“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:1-14
I’ve been working on putting together the July Prayer Guide for Trinity HOPE and Psalm 34 grabbed my attention. I recall that several of these above verses were sung in the hymn “Awake my Soul, and with the Sun” recently and those words seemed to point my thoughts to Haiti and how much time is left to feed children on this journey.
The words of this hymn were written by Thomas Ken in 1674 when the established church of that day believed only Scripture should be sung as hymns with an emphasis on the Psalms. Some theologians of that period considered it sinful and blasphemous to write new lyrics for church music as it was like adding to the Scriptures. Thomas Ken wrote this and several other hymns for the boys at Winchester College, with strict instructions that they use them only in their rooms, for private devotions. The first three verses are as follows;
“Awake, my soul, and with the sun thy daily stage of duty run; shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise, to pay thy morning sacrifice. Thy precious time misspent, redeem, each present day thy last esteem, improve thy talent with due care; for the great day thyself prepare. By influence of the Light divine let thy own light to others shine. Reflect all Heaven’s propitious ways in ardent love, and cheerful praise.”
How many opportunities will you and I have to help prepare a child in Haiti to go and share the news of Salvation with the lost in Haiti? How many more opportunities will we have to put oil into the young lighthouses attending Lutheran schools in Haiti? In the darkness of Haiti, a bright light is starting to shine, bringing the news of a Risen Savior into the ears, eyes and hearts of lives that have been living in the lies of the vodou priest and seeking shelter from the violent gangs.
The next three verses of “Awake my Soul, and with the Sun” follow.
“In conversation be sincere; keep conscience as the noontide clear; think how all seeing God thy ways and all thy secret thoughts surveys. Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart, and with the angels bear thy part; who all night long unwearied sing high praise to the eternal King. All praise to Thee, who safe has kept and hast refreshed me while I slept. Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake I may of endless light partake.”
Thanks be to God that you, I and this child living in Haiti are covered by His Grace. G-R-A-C-E means “God’s riches at Christ’s expense.” We continue to confess our sinful ways and He is faithful in continuing to provide us with the strength, resources and direction to do His work; seek and save the lost.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay