Showing 161–170 of 300 results
-
Psalm 125: Those Who Trust in the Lord Shall Abide
http://musicblog.gregscheer.com/psalm_125-those_who_trust.mp3
The music for this setting of Psalm 125 is quite adaptable: It could be led by one folk guitar, played in flowing arpeggios on the piano, or rocked out with a full metal praise band. The third verse draws from John 14:23-31; it’s uncanny how closely that passage tracks with Psalm 125. The Psalm alludes to “the scepter of wickedness” and the Gospel “the ruler of this world,” “those who trust” becomes “those who love me,” and “Peace be upon Israel!” is transformed to “My peace I leave with you.”
This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.
-
Psalm 126: Tears and Joy
[audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/psalm_126-tears_and_joy.mp3"][/audio]Of all the Pilgrim Psalms, Psalm 126 is known for its joy. In fact, it uses the word four times in a mere six verses. But this is not an easily earned joy; it is the joy of people who have known tears but have been rescued from misery just when they were about to give up.
This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.
-
Psalm 127: Wait for the Work of the Lord
[audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/psalm_127-wait_for_the_work_of_the_lord.mp3"][/audio]We have a strange relationship to work. Some of us are workaholics. Others are “working for the weekend.”
Of all the Pilgrim Psalms, Psalm 127 provides us a theology of work. As Eugene Peterson points out in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, the first thing the Bible tells us about God is that God created–God worked. Work is at the core of who we are as creatures in God’s image. Unlike God, however, we have limits to what we can achieve with our work. Psalm 127 tells us that we can keep watch, but only God keeps us secure. We can plant, but only God can give the harvest. Peterson compares frantic activity on the one hand and detached laziness on the other. In between those extremes is work that is full of joy and meaning, that trusts the Lord for the miracles of life and food, and that rests securely in the Lord when work is over.
This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.
-
Psalm 128: Bless Us, O Lord
[audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/psalm_128-bless_us_o_lord.mp3"][/audio]The idea of “blessing” runs throughout the Pilgrim Psalms, coming to full bloom in Psalm 128. The heart of this Psalm’s message is “Serve God, work hard, and God will bless you.” While this may sound like “works righteousness,” I would suggest a much simpler conclusion: God is very fond of us and wants to shower us with good things!
“Bless Us, O Lord” sticks close to the theme, with the people singing only those four words in response to a leader’s verses.
This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.
-
Psalm 129: We Won’t Stay Down Forever
[audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/psalm_129-we_wont_stay_down.mp3"][/audio]Our journey through the Pilgrim Psalms has covered a lot of emotional terrain, but Psalm 129 is still surprising: a fight-the-man screed sung by the scrappy underdog who’s waiting for vindication. What better way to express the pent up anger and down-but-not-out camaraderie of the Psalm than with the music of a full-throated sea chanty?
This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.
-
Psalm 13: How Long?
https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/how_long.mp3
Psalm 13 is the loneliest of Psalms. It begins with the famous words, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” In this song, I cast the “enemy” named in the Psalm as depression. The clues are all there: endless sorrow, feeling forgotten, emotional turmoil–even the lethargy and over-sleep that often accompanies depression. The Psalmist poignantly prays to be seen: “Look on me and answer, O Lord my God.” Certainly, we’ve all felt some of this at some point.
This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.
-
Psalm 130: From Down in the Depths
Price range: $0.00 through $5.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page[audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/psalm_130-from_down_in_the_depths.mp3"][/audio]Psalm 130 ranks as one of the best-known Psalms of confession, second only to Psalm 51. Like all my Pilgrim Psalms, this song focuses on simplicity. The call and response format means the leader can “feed” new lines to the people. After singing it a few times it should be pretty easy to remember, even without music or words.
-
Psalm 131: Close to Your Heart
Price range: $0.00 through $5.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pagehttps://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/close_to_your_heart-fellowship.mp3
The song is short, simple, and heartfelt. My favorite thing about the it is the way the child/mother image places the child–and by extension, us–next to her mother’s (God’s) heart. That is not only a place of intimacy and comfort but a place where we can listen for God’s heart–God’s desire and will for us–turning the song from statement to prayer.
-
Psalm 131: Wait for the Lord
[audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/psalm_131-wait_for_the_lord.mp3"][/audio]Many of the Pilgrim Psalms include the admonition “Wait for the Lord,” but Psalm 131’s waiting is centered on a contented, child-like trust. In keeping with the Psalm’s mother/child image, I wrote it as a lullaby.
This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.
-
Psalm 132: Arise, O King of Grace, Arise (O Savior, Come)
Price range: $0.00 through $25.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page[audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/psalm_132-o_savior_come.mp3"][/audio]Psalm 132 is not only one of the Psalms of Ascent, it is also one of the lectionary Psalms used in Advent. Isaac Watts teases out Christological imagery from the Psalm in a way that makes it a perfect Advent song, especially paired with the chorus, “O Savior Come.” However, it is not so Advent-specific that it can’t be used throughout the year, especially on Christ the King Sunday.
PowerPoint slides for congregational singing are available from Digital Songs & Hymns.