I’ve jumped on the West Tennessee Psalm-singing bandwagon.
I posted a morning meditation on Psalm 21 a few months back, and this Sunday evening I will attempt to preach it at my church. In addition to my exposition, the truths of Psalm 21 will be proclaimed by obeying Paul’s instructions in Eph 5:19 and Col 3:16. I’m no Chad Davis, but here’s my first attempt at Psalm versification.
“Triumph of the Lord’s King”
Psalm 21:1-13
To the tune of “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
(1) O LORD, in your great strength the King
exults and lifts his voice,
In your salvation brought to him
He greatly will rejoice!
(2) The heart’s desire of the King
You freely did bestow
And the requests upon his lips
LORD, you did not withhold!
(3) For you do come to meet your King
with blessings rich and good
And on his head, LORD you have set
a crown of purest gold!
(4) Your dying King asked life of you,
you gave him life, O LORD!
You blessed him with such length of days,
He’ll live forevermore!
(5) Great is the glory of the King,
through your salvation, LORD!
Splendor and majesty on him
You freely do bestow!
(6) For you have made the King most bless’d
He’s bless’d forevermore,
You make him glad with the joy of
The presence of the LORD!
(7)Because the King trusts in the LORD,
And him he looks unto,
Through steadfast love of the Most High
The King shall not be moved!
(8-9) Your hand will find your enemies,
Who hate you without fear,
Your wrath consumes them with a blaze,
When you, the LORD appear.
(10) The names of all your enemies
Shall not for long endure;
For their descendants you destroy,
Their offspring from the earth
(11-12) Though planning evil ‘gainst the Lord
Their plans will not succeed
You’ll aim at them with mighty bows,
Before you they will flee!
(13) Now be exalted in your strength,
Your pow’r we praise and sing,
In all the earth, LORD, you are God,
There is no other King!
I encourage you to come with something original. If you are going to do something similiar to “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” you could lead into it…kind of like another verse or something.
Hey Peter,
Thanks for stopping by. I think that leading into “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” would be a powerful after reading or singing portions of Psalm 21, because it would so clearly point to Christ’s fulfillment of this Psalm! Great idea!
While there is certainly an invaluable place for original hymn-writing, my goal was actually to be as “unoriginal” as possible in this versification. I was trying to literally use the exact words of the passage, to preserve the idea of opening up your Bible to Psalm 21 and singing it as is.
Thanks again for your thoughts – please come back!
Eric