Seventh Sunday After EasterJuly 9, 2000
Unifying Theme: |
||
| Scripture | Theme | Hymns |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Samuel
5:1-5, 9-10 --or-- Ezekiel 2:1-5 |
David takes the throne --or-- A prophet among the people |
203: Hail to the Lord's Anointed 280: All Glory, Laud, and Honor 327: Crown Him with Many Crowns |
| Psalm 48 --or-- Psalm 123 |
Praise to God --or-- God of mercy |
66: Praise, My Soul, the King of
Heaven 75: All People That on Earth Do Dwell 400: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing 674: See the Morning Sun Ascending |
| Mark 6:1-13 | No such thing as a "home town prophet"? | 289: Ah, Holy Jesus 444: O Young and Fearless Prophet |
| 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 | Perfect power in weakness | 127: Guide Me, O Thou Great
Jehovah 191: Jesus Loves Me 421: Make Me a Captive, Lord 436: The Voice of God Is Calling 500: Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart |
Many people are entertained by watching others perform. We watch movies and television shows. We go to concerts and the theater. You have probably heard people say, "It's all in the delivery." Performers can merely recite the lines, or they can say it like they really mean it. The message may be contained in the words, but the delivery can make those words become more believable and meaningful. In the world of entertainment, delivery sets great actors apart from the rest.
But life is more than entertainment, and much deeper. It takes more than a good "delivery" to do it right. This week's featured hymn is a paraphrase on Psalm 103 by Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847). It focuses on his depth and sincerity of praise to God, and the breadth and scope of God's greatness. Lyte, like the Psalmist, does not focus on the words of his mouth or the works of his hands. Instead, he goes straight to the core: "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven." The words call us to lift praises from our innermost depths--from the very essence of who we are.
Lyte, who was orphaned at an early age and always suffered from poor health, abandoned his plans to become a doctor and was instead ordained as a minister in the Anglican Church after his studies at Trinity College Dublin. One of the prolific poets and hymn writers of the church, he published three volumes of religious poems during his life, and an additional collection of his miscellaneous poems was published posthumously. He wrote hymns for the use and instruction of his own congregations: "hymns for his little ones, hymns for his hardy fisherman and hymns for sufferers like him."
The Trinity Hymnal Commentary has this to say of this hymn:
Text by Henry Francis Lyte, 1834, is an admirable Reader's Digest treatment of Psalm 103. Lyte had no delusions about the character of this work. It comes from a collection of hymns which he had printed for his own congregation called Spirit of the Psalms. Modern writers of texts intended for gathered worship would do well to absorb the wisdom of Lyte and Watts (e.g., Jesus Shall Reign Wher'er the Sun). Lyte was one of those self-consciously, evangelical 19th c Anglicans. He is probably best know for Abide with Me.
Read carefully the words of this magnificent hymn:
| 1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, to the throne thy tribute bring; ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore God's praises sing. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King. |
2. Praise the Lord for grace and favor to all people in distress; praise God, still the same as ever, slow to chide, and swift to bless. Alleluia! Alleluia! Glorious now God's faithfulness. |
| 3. Fatherlike, God tends and spares us; well our feeble frame God knows; motherlike, God gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia! Alleluia! Widely yet God's mercy flows. |
4. Angels in the heights, adoring, you behold God face to face; saints triumphant, now adoring, gathered in from every race. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace. |
May we all praise God with our mouths, through our conduct, and from the very depths of our souls.
God bless you--
Lection at HymnSite.com
God bless you!
| Passages suggested are from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992) copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT. |