An album of Chris Nobels' music

Very recently Arie den Hollander published an album of Christiaan J. (Chris) Nobels’s organ compositions.

     Chris was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in 1938, and immigrated to Canada in 1953. For many years Chris was an organist at Grace Canadian Reformed Church in Brampton, Ontario. Over the years he composed various preludes and chorales for all 150 Genevan Psalm tunes. As well, he created some new arrangements for various canticles, hymns, and other pieces.

     Arie created a web presence with links to all of Chris’s arrangements. Please see here: 
christiaannobels.com. This page is a treasure trove for accompanists and choir directors. All the music may be freely downloaded as PDFs. Chris wanted freely to share the gifts God gave him, and so does Arie. The only stipulation is that they not be reproduced for re-sale. 

     Arie’s album is now available on many music-streaming platforms (please see below). Listen to your soul’s comfort, your heart’s content, and your ear’s delight. I am no musician, let alone organist, but I can hear that Arie’s playing of the various pieces is beautiful, disciplined, artistic, and musical.

     Chris lived, served, composed, and accompanied to the glory of God alone. Arie’s purpose is to preserve the musical legacy of a dear brother who was a gifted musician and a gift to the church.

     Arie writes, “On April 18, 2015 the LORD called Christiaan to his heavenly home where he has joined in making music with the heavenly choirs.”

     May the LORD God be enthroned on the praises of Israel (Psalm 22:3).

 

Twenty of Chris’s preludes, chorales, meditations, and a fantasia, are included in the playlist on the following platforms.

Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/album/2GdFNfzt9nwmceyUxjB9tF?si=KZyMe1hFQtuRAyOEWvg3Fg

 YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrKhMjnG2gY&list=OLAK5uy_kvLGRefiAbIV3YNb75yvT4OC-xfN74iyM

 YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k70Mp4HXaTX5diu0rCG6rT05DOVAKGwu8

 Amazon Music play list:  https://music.amazon.ca/albums/B0BCCSMMWT

 Apple Music (coming soon)

 Arie den Hollander is an organist at Trinity Canadian Reformed in Glanbrook and can be reached at adenhollander@fortesolutions.ca

 

This tune (Palmetto) was composed by Christiaan Nobels for a hymn I wrote: Praised Be the God of Israel. Arie den Hollander performs it. The five books of the Book of Psalms all close with a doxology. This song is one extended doxology made from the five. Stanzas 1 and 12 are similar but have a significant difference. Stanza 1 calls forth praise from Israel while stanza 12 calls forth praise from all nations. To represent the post-Pentecost singing of the church today, stanza 12 employs the well-known hymnic phrase “Soli Deo Gloria.” The SATB score can be viewed here.

Jubilee Octet

A groups of singers in my last congregation, Jubilee Canadian Reformed in Ottawa, have recently formed an octet called, the Jubilee Octet. They are singing some of the Genevan arrangements of the Psalms a la Claude Goudimel's harmonization of the Genevans. In some cases the melody is in the soprano while in others it is in the tenor. Goudimel produced both for all 150 Psalms. Go to play list.

Psalm 119

This link will take you to a new version of Psalm 119 set to the tune as found in the Genevan Psalter. An introductory few paragraphs explain the parameters used in the writing of it.

One of the inspirations for this work was the translation of Psalm 119 by Mgr. Ronald Knox (1888-1957) in Knox Bible.

A doorkeeper

(As published in Clarion)

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.—Psalm 84:10

Psalm 84 is a Psalm of the Sons of Korah. Dr. John Smith, speaking on this Psalm some years ago at a CRTS graduation evening, reminded us of the story of Korah.*

 The story of Korah is told in Numbers 16. Korah, together with Dathan and Abiram, rebelled against Moses and Aaron when Israel was in the wilderness. Korah belonged to the tribe of Levi. It was the task of the Levites to take care of the tabernacle.

