Devotional 4-8-11

Please read Psalm 91
Here are two more Biblical references that might start us thinking about worship and music:

Chronicles 16:8-9 – Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name; make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.

Proverbs 8:17 -- I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me.

Worship and Music

It seems to me that our worship of God is an ongoing, continuous thing. Yes, we worship in church. We also worship at home, maybe at work or just about anywhere or any time. There may also be times when we would like to go to a secret place to be alone with God. Such a place could be a special room where we can shut out the noises of the world – or our favorite place could be a hilltop with a beautiful view of the landscape below; or perhaps, a spot on the bank of a quiet stream --- any place where we can commune with God with no distractions.

Woven into the tapestry of our prayers and praise is our love of music – hymns, anthems, requiems and glorias; or maybe, just humming a simple tune while we pray.

While meditating about worship and music, I rediscovered a piece that seems to combine the various facets of our worship: a singable tune written by a great composer – Felix Mendelssohn with lyrics adapted by Carl Fredrickson from the familiar 91st Psalm. The title is Thy Secret Place.

Here are the lyrics. I hope they aid you in your worship as they have me.

In Thy secret place, Lord most high –
In the secret place of the Almighty,
I shall dwell in peace and in safety.
I shall dwell in safety in His presence.
His wings shall be my refuge, my God,
In Him I put my trust.
No evil shall befall me.
In thy secret place there is safety.
I shall never fear the noisome pestilence.
I have made the Lord my refuge,
And His secret place my habitation.

To Thy secret place, Lord, I come.
I shall dwell in safety in Thy presence.
I will trust in Thee, Thou my fortress,
And Thy truth shall be my shield and buckler.
Thy wings shall be my refuge,
No evil shall befall me.
He shall send His angels to keep me.
They shall watch and guard me from the fowler’s snare.
He hath set His love upon me.
I shall praise and show Him my salvation.

Prayer
O God, our creator
We have so much to thank you for –
Our very life
Our health
But we pause now to give you special thanks for your constant care and protection in our daily lives.
Surely, if we had to depend only on our own wits and abilities to solve the problems and dilemmas that assail us, we would be lost in no time; but, because you have aided us and sheltered us from the storms of life, we raise our joyful songs of praise to you. Amen.

Charlie Lewis