One of the things at Banstead Community Church we’ve been trying to do more of is sing the Psalms.

This Sunday we are going to be singing Psalm 45.

What options are available?

The Book of Psalms for Worship has a version with 8 verses; Seedbed Psalter has 11 verses; Sing Psalms has 16 verses or 7 verses versions; and The Trinity Psalter Hymnal has two versions, one with 8 verses, the other 5 verses.  We decided to go for the version by Matt Searles.

From Matt Searles which can be sung to the tune for I Vow to Thee, My Country / O God beyond all praising:

O King, you are most worthy, of men you are the best
Your words are true and gracious, you are forever blessed
Take up your sword in splendour, ride forth in majesty
For justice and mercy and true humility
Your arrows pierce your enemies, you march across the land
The peoples and the nations against you cannot stand

Your throne will last forever, with justice you shall reign
You love all that is righteous and hate all evil gain
So God has richly blessed you with joy abundantly
Your robes are all fragrant, your courts are ivory
There princesses attend you, sweet music from of old
Your future queen awaits you arrayed in finest gold

O bride forsake all others, don’t give your love abroad
The king desires your beauty; so honour him your Lord
The gown he gives is glorious, the threads are twined with gold
In shimmering colours the envy of the world
A joyful crowd is with her, with gladness now they sing
And finally she enters the palace of the king

This king will reign forever, his sons upon the earth
And ev’ry generation will tell of his great worth
All nations will soon praise him and fall down at his feet
His kingdom established, where truth and mercy meet
O Jesus we adore you, our lover and our king
Your church, your bride is waiting and so to you we sing

(Photo: David Beale)

One of the things at Banstead Community Church we’ve been trying to do more of is sing the Psalms.

This Sunday we are going to be singing Psalm 44.

What options are available?

The Book of Psalms for Worship has a version with 12 verses; Seedbed Psalter has 11 verses, Sing Psalms has 17 verses, and The Trinity Psalter Hymnal has 12 verses.  This means a choice will need to be made about how many verses to sing from whichever version we choose.  We went for 4 verses from The Book of Psalms for Worship (covering Psalm 44:1-8).

From The Book of Psalms for Worship which can be sung to the tune for How Firm a Foundation:

O God, we have heard of Your works with our ears;
Our fathers have told what You did in past years:
How nations were crushed and cast out by Your hand;
You planted our fathers to live in the land.

Success did not come from the sword in their hand,
Nor by their arm’s strength did they conquer the land.
But rather it was by the light of Your face,
Your right hand and arm, for You showed them Your grace.

O God, You alone are forever my King;
Command, and for Jacob deliverance bring.
Through You we will surely push back all our foes,
Through Your name we’ll trample on those who oppose.

No trust will I place in my sword or my bow.
We’ll boast in the God who saved us from the foe;
All those hating us You have brought down in shame,
And so we will ever give thanks to Your name.

(Photo: David Beale)

One of the things at Banstead Community Church we’ve been trying to do more of is sing the Psalms.

This Sunday we are going to be singing Psalm 43.

What options are available?

The versions in The Book of Psalms for Worship, Seedbed Psalter, Sing Psalms, and The Trinity Psalter Hymnal each have 5 verses.  There is also a version by Steve Jeffery’s which has one verse and chorus (or 3 verses and chorus when combined with Psalm 42). Praise! has two verses.  All these versions have well-known tunes they can be sung to.  We went for the version from The Book of Psalms for Worship.

From The Book of Psalms for Worship which can be sung to the tune for There is a green hill far away:

Before a wicked nation, God,
My innocence defend;
O vindicate and rescue me
From cruel, deceitful men.

For You are God who gives me strength;
Why have You cast me off?
Why must I go about in grief
While foes oppress and scoff?

O send Your light forth and Your truth,
And let them be my guide,
To lead me to Your holy hill,
The place where You abide.

Then to God’s altar I will go,
To God my boundless joy;
And in Your praise, O God, my God,
The harp I will employ.

O why are you cast down my soul?
Why so discouraged be?
Hope now in God; I’ll praise Him still.
My help, my God is He.

(Photo: David Beale)

One of the things at Banstead Community Church we’ve been trying to do more of is sing the Psalms.

This Sunday we are going to be singing Psalm 42.

What options are available?

My two go-to versions are from The Book of Psalms for Worship which contains 5 verses or the version by Steve Jeffery which is sung to a modern tune.

From Steve Jeffery which is sung to the tune for There is a Higher Throne:

Like deer in search of floods, so my soul longs for God;
I thirst for God, the Living God; when shall I see?
My food has been my tears, while throughout endless years
The hostile crowds around me say, ‘Where is your God?’

These things I’ve always known as I pour out my soul:
I’ve led the throng to worship God, with shouts of praise.
Why is my soul cast down? In turmoil tossed around?
I’ll hope in God, and praise once more my Saviour God.

To distant lands I’ll go, still I’ll remember you,
Amid the storms of life your love sweeps over me.
By day your grace outpoured, by night your song breaks forth;
And so I cry to God my Rock, ‘Remember me!’