Each levitical clan had a task to perform: chopping wood, drawing water, opening and closing doors, etc. The clan of Aaron were the priests, who brought the sacrifices and burned the incense.

At some point Korah objected to this. He said to Moses that it was not fair that only some of the Levites got to be priests. He wanted to be a priest too.

Moses asked him if it was not enough that God had put him and other Levites in charge of the tabernacle. By wanting to fulfil a task that God had given to someone else he was rebelling against God. As punishment the LORD made the earth open up beneath Korah, the other rebels, and their families, and they were swallowed up alive.

So very interestingly Numbers 26:11 says, “The line of Korah, however, did not die out.” The Lord, in his grace and kindness, had not brought a complete end to Korah's family line. Some of his children survived their father's rebellion and continued to serve the LORD at the tabernacle.

Also interestingly, much later King David made the sons of Korah doorkeepers (1 Chron. 26). The doorkeepers were responsible for opening the doors of the tabernacle, later the temple, and of making sure that only those who were qualified would enter the holy place.

We see some wonderful irony here: Korah had said, “Let me in!” He had tried to push his way through to do the task God had given to others. Now the sons of Korah were given the task of making sure that no one tried to do what their father had done.

These sons of Korah said, “Better to be a doorkeeper in the in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Can you say that—that it is better to be the most humble servant of God's household than to live the life of the rebel?

You know, sometimes the tents of sin seem more appealing than the courts of the Lord. Sometimes it seems that non-Christians have all the fun while the Christian life is boring.

Don’t be fooled by that. It is a broad path—to destruction. Everything you see around you is going to disappear. The form of this world is passing away. The tents of wickedness and sin are going to shrivel up and disappear. We, however, will live forever, either in heaven or in hell.

And whether heaven or hell is our final and everlasting destiny depends upon whether or not we love Jesus. Better to be on the path to Zion than the highway to hell.

Ensure that you believe in the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you may know that the Lord will withhold no good thing from you. May the sunshine of God’s radiant face shine upon you. May Jesus be your shield to protect you. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

Points to ponder: 

·         According to Mark 13:34, what must the doorkeeper be?

·         What task has the Lord given you to perform in the congregation?

*“A Doorkeeper in the House of My God ,” vol. 61, no. 23 (2012), p. 572ff.

Meditation on Psalm 84:7

(As published in Clarion)

From strength to strength

George van Popta

They go from strength to strength—Psalm 84:7

In Psalm 84 the Sons of Korah, the authors and first singers of this Psalm, spoke about making the pilgrimage from some far off place to the temple in Jerusalem. Often it was a difficult journey. They mention, in verse 6, the Valley of Baca.

Baca means “weeping.” The valley of weeping. A Lebanese barber I went to many years ago told me that the Baca Valley is in Lebanon, to the north of Israel and Jerusalem. He was a Lebanese Christian who came from that area. The Baca valley, he said, is a dry valley but when it rains it is covered with puddles and pools of water. He told me that is the imagery used here in verse 6. It is amazing what you can learn from your barber.

Often we are traveling through life, weeping for any number of reasons. You might be crying because of the death of a loved one, due to an illness, or because of pain caused by a chronic condition. But as you travel toward your heavenly Father and your Lord Jesus the place of weeping becomes a place of joy and refreshment.

Let us go to Zion, to Jesus, who will wipe away our tears and refresh us.

Today travel is quite easy. We motor along in our cars and stop at one of the many Tim Hortons or Starbucks along the way. But in the days of this Psalm travel was often difficult. It could be so very hot and there were not many places to rest. And yet they went from strength to strength.

From the late Rev. Van Dooren, my first professor of preaching at CRTS, I learned that the expression “strength to strength” should make us think of oases in the desert. The Children of Israel, wandering in the desert, went from oasis to oasis, and at each one they were strengthened. Instead of getting weaker along the way they grew stronger.

How will you become stronger and stronger as you travel life’s journey? Only by following the Lord Jesus. If you do not follow Jesus you will become weaker and lose your way. But if you follow him you’ll grow stronger and stronger, until you appear before God in Zion.

