Psalm 57 - Be Exalted, O Lord

Psalm 57 was the bases for this beautiful chorus by Brent Chambers.It was written way back when praise choruses were something new - 1977! Yes, all you youngsters, "praise and worship" music isn't something that was invented this century.

Praise and worship music has a "shelf life" so to speak. Styles come and go. What sounds current and new one year can sound very dated the next. It's been awhile since we've sung this beautiful setting of Psalm 57, but maybe we should bring it back out.



While I'm thinking about it - and this is definitely side note - churches who only sing music by a small number of writers and only things written in the last decade are missing out on a wealth of wonderful music. How sad to think that there are many in today's churches who will never have these wonderful texts found in great songs from the past in their hearts:
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
It Is Well with My Soul

Or won't know the grandeur of singing these great hymns:
Holy, Holy, Holy
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

But it is also sad that some churches cling so tightly to the past that their people don't have the opportunity to sing fantastic songs of faith like:
10,000 Reasons
All to Us
Your Name

Hmmmmm.... it wasn't my intent as I began posting today about Psalm 57 to write about music in the church. but since I've started I'll finish up with this.

I'm so thankful to be a part of a church that appreciates music of all styles, all not just decades, but centuries! We've talked about how blessed we are that the "worship wars" are something we put aside years ago. It's part of living out Philippians 2

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Because we love each other and look out for each others' interests we sing music that every generation will enjoy. Ha! And it ends up we've found that we like it all!

If It Wasn't Written Last Week It's Too Old

I actually have heard of a music guy who actually said that. "If It Wasn't Written Last Week It's Too Old." Seriously?!

I totally believe in singing all the newest and latest songs. There are so many wonderful new songs being written. I've written a few myself and we have sung them at Hilldale (I just don't announce, "O, by the way, I wrote this next song. Sing purty now!")

However, those who want to throw out the old songs just because they are old are missing out. I've come up with a short list of things they are missing.

1. Great, deep, theological truths expressed in rich language

2. A connection with the Saints who have gone before us, (this is important) the great cloud of witnesses of Hebrews 12:1 NIV

3. Many people in each congregation like some of those songs that weren't written last week

4. Just because it's new doesn't mean it's good. A song should be judged on it's text and the craftsmanship of the song. A bad melody or uninteresting chord structure can't be overlooked just because it's new. Bad theology is never excusable just because you or even someone famous wrote it and you like it.

Hmmm. My list changed from things missing to other things too, but you get the idea.

My latest poll gives you a chance to vote on your favorite hymn written before 1800. Wow. We still sing a lot of these.