CCHS Choir: “Doxology”

This past Wednesday night my wife and I attended another amazing concert of the choirs of Covenant Christian High School, where our children have attended. It was a beautiful night of praise to God as the young people, under the direction and inspiration of Mr. Eric Gritters, sang their hearts out with joy to the Lord. They even included the alumni from the last few years on some numbers (which included our youngest son).

For our music meditation today I am going to draw from one of the choir programs of 2010, which included the senior class of which our son was a part. The song I have chosen is titled “Doxology” and is a medley of praise songs to the Lord. Once you have listened to this video, you will find many others Nick Kleyn has posted of CCHS’s Choir, including the songs from this past Wednesday’s concert. If you want a good start, go here.

J.Calvin on Psalm 76: “All the glory was his own.”

For our further profit from Psalm 76 today, we also post these wonderful comments of John Calvin on v.2. May his thoughts inspire us to give our God the glory due unto His name.

2. And his tabernacle was in Salem Here the reason is assigned why God, putting the Assyrians to flight, vouchsafed to deliver the city of Jerusalem, and to take it under his protection. The reason is, because he had there chosen for himself a dwelling-place, in which his name was to be called upon. The amount, in short, is, first, that men had no ground to arrogate to themselves any share in the deliverance of the city here portrayed, God having strikingly showed that all the glory was his own, by displaying from heaven his power in the sight of all men; and, secondly, that he was induced to oppose his enemies from no other consideration but that of his free choice of the Jewish nation. God having, by this example, testified that his power is invincible for preserving his Church, it is a call and an encouragement to all the faithful to repose with confidence under his shadow. If his name is precious to himself, it is no ordinary pledge and security which he gives to our faith when he assures us that it is his will that the greatness of his power should be known in the preservation of his Church. Moreover, as the Church is a distinguished theater on which the Divine glory is displayed, we must always take the greatest care not to shroud or bury in forgetfulness, by our ingratitude, the benefits which have been bestowed upon it, and especially those which ought to be held in remembrance in all ages. Farther, although God is not now worshipped in the visible tabernacle, yet as by Christ he still dwells in the midst of us, yea even within us, we will doubtless experience, whenever we are exposed to danger, that under his protection we are in perfect safety. If the earthly sanctuary of Jerusalem afforded to God’s ancient people succor while it stood, we may rest assured that he will have no less care of us who live in the present day, when we consider that he has vouchsafed to choose us as his temples in which he may dwell by his Holy Spirit.

Sunday Worship Preparation – Psalm 76

As we prepare to enter Jehovah’s sacred courts of worship today, we consider the Word of God in Psalm 76. This psalm continues the songs of Asaph and celebrates the majesty of the Lord in His victory over and judgment of the wicked enemies of His church. To what specific victory Asaph may have been referring in this triumph song we do not know (perhaps that over Sennacherib – I Kgs.19; Isaiah 37), but it certainly fits any of the victories God gave His church in the OT. In every triumph God worked on behalf of His afflicted people, He broke the arrows, the shield, and the sword of the foe (v.3). In every one God “rebuked” the enemies and drove them away (v.6). Indeed, in every battle in which Israel succeeded, God “arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth” (v.9). Yes, these triumphs were the salvation of the His people! And as such, they were types of the great victory God would work for His church in the NT, through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The triumph of the cross and resurrection. The victory of the ascension and pouring out of the Spirit. And, of course, the final conquest of the second coming of our Lord in the end of this age. See Christ and His victorious kingdom written in every verse of Psalm 76 (read Rev.19:11-21)!

Yet, as Asaph wrote and sung, these glorious victories God works for His church in the OT and in the NT are not first of all about the salvation of the church and the glory she receives as Christ’s victorious bride in this world. Rather, they are all about the glory of God. They tell of His majesty and greatness. They display His unmatched attributes (cf. vss.1-2, 4, 12). And that is why He is to be feared as none else (v.7) and why He is to be praised as God alone (v.11). Yes, even the wrath of man praises Him (v.10). But better still are the willing praises of His saved people, who vow and pay unto the Lord, bringing the presents of a humble heart, a praise-filled mouth, and a serving hand before Him in worship (v.11).

Shall we come before this glorious God today in willing worship and praise Him for His victories over our enemies of sin, death, hell, Satan and all His hosts? May we not neglect the gathering of God’s church this day. Because it is in Judah that God is known and where His dwelling place is (vss.1,2). May you enjoy a blessed day in His presence.

Psalm 76

In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.

²In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.

³There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.

⁴Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.

⁵The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.

⁶At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

⁷Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

⁸Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,

⁹When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

¹⁰Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

¹¹Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

¹²He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

Taken from the Christian Classics Etheral Library site.