Believers who die appear before God in Zion. That is where they now are: before God in the heavenly Zion. They went from strength to strength.

Though they may have become mentally and physically weak, yet they went from strength to strength because they always stayed close to Jesus.

Both my mothers became very old. At the time of their death they were like little birdies—weak and frail—but they knew where they were going: to Jesus!

Parents, teach your children about the importance of following the Lord Jesus on their pilgrimage through life.

You who are weeping, follow Jesus and you will travel from strength to strength.

Follow Jesus and you will arrive at the good destination—before God in Zion.

Some things to ponder....

• Consider Elim, an oasis mentioned in Exodus 15:27. How would it have been a place of refreshment for the Children of Israel?
• Why was the Psalmist, in Psalm 42:3, weeping?
• Who will wipe away the tears from your eyes? See Revelation 7:17 and 21:4.

Remember me

(As published in Clarion)

...according to your steadfast love remember me, 

for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!—Psalm 25:7b

If you look at Psalm 25:6 & 7 as a small unit you will see that King David first asks the LORD to remember his mercy and love, and then not to remember the sins of his youth, then finally simply to remember him.

Lord, don't remember my sins, but don't forget me. Remember me, the one whom you have drawn into your covenant circle. God is no distant judge; rather, he is our covenant God.

There are many places in scriptures where we are told to remember—we're to remember the Lord, to remember his great deeds of salvation. There was the annual Passover feast, a festival of remembrance of how God had delivered his people from Egypt. The children of Israel were told to set up memorial stones on the bank of the Jordan River. They had their ceremonies—all to help them remember.

Today we have the sacraments to help us remember what God has done for us in Christ and his sacrifice on the cross. One of the weekly tasks of ministers is to remind the congregation of what Jesus has done for his people.

Here we are taught to ask our Lord to remember us. Remember me, Lord!  According to your steadfast covenant love, remember me.

There was someone else who prayed that: the one criminal on the cross. Jesus was crucified between two criminals, and the one hurled abuse upon Jesus. He said, “Aren't you the Messiah? If you are, save yourself and us!” The other criminal told him to be quiet since Jesus had done nothing wrong whereas they were getting the just reward for their crimes. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Remember me! That's the same as King David prayed—remember me. It's what you can pray: “Jesus, remember me! Don't forget about me!”

Jesus will not. See how he answered the criminal! “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

That's where King David is. That's where the criminal is. That's where you will go when the Lord takes you home. Confess your sins like the criminal did, like King David did, and you may be assured that there is a place awaiting you in paradise.

David prays this for the sake of the LORD's goodness. God is good and has shown his  goodness throughout the ages. When the time had fully come he showed the full resplendent display of his goodness, of his steadfast love, and of his tender mercy by giving us his Son Jesus Christ to be our Saviour.

You can pray these things, dear reader. If you are lost for words, just pray this Psalm. Or sing or read the Psalm as we have it put to verse in the Book of Praise.

When life is a mess, when you are at the end of your wits, ask him to remember you. You, a sinner, someone haunted by the sins of youth, a troubled person, a disabled brother or sister, someone fighting a frightening disease. You, someone experiencing marriage breakup or family meltdown. Recovering from an injury. Lord, remember me—for the sake of your goodness; for the sake of Jesus. Because of what Jesus has done for me. Remember me, O LORD. I know you won't forget me.

Questions: Do you think the criminal was surprised by Jesus' response? Why?

Do think the Lord would ever forget you? Why do you answer the way you do?

Remember not...

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions...—Psalm 25:7a

In the previous meditation we heard David pray, “Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” Now having asked the LORD to remember his mercy and love he asks the LORD not to remember the sins of his youth or his transgressions. Do you see the order of things here? First he spoke of God's tenderness and love which have been from of old, for as long as God has had a people, which goes all the way back to our first parents.

