Today’s reading, Psalms 87-89, brought to mind two songs, one a hymn by John Newton in 1779 and the other a chorus from my youth that is still sung today (occasionally). I really love reading the scriptures and having songs I’ve sung jump off the pages at me as these two did today. “Glorious Things…
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Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs
Kevin DeYoung has added two posts to his blog on The Gospel Coalition blog site regarding the music used in churches. If you’re at all interested in the subject, they’re very good reading. He’s titled it “Ten Principles for Church Song” and it comes in two parts, five principles each. The first five are here. The…
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He Will Ransom My Soul
Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. For he sees that even the wise die; Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall…
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Praise the Lord!
I’m reading from the Psalms today, 146 – 148, part of the closing section of five Psalms dedicated to praise. Each one starts and ends with the exhortation to “Praise the LORD! Here’s how each opens: Psalm 146:1,2 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as…
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Worship in Unity
Read Psalm 133 this morning as you prepare to worship. Then, enjoy your fellowship!
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Did you know…
Today, July 17, is Isaac Watts birthday. He was born in 1674, making him 336 years old. Check out more about him here. Watts wrote a number of hymns we still sing today, and put every Psalm to music for the church to sing. Some of his more well-known hymns include “When I Survey the…
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Praise the LORD!
One Psalm, three great hymns. Read Psalm 117 in all its brevity, and then see how two different hymn writers interpreted it. The hymns came from C H Spurgeon’s Our Own Hymn-Book. Psalm 117 Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of…
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Out of Ivory Palaces
We spent the evening with my parents, who are visiting for the Easter celebration. Our discussion turned to music, and Denise and I played a couple of songs for Mom and Dad, including one of Mom’s favorites, He Giveth More Grace. Dad asked if we had the music for his favorite song, which, unfortunately, we…
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More peace – abundant peace
Remember Isaiah quoted God as saying “There is no peace for the wicked” and Paul said that “He (Jesus) himself is our peace”. The Psalmist follows these same lines in Psalm 37, and even manages to provide a concept Jesus will use in one of His sermons recorded in Matthew. In Psalm 37:10-11 we read…
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I Will…
I’m working on a personal Bible study. Over the last couple of years, I’ve spent a lot of time in the Psalms, and noticed a lot of recurring themes and phrases. One of them that has taken me is “I will”. It comes from at least two different perspectives, that of the psalmist, saying what…