Sunday March 8th was the last time our church worshiped together since beginning livestream online services during quarantine. Today marked our 8th Sunday in this format. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two months. During that March 8th service, our choir and orchestra premiered a new anthem we’d been working on called Psalm 24. Taken straight out of the Psalm, the anthem takes the listener on a musical journey of the two main sections, which feature contrasting sections that really liven the text itself.
Psalm 24- NKJV
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah
It’s no surprise to God that the last anthem we’d present for awhile would declare the truth that God is Creator, Redeemer, and the Almighty King of Glory. I think the Lord knew that we as a church needed to remember that the Lord is a strong and mighty God, able to fight the strongest enemies (yes, even virus). I’m struck by my favorite part of the Psalm each time I read it. The psalmist asks-who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? He who has clean hands and a pure heart. That clean hands line seems to resonant more as of late, huh? But the promise is true: if we come in humility and repentance, the Lord offers salvation.
During the last few weeks, I bet you’ve likely been able to enjoy being outside more than normal; I know I have. I’ve been in awe of the the beauty of God’s creation in a more real way than ever. One night last week, Andrew had an art project due for school. He had to re-create a famous van Gogh painting and write about it. After it got dark, we went out on the deck and found the moon, stars, and even a great shot of Venus for his project. As I continued to look out at the heavens and the stars, I was amazed once again at the limitless power of our God. Truly, everything was made by Him and He rules over all the earth. Below is our “re-creation” of van Gogh’s “A Starry Night.”
In closing as I was preparing this and praying through what to share related to Psalm 24, The Lord brought to mind one of the first hymns I learned to play when I first began taking piano lessons in third grade—-This is My Father’s World. As a young child I didn’t realize the significance of the text, I just thought it was a hymn we only sang on Fathers Day! But, the words ring true today even more. God is King–He’s the Ruler of everything. He is not surprised by what is happening in our world today. He is in control and we can rest in that assurance.
This is My Father’s World
This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!