God has always been a forgiving God. He had Moses set up a whole system of sacrifices and offerings, festivals and holy days, by which the children of Israel could approach the Lord, not with fear like the heathen, but with joy and celebration, knowing that their God was a forgiving God. After having established God's longstanding history of tender mercy he now asks that he may participate in that mercy and love by having his own sins and transgressions forgiven.

Dear reader, you can pray that too. “LORD, may I experience your tender and forgiving love and mercy, for they have been from of old.” It's there, available for us all. God will never say, “Oh, sorry. All of my mercy and love have been used up. The bank is empty.” No, his love and mercy are limitless and know no boundaries. God's treasure chest of mercy is never depleted. Pray for the LORD to forgive you your sins. He will.

Kind David speaks here specifically about the sins of youth. These are the sins of a young man. Even covenant youth commit terrible sins. If I think back to my own youth, when I was a young man, I can only blush with shame as I seek the Lord. But the Lord forgives also those sins. Young people, the Lord forgive the foolish sins you commit.

This is not to put you on easy street so that you will say, “Well, I can do what I want and sin to my heart's content because the Lord will forgive me.” No, that is presuming upon the love and mercy of God, and presuming upon the LORD is a dangerous thing to do. Be rather like the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus with oil (Luke 7). When some people questioned what she was doing then Jesus explained to them that the woman loved much because she had been forgiven much.

Go to Jesus, young people and old people. He will forgive your sins, and then off your knees and serve the Lord with love for him and in obedience!

The sins of youth can haunt us. Once, many years ago, I was visiting a 90+ year old man in hospital. He knew he was dying and through his tears he began telling me about all manner of sins he had done. I thought, how can that be; he is such an old man, but then it dawned on me that he was speaking of things he had done 75 and 80 years earlier. Well, what could we do but read this Psalm: O LORD, sins of youth remember not.

Dear reader, don't be haunted by your sins; rather, ask God to forgive them: sins of youth, sins of middle age, sins of old age. Plead upon the tender mercy and the steadfast love of the Lord. He will forgive you.

Questions: How do the sins of youth differ from those of an old person? Have you asked God to forgive your sins of your youth?

Remember

(As published in a recent Clarion)

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.—Psalm 25:6 

King David, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote beautiful words. He asks God to remember his mercy. Some translations speak of tender mercy. That gets the idea across well, for the word for mercy is about the same as the Hebrew word for womb. As a mother's womb encircles an unborn child, and as a mother naturally has love for the child in her womb, so David asks the LORD to look upon him with tender mercy. As a mother has feelings of love and tenderness flowing to her child, so David prays for feelings of love and tenderness to flow from God to him. If a child is hurt she wants her mother, and mother's heart opens wide for her hurting child. Soldiers injured on the battlefield and ending up at death's door will call out for their mothers. So David calls out for his God.

What about you, when you are hurting? When you are ill, are diagnosed with a serious, a life-threatening illness, you may call upon the LORD who has tender feelings of mercy towards you. When life becomes difficult, call upon the LORD for help.

David also asks the LORD to remember his steadfast love. A special word is used here that speaks of the love the LORD has for his covenant people. The people with whom he has a relationship of love. We are those people. He has love for us together as his people, and for each of us personally. Relish his love like you bask in the warm sunshine! Rest in his love!

You see how King David called upon God as LORD—“LORD” with four capital letters in our English translation. That is the special covenant name of God by which he revealed  himself to Moses at the burning bush. There God revealed himself as the covenant God of love. He is not like other gods who are cold, unmoving, and impassive. Or like gods who are so cruel they demand the sacrifice of firstborn children. Oh no; he is the God who has tender mercy and steadfast love for his people.

King David says that there is a solid reason for his prayer: “For they have been from of old.” He could have said that he was praying for tender mercy and steadfast love which have ever been from of old, and he would have been saying something true. But that is not quite what he said. He used the word “for.” For, since, or because they have been from of old. David asks God to deal with him in tender mercy and steadfast love because that is who the LORD is. That's the way he has always been. That's what he is like. From of old, since Adam & Eve, Noah & his family, Abraham & Sarah, the children of Israel—throughout the ages, the LORD has acted tenderly and lovingly toward his people.

