Psalm Songs

Showing 85–96 of 104 results

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    Psalm 56: O God, in Mercy Look to Me

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/psalm_056-carlill-o_god_in_mercy.mp3"][/audio]

    This Psalm is a plea for mercy when being hotly pursued by enemies. Have you ever felt like David did when he wrote this–slandered, hunted, trapped? The Psalmist petitions God for deliverance, reaffirms his trust in God’s care, and throws in a few ideas about what God might want do to his enemies. Interestingly, the Psalm ends with a future/past tense statement of faith: “I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me…” Now that’s faith!

    This hymn is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 57: The Thunder’s Rage Is Roaring

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bluett-psalm_57.mp3"][/audio]

    Lyricist Kate Bluett does a great job of capturing a difficult Psalm. The first verse teases out the storm imagery that accompanies the famous “I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” The second verse focuses on the Psalmist’s foes who are laying traps. The third verse not only includes the beautiful “I will awaken the dawn with singing” of the original Psalm but concludes with the point that the temporary terrors of the night are momentary, whereas God’s love never ends.

    This song is mentioned in Greg’s podcast, “2021 Musical Year in Review.”

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

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    Psalm 6: Lord, My God, Do Not Contend

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/psalm_006-carlill-lord_my_god_do_not_contend.mp3"][/audio]

    Adam Carlill’s Psalm versifications in Psalms for the Common Era strike a fine balance between faithfulness to the Hebrew texts and singability for modern congregations. For Psalm 6,  I wrote a Celtic-style ballad, which feels to me like it’s sturdy enough to contain the harsher elements of the Psalm (“do not castigate and chide,” “Turn away from me my foes” ), but soft enough for phrases like “soothing touch and balm inside.”

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 61: Lead Me to the Rock

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/lead_me_to_the_rock.mp3"][/audio]

    Psalm 61 is both a cry for help and an affirmation of trust. This song tries to capture both expressions with its minor-key verse and its major-key chorus. These two demos model the song in two different styles: above is a driving rhythm for worship band and below is more hymn-style using the written piano accompaniment.

    [embed]https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/Ps%20061%20Lead%20Me%20to%20the%20Rock.mp3[/embed]

     

  • Psalm 62: Only God Can Save Me Now

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_062-only_god.mp3

    Psalm 62 famously begins with the words, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” The Psalmist goes on to describe the many difficulties experienced in life–those who are attacking or extorting money–always coming back to the refrain, “My soul finds rest in God alone.” Scottish lyricist, Doug Gay, has given these words an introspective feel in his setting of the Psalm. They could almost be sung by a victim of abuse, crying to God for help. That’s the thing about the Psalms: they give words to things we may have not experienced, which may make us feel like we don’t need them–until we do.

  • Psalm 65: We Praise You, God, in Silence and Singing

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_065-rehearsal.mp3

    Bethany Cok and Josh Parks asked me to compose music for their wedding, and they chose Psalm 65 as the song’s text. It was a great choice: Psalm 65 is a Psalm of thanksgiving that was likely written for one of the harvest festivals; its focus on entering God’s house, keeping vows, and God’s blessing make it a beautiful fit for a wedding.

    This song is mentioned in Greg’s podcast, “Thanksgiving Brainstorms.”

    Score and parts for piano, voice, violins, viola, and cello. Purchase price allows you to print as many copies as you need for your ensemble.

  • Psalm 67: Let All the Peoples Praise You!

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    [embed]http://musicblog.gregscheer.com/psalm_67-let_all_the_peoples.mp3[/embed]

    This setting of Psalm 67 is in what I’ve dubbed a “modern medieval” style–stately but with a strong rhythmic spine. One of the interesting features of the song is that the verse mirrors the chorus, but one step up. This modulatory sleight of hand makes each return of the chorus sound inevitable but surprising.

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 69: Have Pity, My God

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_69-have_pity_my_god.mp3

    David Diephouse wrote the text for this song, and he shares its origin story, of sorts:
    I recall hearing my mother relate a family legend about her grandfather, who was a trawlerman on the Zuider Zee. One day, his boat got caught in a sudden squall that left it capsized. While waiting to be rescued the crew kept up their spirits by singing the opening lines of Psalm 69. The story may or may not be partly apocryphal, but I like it.

    I love to hear stories about how people have used the Psalms in everyday life. It’s easy to see why a person adrift in the sea would recall the lines of Psalm 69, because they are the cry of a person drowning–fighting a flood of sorrow, betrayal, and fatigue.

    This hymn is a free download. If you sing this song in your church, please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 7: Arise!

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_7-arise.mp3

    Isaac Watts described Psalm 7 as “God’s care of his people and punishment of persecutors.” Indeed, the Psalmist makes some pretty explicit suggestions about how God might bring vengeance on enemies. But it is also full of vivid language like “save me or they will tear me like a lion” and “he who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment.” So, while this is unlikely to be my big hit, I think my Psalm 7 song does a good job of letting the text speak. Or as I like to say: This is not the best song you’ve ever heard, but it’s probably the best Psalm 7 song you’ve ever heard.

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 77: We Will Remember

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_77-ham-we_will_remember.mp3

    Psalm 77 is an interesting case study in lament. It begins like many lament Psalms: “I cried out to God for help.” It wistfully remembers the good old days, then asks the pivotal question: “Will the Lord reject us forever?” The Psalm then turns to hope as the Psalmist remembers God’s mighty works in the past, stilling the waters of creation and parting the Red Sea. Lyricist Travis Ham, with whom I collaborated on this song, took the Psalm’s remembering one step further by recalling Christ’s work on the cross. Because Christ suffered for us, died, and was resurrected, we can endure our hardships, questions, and doubts.

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church, please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 78: People Of The Lord

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/people_of_the_lord-cantor_and_choir.mp3"][/audio]

    Who would have thought that a Genevan Psalter-style setting of Psalm 78 in 7/8 time would become my biggest hit? After it won the Calvin09 hymn contest, the song was translated into a half dozen languages and sung from Switzerland to Brazil. It is included in a number hymnals, including the Presbyterian Glory to God and CRC/RCA Lift Up Your Hearts. Your church can get in on the fun, too, by downloading the music here at www.gregscheer.com.

    Read the whole story of the song here: People of the Lord

  • Psalm 8: How Often in the Deep of Night

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_8-how_often.mp3

    One would think that the Psalm 8 well had long ago run dry, but Linda Bonney Olin has written a new setting of the Psalm that is full of child-like wonder, bringing a fresh sense of awe to our hearing of the Psalm. She includes the theme of creation care in verses 2-3, a timely interpretation to be sure.

Showing 85–96 of 104 results