20080126

Psalm 47

Nottingham

All you nations, clap your hands;
Shout to God with joyful cry.
Awesome is the Lord Most High,
Great King over all earth’s lands!

Through us nations he's subdued,
Put beneath our feet our foes.
Our inheritance he chose,
Jacob’s Pride, whom he has loved.

God, midst joyful shouts, takes wing,
There the Lord midst trumpets' ring.
Sing God’s praises, praises sing;
Praises sing, praise to our King.

God is King, all earth’s his own;
To him sing a psalm of praise.
God rules lands, his sceptre sways;
God sits on his holy throne.

As the God of Abram’s own,
Nations’ heads together throng,
For earth’s kings to God belong;
Honoured, great is his renown.

20080125

Psalm 46

Ein Feste Burg

God is our refuge and our might,
An ever present help in trial.
Therefore against our fears we fight,
Though earth give way and mountains fall,
Though mountains all be thrown
Into the sea and drown,
Though waters roar and foam
And mountains start to quake
With surging as they move and shake.

A river flows whose streams give joy,
God’s city, holiest place of all,
Where dwells our God, our God Most High,
God’s in her and she will not fall;
He’ll help at break of day.
Realms quake, kingdoms decay;
He speaks - earth melts away.
He’s with us - mighty Lord,
Our safe stronghold is Jacob’s God.

Come see the works of God the Lord,
The desolations he has worked.
Throughout the earth he ends discord;
Breaks bow and spear and burns up shield.
Be still, know I am He;
Exalted I will be
Exalted - let earth see.
He’s with us - mighty Lord;
Our safe stronghold is Jacob’s God.

20080119

Psalm 45

Melita

A noble theme my heart it stirs
As for the king I words recite;
My tongue a pen that now in verse
With skill conveys the things I write.
You hold midst men the highest place,
Your lips anointed with true grace.

For God has blessed you and forev'r.
Come, gird your sword upon your side,
O mighty one; great splendour wear,
Be clothed in majesty to ride,
Be for the truth victorious,
For meekness too and righteousness.

Deeds awesome with your right hand show.
Let your sharp arrows pierce the heart
Of each who is the Great King’s foe;
Let nations fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God, will always last;
Your kingdom's sceptre - sceptre just.

You love what’s righteous, hate what’s bad;
So God, your God, has made you Lord.
Above each peer, each one you had,
The oil of joy upon you poured.
All of your robes they fragrant are -
With aloes, myrrh and cassia.

From palaces of ivory
The sound of strings it brings you mirth.
Honoured by you we often see
Daughters of kings, of royal birth;
The Royal Bride’s at your right hand
In gold from Ophir’s distant land.

Give ear, O daughter, hark, recall:
Your father's house no thought accord.
How does your charm the king enthral;
Him honour, for he is your Lord.
Tyre's daughter will with gifts embrace
And men of wealth your favour chase.

Within her room the princess shines;
In rich embroidered clothes they bring,
In woven gown with gold designs,
Into the presence of the king;
Her virgin friends then follow too
As all of them are brought to you.

With joy they in his palace stand.
Your fathers by your sons replaced;
They'll princes be throughout the land.
Your mem'ry I'll perpetuate
On down the generations all;
Forever praised by nations all.

20080118

Catechism 5

Questions 28-33
CM

And what is it that Adam's sin
To all mankind did do?
In sin and mis'ry all are born,
Of all mankind that's true.

What have we all inherited
Due to orig'nal sin?
A sinful nature's credited
Because of Adam's sin.

What is sin? Sin is transgression,
Yes, of the law of God.
What is meant by that expression?
To do what's banned by God.

What is by every sin deserved?
God's anger, we must say,
And the judgement that is reserved
For use on that great day.

Do we know just what God requires?
Yes. Laws to us are giv'n,
Both in our hearts (our good desires),
And (surer yet) those writt'n.