Perhaps you are saying to yourself, “Well, Pastor, I'm not feeling much love right now. You don't know the trouble I've seen.” Well listen; I can't explain your troubles. I can't explain why God is leading you along the dark and scary paths. But I can tell you about a child of God named Paul who had such a disability that he stopped everything to ask the Lord to take it away. And Jesus answered, “No Paul; you need to learn that my grace is sufficient for you.”

That's what we need to learn too. The grace of God is enough.

Questions for further study: Is the steadfast love of God sufficient for you? Why or why not?

How could you get to the spot where you say: “The grace of God is all I really need”?

A hymn for the new year

This song is a joyful hymn based on some themes found in Psalm 116.

I love the Lord with all my heart by George vP

An Alphabetic Acrostic on Psalm 119

Psalm 119, as is well known, is an acrostic poem. It is an extended meditation on the torah, the "law" or "teaching" of the word of God. It uses eight synonyms for torah: law, commandment, statute, precept, testimony, word, promise, and teaching. It consists of twenty-two stanzas of eight verses each. In the first stanza each sentence begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in the second stanza each sentence begins with the second letter, and so on through the whole alphabet. The Hebrew alphabet is made up of twenty-two letters, and hence the twenty-two stanzas and 176 verses;.

In the version below I used the English alphabet, which includes twenty-six letters. Since I wanted the poem to have twenty-two stanzas, like the original and Hebrew version, I was, thankfully, able to avoid having to use the four letters Q, X, Y, and Z. As an aid I have included the verses that each stanza represents.

I used the well known Genevan 119 for the musical setting because of its close association with the Psalm. Whereas I used the metre of Genevan 119 I did not use the rhyming scheme, largely because an acrostic poem puts the emphasis on the first letter of the line rather than on the rhyming of the final syllable of the line.

Using the parameters of acrostic and tune the result is likely more of a hymn based on Psalm 119 than a strictly literal versification of it. The reader will need to judge whether my stanzas do justice to the stanzas found in the Bible.

One of the inspirations for this poem was the Knox Bible, as translated by Mgr. Ronald Knox, 1888-1957. 

Psalm 119

All they are blest who walk obediently

A— verses 1-8

1. All they are blest who walk obediently

According to God's cov'nant testimonies.

Against what's wrong they stand whole-heartedly

Advancing only praise to God in heaven.

And thus I know that I won't be ashamed.

Alleluia, do not forsake your servant.

B—9-16

2. But how can youth remain pure all their days?

By careful reading of your perfect precepts.

Beyond all measure is your holy law.

Buried and stored, your word is like a treasure.

Blessed are you, oh teach me your decrees.

Basking in joy I'll not forget your judgments.

C—17-24

3. Come and deal richly with your servant, LORD.

Close not my eyes that I may see your statutes.

Comfort this pilgrim as I walk the earth.

Consumed am I with longing for your guidance.

Chasten the proud who wander far astray.

Counsel all those who keep your testimonies.

D—25-32

4. Dust is the substance to which my soul clings.

Devoted am I to your ordinances.

Direct me to your wondrous works and ways.

Deliver me from all that's false and treach'rous.

Delightful is the pure and faithful path.

Do open wide my heart for your commandments.

 E—33-40

5. Expound to me your statutes, which I'll keep.

Enlighten me that I may know your precepts.

Each of your laws are my delight and joy.

Establish now your promise to your servant.

Enable me to lift my eyes t'ward you

E'en as I long for all your perfect rulings.

F—41-48

6. Fulfill to me the promise that you made

For then I will have answers for my taunters.

Forsake me never but give me your word.

Forever will I walk before my Saviour.

Fearlessly will I speak before the kings

Flinging wide open hands in love and worship.