Now scoffers gather round, their taunts like broken bones,
They say to me continually, ‘Where is your God?’
Why is my soul cast down? In turmoil tossed around?
I’ll hope in God, and praise once more my Saviour God.

From The Book of Psalms for Worship which can be sung to the tune for My Hope is Built on Nothing Less:

As pants the deer for water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
I thirst for God, the living God;
When will I see the face of God?
Tears are my food both day and night.
All day men say, “Where is your God?”

My soul’s poured out as I recall
How to God’s house I led the crowds
With joyful songs to keep the feast.
My soul, why so cast down, disturbed?
Hope now in God; I’ll praise Him still.
He is my help. He is my God.

My God, my soul is in despair;
I therefore will remember you
From lands where river Jordan flows
From Hermon’s peaks and Mizar’s hill.
There deep calls deep, Your waterfalls,
There all Your waves rolled over me.

The LORD sends forth His love by day,
At night His song will be with me,
My prayer to God who makes me live.
Then I will say to God my Rock:
“Did you forget? Why must I mourn
Because I see the foe oppress?”

As if to shatter all my bones,
My foes have cut me with their words.
All day they scoff, “Where is your God?”
O why, my soul, do you despair?
Hope now in God; I’ll praise Him still.
He is my Help. He is my God.

(Photo: David Beale)

One of the things at Banstead Community Church we’ve been trying to do more of is sing the Psalms.

This Sunday we are going to be singing Psalm 41.

What options are available?

6 verses in The Book of Psalms for Worship split into two parts In metre CMD.  7 verses in Sing Psalms to metre 10 10 10 10.  7 verses in The Trinity Psalter Hymnal again to 10 10 10 10 metre.  6 verses in Seedbed Psalter to CMD.

We’ve opted for 4 of the 6 verses in The Book of Psalms for Worship (covering Psalm 41:1-4, 10-13).

From The Book of Psalms for Worship which can be sung to the tune for I heard the voice of Jesus say:

How blessed the man who guides the poor
By counsel strong and clear;
The LORD will surely rescue him
When evil days draw near.
The LORD will guard him in the land;
His life is blessed indeed;
Nor will You let him fall before
His adversaries’ greed.

The LORD sustains him on his bed
Of sickness and of pain.
And from his bed You make him rise;
He will his health regain.
Now as for me, I said, “O LORD,
Have mercy on my soul.
Because against You I have sinned,
Restore and make me whole.”

But You, O LORD, be merciful,
Be gracious, make me strong;
O raise me up so that I may
Repay them for their wrong.
My foes do not against me lift
A cry of victory;
Because of this I am assured
That You are pleased with me.

But as for me, You hold me up
In my integrity;
And in Your presence evermore
My dwelling place shall be.
The LORD, the God of Israel,
Be blessed and blessed again
From age to everlasting age.
Amen, and yes, Amen.

(Photo: David Beale)

One of the things at Banstead Community Church we’ve been trying to do more of is sing the Psalms.

This Sunday we are going to be singing Psalm 40.

What options are available?

8 verses in The Book of Psalms for Worship split into two parts, but sung to a terrible metre for familiar tunes.  14 verses in Sing Psalms to Long Metre.  10 verses in The Trinity Psalter Hymnal to the CMD metre.  16 verses in Seedbed Psalter to Common Metre.

We’ve opted for the first 4 of the 16 verses in the Seedbed Psalter (covering Psalm 40:1-4).  Less satisfactory is the five verse version in Praise! which is to 88 88 D metre.

From Seedbed Psalter which can be sung to the tune for O for a Heart to Praise my God:

I waited for the LORD my God,
I waited patiently;
And He in mercy heard my cry;
inclined His ear to me.

He brought me up out of the pit,
out from the miry clay;
He set my feet upon a rock,
there firm to stand and stay.

He put a new song in my mouth,
God’s praise for all to hear;
And many then will trust the LORD
who see and learn to fear.

How bless’d the one who trusts the LORD,
who looks not to the proud;
Nor to the ones who turn aside
to false gods all around.

From Praise! which can be sung to the tune for In Christ Alone or Before the Throne of God above:

Patient in hope, I sought the LORD;
he turned to me-my cry was heard!
Raising me from the miry pit,
on solid rock he set my feet.
He turned my cry to newborn song:
from heart and voice God’s praises sprang;
many who see such grace outpoured,
fearing, will turn and trust the Lord.

Happy are those who put their trust
in God the Lord—not like the lost,
following leaders blind and proud,
worshipping some pretended god.
How many wonders you have done,
what blessings still for us you plan,
O Lord-my God beyond compare!-
mercies too many to declare.

You have desired not sacrifice
but open ears to obey your voice;
‘I come,’ I answered, ‘at your call,
as written of me in the scroll.
I come your purpose to fulfil,
glad, O my God, to do your will;
joyful obedience is my part:
your law is written in my heart.’

Now have your gathered people heard
news of your righteousness, O Lord;
I have not failed to tell them of
your saving acts and steadfast love.
LORD, do not hold your mercies back:
so many storm clouds round me break;
my countless faults come crowding in,
my heart is overwhelmed by sin.

