Make a Joyful Noise!

For those who love the Psalms of David here is a youtube link to the metrical psalms sung a capella.  If you are not familiar with Psalm singing in worship I hope you will check it out and hear some of these beautiful renditions.

Psalm 130

Although we sing acapella we use this beautiful tune (Martyrdom). It is a Psalm very precious.

"I wait for God, my soul doth wait, my hope is in his word,

 More than they that for morning watch, my soul waits for the Lord."



Do You Speak Gaelic?

I don't, but even so my heart was stirred to listen to this recording!

I don't even know what Psalms they are singing and yet to hear the voices

of the people of God

raised in joyous praise in their own language is so amazing!

It appears that the Precentor is lining.

This was the practice in the churches before many in congregations could read.

The Precentor leads the tune and sings the line

and the people repeat it.

Take a moment to listen 

Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! 

(Sorry about the largeness of the video)

Psalm 78

59 When God heard this, he waxed wroth,

and much loath'd Isr'el then:

60 So Shiloh's tent he left, the tent

which he had plac'd with men.

61 And he his strength delivered

into captivity;

He left his glory in the hand

of his proud enemy.

62 His people also he gave o'er

unto the sword's fierce rage:

So sore his wrath inflamed was

against his heritage.

63 The fire consum'd their choice young men;

their maids no marriage had;

64 And when their priests fell by the sword,

their wives no mourning made

(Scottish Metrical Version)

This section of Pslam 78 retells the events of 1 Samuel 4, which I will post on later.

Our God Shall Surely Come!

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

There are some passages of scripture which are so majestic

 all one can do is to read and wonder... Selah

Psalm 50

1 The mighty God, the Lord,

hath spoken, and did call

The earth, from rising of the sun,

to where he hath his fall.

2 From out of Sion hill,

which of excellency

And beauty the perfection is,

God shined gloriously.

3 Our God shall surely come,

keep silence shall not he:

Before him fire shall waste, great storms

shall round about him be.

4 Unto the heavens clear

he from above shall call,

And to the earth likewise, that he

may judge his people all.

5 Together let my saints

unto me gather'd be,

Those that by sacrifice have made

a covenant with me.

6 And then the heavens shall

his righteousness declare:

Because the Lord himself is he

by whom men judged are.

(Scottish Metrical Version)

Flourish Like the Palm

Cedars of Leanon

Jeremiah 17

7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Don't you love the way the Word of God affirms and overlaps in places, bringing out certain truths to us. Psalm 1 is so familiar to most of us. Here in Jeremiah we find these parallel verses. Once again the picture of a strong tree, deeply rooted, the unfading leaf. Never ceasing to bear fruit! This is a scriptural theme I have recently been mulling over. Even in time of drought, dry spiritual periods, the Spirit which dwells within each believer is working, no matter how small the harvest may seem to us at the time.

Flourishing Palm Tree

Psalm 91

12The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

15To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Praise Ye the Lord!

Psalm 147

Scottish Metrical Version sung Acappella

Christ Alone

Psalm 62

1 My soul with expectation
depends on God indeed;
My strength and my salvation doth
from him alone proceed.

2 He only my salvation is,
and my strong rock is he:
He only is my sure defence;
much mov'd I shall not be.

(Scottish Metrical Version)

The word in our English Bibles, and used often in the Psalms Salvation ~ Yeshua ~ JESUS. If you sing/ read the Psalms with this in mind, substituting Jesus each time the word salvation comes up it is truly beautiful. . Christ is found all through out the Old Testement and so clearly in the Book of Psalms.

Jesus, my strong rock of defence and my only salvation.

My Feet are set upon a Rock!

Psalm 40

1 I waited for the Lord my God,
and patiently did bear;
At length to me he did incline
my voice and cry to hear.

2 He took me from a fearful pit,
and from the miry clay,
And on a rock he set my feet,
establishing my way.

3 He put a new song in my mouth,
our God to magnify:
Many shall see it, and shall fear,
and on the Lord rely.

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(Scottish Metrical Version)

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This beautiful Psalm is the favourite of my husband and since it is his birthday, I am posting it. Happy Birthday, Hubby!

It is marvellous to think upon our Saviour, who puts a new song in the once stony hearts of His people and causes us to praise and rejoice in his wonderful love and salvation.

The Sword of the Lord

Here is great little historical snippet at

Virginia is for Huguenots.