G—49-56

7. Good is your word in which you've made me hope.

Great is the comfort that your promise gives me.

Gone are the traitors who derided me.

Gleefully will I sing about your statutes.

Gloom of the night cannot erase my joy.

Grow greater love in me for all your precepts.

H—57-64

8. How I do promise to obey your words!

Heartfelt is my entreaty for your favour.

Having considered all your promises

Hasten will I to keep all your commandments.

Hearken, O LORD, when I arise at night

Happy to join in prayer with those who fear you.

I—65-72

9. In faithfulness you dealt so well with me.

Instruct me in your knowledge all-surpassing.

I went astray before you punished me.

It was to teach me, that I was afflicted.

Is not your law worth more to me than gold?

Indeed, I value it beyond all measure.

J—73-80

10. Just as your hands have made and fashioned me

Join to my knowledge love for righteous living.

Joy is for those who walk in godly ways.

Judge all the insolent who wronged your servant.

Journey with me for I do love your word.

Jealously keep me close to you forever.

K—81-88

11. Keenly my soul longs always for your grace.

Knowing your goodness, I trust you forever.

Keep close to me, heal all my bitter pain.

Kitchen-smoke burns my eyes until they're weeping.

Knaves plot and scheme for my demise, my death.

Kind as you are, save me from wicked plotting.

L—89-96

12. Lord, fixed in heaven is your faithful word.

Long as earth lasts it will abide forever.

Lest I should fall you've shown to me your truth.

Life-giving are your precepts and commandments.

Lend me your aid for I belong to you.

Limitless is your law and all your teaching.

M—97-104

13. My greatest love is for your perfect law.

More wisdom have I than all of my teachers.

Methodica'lly I keep your flawless word.

Made wise by you I shun all that is evil.

Mindful of how your words are very sweet

Morning till evening I will be your student.

N—105-112

14. No lamp gives light like your illum'ning word.

Never will I take back the oaths I promised

Nor will I speak against your chast'ning hand.

Now I will give my freewill gifts to praise you.

Notorious men may lay their snares for me

Nevertheless I'll serve my LORD forever.

O—113-120

15. Out with the double-minded! Let them flee!

O Hiding Place, please keep us safe forever.

Outside of God there is no place to go.

Of all the “gods” the LORD alone is righteous.

Our God speaks words that we will always do.

Ought we not tremble fearing God our Master!

P—121-128

16. Protect, O LORD, the justice of my cause.

Pledge to me, God, some good to show you love me.

Pining away my eyes look up to you.

Pity your servant for he loves your treasure

Prized far above the finest gold on earth.

Praised be your precepts loved by all the righteous.

R—129-136

17. Remarkable are all your holy laws

Revealed by you to give us understanding.

Return to me and all who love your name.

Rule over me that I may walk uprightly.

Redeem me from the ways of evil men.

Rivers of tears I shed for man's so sinful.

S—137-144

18. Steadfast and true are all God's rules and ways.

Strict righteousness is what the Lord finds pleasing.

Small and despised seem I, but blest am I:

Servant of God who does his Master's bidding.

Suff'ring always, that is my lot in life

So I depend upon your word eternal.

T—145-152

19. That I may keep your statutes, answer me!

To you I cry, save me your humble servant.

Toward the dawn I look with anxious heart.

Throughout the night I dwell upon your promise.

Teach me to trust in you my only Help.

Then I will stand against the persecutor.

U—153-169

20. Under affliction am I, rescue me.

Uphold my cause and give me life unending

Unknown to those who hate your perfect way.

Unnumbered are your gifts to those who serve you.

Unhappy are the faithless reprobates.

Unchanging is your word of truth forever.

V—161-168

21. Vexatious persecutors fill the earth.

Victorious am I for the LORD sustains me.

Villains I hate because they hate your law.

Value, I pray, my sevenfold thank-offr'ing.

Votive fine gifts I sacrifice to you.

Vast is your love and grace for all your people.

