Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. —James 5:13, King James Version Though psalm singing is a common practice throughout the history of Christian worship, the creation of metrical psalms—translations of the psalms into strict rhyming verse that can be easily fitted to musical settings in repeating stanzas—is a hallmark of the…
In Psalm 13 David seeks the Lord for answers, “lest [he] sleep the sleep of death.” Much of the music in this morning’s service reflects this desperate situation. Hymns like Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, Jesus, Lover of My Soul, and O Thou In Whose Presence address God directly, giving voice to a people who are in “desert lands”…
Here at Parish, we have long enjoyed singing the psalms, often to musical settings produced in house. But psalm singing is a distinctive of the Reformed faith that goes back to the origins of the movement in the 16th century. The setting of Psalm 12 we will sing at the end of this morning’s service was composed by Loys (Louis)…
In Psalm 11:3, David cries out in distress “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The comforting answer is found in the following verse, “The Lord is in His holy temple” (Psalm 11:4). God is on His throne, He sees our troubles, and He will put all things to right—a sentiment found throughout the service this morning.…
One of the primary contrasts found in the first book of the Psalter is that between God’s people and their enemies, often referred to as “the righteous” and “the wicked.” You can certainly find this contrast in this morning’s sermon text (see Psalm 10:2, 8-10, 12-13, 18), as well as many of the psalms and hymns we sing in the…
Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit… —Acts 2:2-4 This morning, along with the rest of the Western church, we remember…
The author of Hebrews concludes his letter with a blessing from “Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep.” Pastoral images abound in this morning’s service: readings from Psalm 23 and Micah 5 describe Christ as our shepherd, along with the hymns Jesus, Shepherd Of Thy People, How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds, and O Thou In Whose Presence. As…
As we come to the close of our study of Hebrews—a series that has taken nearly nine months—this morning’s service recapitulates many of the themes this remarkable book has surveyed. You’ll notice that every reading this morning (not just the sermon text) is taken from Hebrews, and we’ll sing many of the hymns that were featured during this series. The…
This morning’s sermon text from Hebrews lists several practical exhortations on living the Christian life, concluding with a comforting quotation from the psalter: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.” Much of today’s service focuses on this aspect of God as our helper. Throughout the morning, we’ll be reminded that “[our] help comes from the Lord” (Psalm 121:2), that…
When we come to worship, we are in a sense coming (as the author of Hebrews puts it) to the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22). What an immense privilege we have every week as children of God! This morning, Psalm 48 calls us to worship with a description of the “city of our God,” “Mount Zion,” “His holy mountain,” a fortress…