It is about William Wallace so if you have Scottish heritage or love that era of history check it out.

But God...

PSALM 73

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

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These words from Psalm 73, especially verse 26, give me great comfort and express my own thoughts. My body and heart, my resolve and commitment are weak. But God.....

He never leaves or forsakes his people. He is constant and his promises are yeah and amen in Christ. As believers we know this, but sometimes in our cushy lives we do not cling to it. We do not desperately seek him. We do not RUN after him. We are sometimes drawn away and do not long for his appearing. We fail.

But God......

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Lately, I am facing new challenges. You know, although I have faced many challenges in my life, I find, disappointingly, that I still fear. I still get anxious, I still crumble. Yet at times others will say, "You are strong." That is when I realize the truth which says through Paul, when I am weak, then am I strong. At present I have very limited eyesight. This is my current bodily affliction which is causing me grief. I trust in a short time this will be rectified. Meanwhile, I am learning to deal with this thorn in the flesh and seeking to glorify God with a good attitude to that which his providence has dealt me.

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I have many real life friends whose lives and endurance under affliction inspire me, encourage and humble me. I thank God for them and his word which continually uplifts and upholds me.

I have just been thinking of the many blogging friends, who seemingly by random chance, yet in reality by the providence of God, have come across my path. Some of these have touched my life and thoughts more than you can imagine. I am sure you have had the same experience.

I encourage you to visit Mindy at Momma Mindy's Moments. What a testimony she is to the very words of Psalm 73 : 26. Browse through her blog and be exhilarated by the steadfastness of God in the life of one who has faced many trials and fears and found God faithful. She is an inspiration to me at present and makes my problems seem so insignificant

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May you know this comfort in your life also. Have a great week!

Sing Praise!

The Book of Psalms reflects our every emotion. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, David and Asaph, give us God's very own words to offer in praise, supplication and worship. The book of Psalms holds forth Christ! As the Old Testament saints sang with thankfulness for the Lord's tender mercies and anticipation of the coming Messiah, so we can sing with thankfulness for his fulfilled promises and yearning anticipation of his return!


Miscellanies has this post on The Psalms which I found so true of this beautiful book.

Psalm 95

O come, let us sing to the Lord:
come, let us ev'ry one
A joyful noise make to the Rock
of our salvation.

2 Let us before his presence come
with praise and thankful voice;
Let us sing psalms to him with grace,
and make a joyful noise.

3 For God, a great God, and great King,
above all gods he is.
4 Depths of the earth are in his hand,
the strength of hills is his.

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.Scottish Metrical Version

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If you haven't heard the Pslams sung before and would like to,

click on the Praise box to the right.

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Thanks to Darcy Lee for posting from this beautiful Psalm in your Sunday Scriptures.

Psalm 84

How lovely is thy dwelling-place,
O Lord of hosts, to me!
The tabernacles of thy grace
how pleasant, Lord, they be!

2 My thirsty soul longs veh'mently,
yea faints, thy courts to see:
My very heart and flesh cry out,
O living God, for thee.

3 Behold, the sparrow findeth out
an house wherein to rest;
The swallow also for herself
hath purchased a nest;

Ev'n thine own altars,* where she safe
her young ones forth may bring,
O thou almighty Lord of hosts,
who art my God and King.

4 Bless'd are they in thy house that dwell,
they ever give thee praise.
5 Bless'd is the man whose strength thou art,
in whose heart are thy ways:

6 Who passing thorough Baca's vale,
therein do dig up wells;
Also the rain that falleth down
the pools with water fills.

7 So they from strength unwearied go
still forward unto strength,
Until in Sion they appear
before the Lord at length.

8 Lord God of hosts, my prayer hear;
O Jacob's God, give ear.
9 See God our shield, look on the face
of thine anointed dear.

10 For in thy courts one day excels
a thousand; rather in
My God's house will I keep a door,
than dwell in tents of sin.

11 For God the Lord's a sun and shield:
he'll grace and glory give;
And will withhold no good from them
that uprightly do live.

12 O thou that art the Lord of hosts,
that man is truly blest,
Who by assured confidence
on thee alone doth rest.

Waiting on God

God often keeps his people long in expectation of the comforts he designs them, for the confirmation of their faith; but though the answers of prayer, and the performance of promises, come slowly, yet they come surely.
Matthew Henry on Genesis 15:12-16



Psalm 130.

