Fifth Sunday of EpiphanyFebruary 7, 1999
Unifying Theme: |
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| Scripture | Theme | Hymns |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) | It's not just what we do, but why we do it | 395: Take Time to Be
Holy 555: Forward Through the Ages |
| Psalm 112:1-9(10) | Blessed is the one who fears the Lord | 96: Praise the Lord Who Reigns
Above 126: Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above |
| Matthew 5:13-20 | Fulfillment of the law | 413: A Charge to Keep I
Have 606: Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine |
| 1 Corinthians 2:1-12(13-16) | Wisdom from God | 152: I Sing the Almighty
Power of God 598: O Word of God Incarnate |
The Book of Psalms is a wonderful book! It expresses the full range of human emotion; the full range of passion; the full range of conduct; the full range of the human condition. Best of all, though, the book expresses the full range of God's triumphant love. A love that embraces us when we are doing God's will; a love that beckons us to repent when we are not. A love that is as unconditional as God himself. What a glorious reason to praise Him without ceasing!
The Psalms appear roughly in the center of the Bible. It seems appropriate for this to be true, since the messages in the Psalms are central to our faith. From the first Psalm to the last we see messages of blessing, reward, and praise. Here is the text of Psalm 150:
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
This message was not lost in this week's featured hymn. Written by Johann J. Schutz and translated by Frances E. Cox, the hymn moves from verse to verse finding reason upon reason to praise and glorify God. Read and enjoy the wonderful words of praise.
| 1. Sing praise to God who reigns above, the God of all creation, the God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation. With healing balm my soul is filled and every faithless murmur stilled: To God all praise and glory. |
2. The Lord is never far away, but through all grief distressing, an ever present help and stay, our peace and joy and blessing. As with a mother's tender hand, God gently leads the chosen band: To God all praise and glory. |
| 3. Thus all my toilsome way along, I sing aloud thy praises, that earth may hear the grateful song my voice unwearied raises. Be joyful in the Lord, my heart, both soul and body bear your part: To God all praise and glory. |
4. Let all who name Christ's holy name give God all praise and glory; let all who own his power proclaim aloud the wondrous story! Cast each false idol from its throne, for Christ is Lord, and Christ alone: To God all praise and glory. |
The tune, MIT FREUDEN ZART, is also full of praise. Congregational singing was an important and vital part of corporate worship in the German church, and with music like this you can really see why. The next time you sing this in worship service, sing alot, listen carefully, and look carefully within to find the Spirit moving in you and in the congregation. Angel voices cannot help but join in!
Through this day and through this week, sing praise to God, and know that the message of His love was sent for you.
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. |