W—169-176

22. Where shall I look for wisdom in this life?

Will you not save me as you one time promised?

What sort of praise shall burst forth from my lips?

Would you but move your hand to save your servant!

Whene'er I stray like sheep that run away

Welcome me back for I love your commandments.

Task is finished

After fifteen years serving as chairman of the Book of Praise Committee, I completed my term this past Friday--in fact, more than my term. A normal time on a Canadian Reformed synodical committee is nine years, but since we were in the midst of a large project in 2007, revamping and augmenting our songbook, it was felt that I should stay on an extra six years. I loved the work! I laboured beside wonderful brothers and sisters, and experienced only kindness, good cooperation, generosity, and mutual respect. 

We also worked for a number of years with our URCNA counterparts and were well on our way to proposing a hymn section for the "Common Songbook" to our respective synods. However, a few synods back, the URCNA changed direction and began working with the OPC instead. We were saddened by that, but I wish them well as they work to produce the "Trinity Psalter Hymnal." I look forward to seeing the final product.

I pray God may be with the current committee, and may the Book of Praise be used weekly and daily in church, school, and home to help God's people praise the Lord with psalm and hymn!

Worship (6)

Singing is such an important part of our corporate worship. We sing because we are commanded to sing. One need only look to the Psalms: Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! (Psa. 95:1). Or to the letters of the Apostle Paul: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Col. 3:16).

While we sing, first of all, because we are commanded to sing, it is also worth noting that singing is good for one's soul and body. In the past forty years I have had three occasions to be part of a choir and I always felt so well after choir practice. And then there is the weekly worship services where we sing together.

My experience is that singing is good, not only for the soul but also for the body. As a Christian I can understand easily enough why it is good for the soul. As John Calvin wrote in the preface to his commentary on the Psalms:

I have been accustomed to call this book, I think not inappropriately, “An Anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul;” for there is not an emotion of which any one can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror. Or rather, the Holy Spirit has here drawn to the life all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions with which the minds of men are wont to be agitated.

When we sing, especially the Psalms, we are together giving voice to all our personal and shared joys and fears. We know that we are part of a tribe, and it is good to belong. I can understand why singing is good for the soul, but why is it good for the body?

I came across this NPR article which linked to an article published in Frontiers in Psychology that shed light on my question. Researchers of the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden studied the heart rates of choir members as they sang together and discovered that choir music had a calming effect on the heart, especially when the choir sang in unison. Breathing in unison calms the heart.

So, if you feel physically rejuvenated after the singing of some Psalms and hymns, do not be surprised. Singing is not only a spiritual exercise, but also a physical one. Perhaps those who sing Genevan Psalms have an extra advantage. The tempo of Genevan tunes is governed by the pulse, about the same as the resting heart rate of an adult, typically about 70 beats per minute.

So, sing! Sing lustily, and feel well!

Worship (3)

In the last post I quoted John Calvin favorably and said that in large part we have him to thank that we sing in the Reformed churches. And yet we do not unreservedly agree with him when it comes to the church’s song for he held to what is nowadays called “exclusive Psalmody.”

In fairness to Calvin I should quote more of what he says on the topic.  In the preface to the Genevan Psalter he wrote:

Now, what Augustine says is true, namely that no one can sing anything worthy of God which he has not received from him. Therefore, even after we have carefully searched everywhere, we shall not find better or more appropriate songs to this end than the Psalms of David, inspired by the Holy Spirit. And for this reason, when we sing them, we are assured that God puts the words in our mouth, as if he himself were singing through us to exalt his glory.

Surely Calvin was correct when he said that there is nothing better to sing than the Psalms of David. He published the 150 Psalms in French set to what has come to be called the Genevan tunes. To that collection he added the canticles (“scripture songs”), the Songs of Mary, Zechariah and Simeon, and the Ten Commandments. He did not want any hymns that were not based closely on the literal text of scripture.

