns are no longer seen as something sung, only to appease old people, but to truly capture the fullness and richness that is often lacking in contemporary music.

#1

Psalm 100



All people that on earth do dwell,

Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;

Him serve with fear, his praise forth-tell,

Come ye before him and rejoice.



The Lord ye know is God indeed;

Without our aid he did us make;

We are his folk, he doth us feed,

And for his sheep he doth us take.

O enter then his gates with praise,

Approach with joy his courts unto;

Praise, laud, and bless his name always,

For it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good,

His mercy is for ever sure;

His truth at all times firmly stood,

And shall from age to age endure.