Be pleased, O Lord, to rescue me
from all who seek my life today;
let all who laugh at my distress
be put to flight in sheer disgrace.
May all whose hope on you is set
constantly say: ‘The Lord is great!’
Poor and in need, to you I pray;
hear, O my God, do not delay.

(Photo: David Beale)

One of the things at Banstead Community Church we’ve been trying to do more of is sing the Psalms.

This Sunday we are going to be singing Psalm 39.

What options are available?

12 verses in Sing Psalms or 11 verses in Seedbed Psalter to Common Metre.  8 verses in The Trinity Psalter Hymnal to the 10 10 10 10 metre.

The Book of Psalms for Worship splits the Psalm into two parts of 4 verses.  We’ve opted to sing the first part which covers verses 1 to 9.  A good alternative would be the six verse version in the Praise! which can be sung to the same tune.

From The Book of Psalms for Worship which can be sung to the tune for Immortal honours rest on Jesus’ head:

I said, “I will keep watch and guard my ways,
And I will keep my tongue from sinful stain.
As with a bridle I will keep my mouth,
While in my presence wicked men remain.”

Silent, I ceased from speaking even good;
My heart within was hot, my sorrow stirred.
And while I mused a fire began to burn;
Then with my tongue I spoke this earnest word:

“LORD, make me know my end, my numbered days;
And let me know how fleeting is my life;
For You have made my days a handbreadth long;
My lifetime is as nothing in Your sight.

“Each man at best is but a fleeting breath.
Man, like a shadow, wanders to and fro;
Surely an uproar he creates in vain;
He never knows to whom his riches go.”

From Praise! which can be sung to the tune for Immortal honours rest on Jesus’ head:

I kept my mouth from every sinful word,
lest evil thoughts the wicked overheard;
but silence made my pain intensify,
so with a burning heart I made my cry:

‘Show me my end, the measure of my days,
how fleeting are my years beneath your gaze;
life’s little span, so short from birth to death,
within your hand is nothing but a breath.

‘The merest shadow, moving to and fro,
busy in vain, how soon we come and go,
we heap up wealth, our future all unknown,
then strangers come and reap where we have sown.

‘What do I wait for? Lord, I hope in you,
all my transgressions cover from your view;
do not let fools rejoice when I’m cast down;
my mouth was silenced, humbled by your frown.

‘Remove the scourge my soul cannot withstand,
my life is crushed beneath your chastening hand,
for you rebuke us when we go astray;
our wealth consumed, like breath we pass away.

‘Lord, hear my cry; do not neglect my tears,
I feel an exile, with a stranger’s fears;
avert your eye, and make my torment cease,
restore my joy and let me die in peace.’

(Photo: David Beale)

One of the things at Banstead Community Church we’ve been trying to do more of is sing the Psalms.

This Sunday we are going to be singing Psalm 38.

Apart from the 5 verses version in Praise! which can be sung to the tune of ‘I heard the voice of Jesus say’, all the other versions have either 11, 12 or 13 verses.  Fortunately they are set to metres with a number of well-known tunes to choose from.

We’ve chosen to sing a selection of verses (covering verses 1-6, 21-22 of the Psalm) from the version in the Trinity Psalter hymnbook.

From The Trinity Psalter Hymnal which can be sung to the tune for When I survey the wondrous cross (Rockingham Old):

LORD, in your wrath rebuke me not,
nor in your anger chasten me.
Deeply your arrows sink within;
heavy your hand weighs down on me.

There is no soundness in my flesh,
for you are angry at my sin.
There is no health within my bones;
your indignation burns within.

Guilt rises up above me head;
sins’ heavy burden weighs me down.
Loathsome and fest’ring are my wounds;
LORD, for my foolishness I mourn.

LORD God, I pray, forsake me not!
My God, do not be far from me!
Hasten to rescue me, O Lord,
you are salvation unto me!

From Praise! which can be sung to the tune for I heard the voice of Jesus say:

Rebuke me not in anger, Lord:
restrain your wrath, I pray;
grant that your child be yet restored,
not judged and cast away.
I feel your arrows deep within,
I sink beneath your hand
and underneath a weight of sin
too great for me to stand.

For sinful folly now I pay:
I’m humbled to the ground,
as I go mourning all the day
and no relief is found.
I feel my body racked with pain,
diseased in every part,
so crushed that I cannot contain
the groanings of my heart.

My longings, Lord, to you are known,
you see my every tear;
my strength, my sight are almost gone,
my friends will not come near.
And others lay their deadly snares,
all day they plot and lie;
like one who neither speaks nor hears,
I offer no reply.

In you, O Lord, my hope I place:
Lord, answer when I call;
let those not jeer at my distress,
who long to see me fall.
My foothold is about to go,
my torment will not cease;
and my iniquity I know:
my sin permits no peace.

My foes are many and are strong,
their hatred has no cause;
my kindness they repay with wrong,
although I keep your laws.
O Lord, be with me to the last,
remain for ever near;
come to my rescue, come with haste:
O Lord, my Saviour, hear!

(Photo: David Beale)