1 Lord, from the depths to thee I cried.
2 My voice, Lord, do thou hear:
Unto my supplication's voice
give an attentive ear.

3 Lord, who shall stand, if thou, O Lord,
should'st mark iniquity?
4 But yet with thee forgiveness is,
that feared thou mayest be.

5 I wait for God, my soul doth wait,
my hope is in his word.
6 More than they that for morning watch,
my soul waits for the Lord;

I say, more than they that do watch
the morning light to see.
7 Let Israel hope in the Lord,
for with him mercies be;

And plenteous redemption
is ever found with him.
8 And from all his iniquities
he Isr'el shall redeem.

Scottish Metrical Version

Psalm 133

A song of degrees of David

--o--

1 Behold, how good a thing it is,

and how becoming well,

Together such as brethren are

in unity to dwell!

2 Like precious ointment on the head,

that down the beard did flow,

Ev'n Aaron's beard, and to the skirts,*

did of his garments go.

3 As Hermon's dew, the dew that doth

on Sion' hills descend:

For there the blessing God commands,

life that shall never end.

--o--

Scottish Metrical version

My Strong Rock

Psalm 62

6 He only my salvation is, and my strong rock is he;

He only is my sure defence: I shall not moved be.

7 In God my glory placed is, and my salvation sure; In God the rock is of my strength, my refuge most secure.

8 Ye people, place your confidence in him continually; Before him pour ye out your heart: God is our refuge high.

Psalm 62 : 6-8

Scottish Metrical Version

Thy Lovingkindness in the Morning!

8: Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

9: Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

10: Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

11: Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12: And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Psalm 143

King James Version

Some beautiful words to contemplate .

Teach me to do thy will....

For I am thy servant....

O come...

Psalm 95
A Song of Praise and Worship

1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD:
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,
and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.

4In his hand are the deep places of the earth:
the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it:
and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down:
let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7 For he is our God;
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Today if ye will hear his voice,

8 harden not your heart, as in the provocation,
and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9when your fathers tempted me,
proved me, and saw my work.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation,
and said, It is a people that do err in their heart,
and they have not known my ways:
11 unto whom I sware in my wrath
that they should not enter into my rest.

Seeking God

Psalm 63

A psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah

O God, thou art my God;
early will I seek thee:
my soul thirsteth for thee,
my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land,
where no water is;
2 to see thy power and thy glory,
so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3Because thy loving-kindness is better than life,
my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live:
I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6when I remember thee upon my bed,
and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help,
therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee:
thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it,
shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword:
they shall be a portion for foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
every one that sweareth by him shall glory:
but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

ooOoo

The seeking soul longs and thirsts after God. David sort him early. He longed to see his power and glory as he had in former days.He praised God, whose loving kindness is better than life itself!He feasts upon the best of which the Lord has to give and is satisfied.

He thinks, no meditates, upon the Lord, even on his bed. His rising and going to sleep are filled with thoughts of God. He rejoices in the Lord's protection remembering all the goodness of the Lord to him. And he follows hard, he strives, to walk in the ways of the Lord trusting that his enemies will be put to shame by the Lord.

ooOoo

We heard three very deeply moving messages based on this passage over the weekend. My quick outline does not in the least begin to cover the thoughts presented.

Like the psalmists, to rise up and go to sleep with thoughts of God. To long and thirst for him without whom we are dead men walking, without life or hope. To know that he fills us abundantly with good things and satisfies the hungry soul.

ooOoo

How blessed we are if we know the goodness and loving kindness of the Lord!

If you do not, then seek him while he may be found.

Psalm 112

A good man doth his favour shew,

and doth to others lend:

He with discretion his affairs

will guide unto the end.

Surely there is not any thing

that ever shall him move:

The righteous man's memorial

shall everlasting prove.

When he shall evil tidings hear,

he shall not be afraid:

His heart is fix'd, his confidence

upon the Lord is stay'd.

His heart is firmly stablished,

afraid he shall not be,

Until upon his enemies

he his desire shall see.

He hath dispers'd, giv'n to the poor;

his righteousness shall be

To ages all; with honour shall

his horn be raised high.

The wicked shall it see, and fret,

his teeth gnash, melt away:

What wicked men do most desire

shall utterly decay.

verses 5 - 10

Scottish Metrical Version