As a kid, I went to church almost every Sunday. Sometimes this meant Sunday School, worship, and youth group. Other times, this meant reading
Harry Potter
in our usual pew at the middle-back-left of the Sanctuary. I vaguely remember when it was a little weird for me to stand on the pew when I sang a hymn (since I was now over four feet tall). I also vaguely remember when I stopped bringing a stuffed animal to sit next to me (...did anyone else do this?).
Something I do remember clearly from those Sunday mornings is singing the
Doxology
.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Even when I read these words, I hear the tune in my head:
Old Hundredth.
Did you grow up going to church on Sunday mornings?
If yes, what do you remember?
If not, did you have a pattern to your Sunday mornings?
Are there any hymns that you enjoy? Any that get stuck in your head?
This week, we are studying Psalm 100 during our Wednesday evening Bible Study.
1
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
2
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
3
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
5
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
I love learning more about the historical and literary context of Scripture and I found some interesting information from
Hymnary
, in particular:
"Psalm 100 brings to a close a collection of psalms that celebrate the LORD's righteous rule over all creation (93, 95-99). Like the others, it was composed to be sung by the Levites at a high religious festival that annually celebrated the LORD's kingship over the entire world (perhaps the Feast of Tabernacles).
Psalm 100 is the Hebrew equivalent of a cheerleader's shout–a strong call to worship the LORD with joyful song
(st. 1, 3): the LORD is the one true God who made us to be "the sheep of his pasture" (st. 2), and God's love and faithfulness never fail (st. 4)."
In these times when we cannot physically gather together, what calls you to worship?
Do you worship on Sundays? If so, how? Throughout the week? If so, how?
Do you connect to music during worship? If so, what music do you connect with?
When I find myself more anxious than usual, I turn to the words and classic tunes of
"Be Thou My Vision
" and
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
These familiar hymns remind me of moments of joy, sorrow, happiness, sadness, and all the moments in between. I hum these hymns as a prayer. My eyes close, my blood pressure lowers, and I picture singing this hymn with others. I hum these hymns for you all today.
"All People That on Earth Do Dwell"
is also set to Old Hundredth and is based on Psalm 100.
I invite you to read this hymn as a prayer for today:
1
All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the LORD with cheerful voice.
Serve him with joy, his praises tell,
come now before him and rejoice!
2
Know that the LORD is God indeed;
he formed us all without our aid.
We are the flock he surely feeds,
the sheep who by his hand were made.
3
O enter then his gates with joy,
within his courts his praise proclaim!
Let thankful songs your tongues employ.
O bless and magnify his name!
4
Because the LORD our God is good,
his mercy is forever sure.
His faithfulness at all times stood
and shall from age to age endure.
