The kids and I are learning about and singing "I Sing the Mighty Power of God" during our hymn study in school. The hymn was written by Isaac Watts in 1715. At the time that he was writing hymns, Isaac was considered to be very controversial because he was introducing a "new" way of worshiping in church. Hymns were beginning to take the place of singing the Psalms. Churches all over England were having troubles over this and many churches divided over it, including the church once pastored by John Bunyan. By the way, Watts also wrote "Joy to the World"! It's not about style, but substance. And it's not about preference, but hearts bowed before him with undying gratitude for what He has done. If we truly understood worship- we wouldn't be able to get off of our faces. Oh to have that kind of heart of worship!
Psalm 33
The Steadfast Love of the LORD
1 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!Praise befits the upright.
2Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.
8Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
13The LORD looks down from heaven;
he sees all the children of man;
14from where he sits enthroned he looks out
on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15he who fashions the hearts of them all
and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by its great might it cannot rescue.
18Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20Our soul waits for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
22Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
ESV
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