Psalm Singing

At Providence Church we have been singing the Psalms before I assumed the pastorate. We are not exclusive psalm singers, but we make the Psalms a significant part of our liturgy both in singing and responsive reading. We are very privileged to have Jim Jordan as our pianist. His addition has been very fruitful in developing our music. We are currently singing through Psalm 8 in the Genevan Psalter. Jim Jordan writes in his latest Rite Reasons that the Genevan tunes “take a bit longer to learn because they are more involved than what Americans are used to, but the reward is significant: almost every psalm has its own tune, so that one gets them locked into the mind.” (Rite Reasons No.99)

Here is our Psalm of the month  from the excellent Genevan Psalter website. This is a great way to introduce the psalms in your family worship.

Psalm 8
W. W. J. VanOene, 1972 & William Helder, 1980

1. O LORD, our Lord, Thou God of our salvation,
How glorious is Thy Name in all creation!
Thou who hast set Thy majesty on high
Beyond the skies for man to glorify.
2. Out of the mouth of infants praise is sounded,
And so a mighty bulwark Thou hast founded.
Thus breakest Thou the adversary’s force
And thwartest Thou the evildoer’s course.
3. When I behold the skies Thou hast created,
The moon and stars which Thou hast generated,
O what is man that Thou wilt think of him,
The son of man that Thou dost care for him?
4. Yet, little less than God – so hast Thou made him,
And Thou with glorious honor hast arrayed him,
That over Thy creation he might reign;
Thou hast assigned all things as man’s domain.
5. Thou hast appointed him as lord and master
Of bird and beast in forest, field, and pasture;
He also rules the creatures of the sea.

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