I do not mind saying that I love the Genevan Psalter. It courses through my veins. With thanks to God I note that we have recently published New Genevan Psalter which is a contemporary English version of the Genevan Psalms and the four canticles.

I also love canticles, defined as songs based on scripture passages other than Psalms. I have tried my hand at writing some, pairing them mostly to tunes that are in the public domain. I have a website dedicated to them.

But what about hymns? Psalms and canticles—of course! But what about hymns?

The Canadian Reformed Churches allow hymns. The Book of Praise, our songbook, consists of the 150 Psalms and 85 hymns, of which about two dozen could be classified as canticles. But what about the hymns that are not closely based upon the literal text of scripture but work with themes, ideas, and images found in scripture? Are such hymns appropriate for God’s people to sing in the official worship service? 

Without wanting to get embroiled in a worship war I hope to address that next.

Sermon on Psalm 91

The sermon I preached this past Sunday on Psalm 91 is available here.

And here is the Sons of Korah song of the Psalm.

Gentle as feathers; strong as steel

Introduction to this Sunday's morning sermon at Jubilee Church:

This past week has been rather distressing. Canada experienced two acts of terrorism—the first in Quebec with the murder of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent on Monday, and the second here in Ottawa on Wednesday with the murder of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was standing watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Canada’s National War Memorial.

Two soldiers killed by terrorists! The second killer then stormed the Centre Block of the Parliament buildings. After he was, thankfully, brought down, the Sergeant-at-arms, Kevin Vickers, spoke what surely will be recorded as one of the greatest understatements uttered in Canadian history, “I engaged the assailant; he is deceased.”

This past Wednesday was trying for many of you and your loved ones as you spent the day in lock-down behind the security perimeter.

At a time like this we feel somewhat rattled. What do we do? Where do we go for strength? To the Word, loved ones! We go to the Word of God. We go there for comfort and direction.

This does not mean that all our questions will be answered. We are left with many “why” questions. And that is okay. But in the midst of the many “why” questions that continue to swirl around in our minds, the “Who” questions can be answered.

The “Who” questions are questions such as, “Who will take care of us? Who will provide rest for us? Who is our refuge? In Whom can we trust?”

For strength, encouragement, and direction to help us move forward, let us turn to Psalm 91. We will not explore everything there is to be uncovered in this Psalm. Some things we will focus on; others we will pass over and leave for another time. But we will hear the main message, which is that the LORD God is our dwelling place. We find shelter under his wings and behind his shield. We will hear about our LORD who is both as gentle as feathers and as strong as steel.……

A Prayer Based on Psalm 51

Lord, be merciful, to us,

in your love we only trust.

In your large expansive grace

our transgressions all erase.

Wash us from our stain and sin,

make us clean outside and in.

All our sins before you rise.

They are grievous in your eyes.

We have sinned ‘gainst you alone,

in your sight our evil done.

All your judgments, true and just,

bring us down into the dust.

We were sinful at our birth,

all our deeds of little worth.

When conceived we were unclean,

born into a life of sin.

With your hyssop scrub our soul,

make us pure, completely whole.

Then we’ll be as white as snow.

For the blood from Christ did flow

cleansing us from sin so strong,

saving us from every wrong.

Let me shout with joyful voice.

Glad and free, let me rejoice.

From our sins please hide your face,

our iniquities erase.

Give to us a brand new heart

and a spirit good impart.

Make us pure, for Jesus sake,

all our misdeeds from us take.

Then we’ll shout and dance and sing

Praise to you our God we’ll bring.

And our mouths shall praise the Lord

for the gospel’s gracious word.

We will serve you with delight,

and praise you both day and night.

Have mercy, O Lord.

Have mercy. AMEN

August 10 @ Jubilee

Tomorrow I will continue both Summer Sermon Series. In the morning I'll be preaching on Psalm 15, about the covenant-keeper who will never be shaken. Theme and Heads: 

FAITHFUL COVENANT-KEEPERS MAY DWELL NEAR TO THE LORD

1. The Question (v. 1)
2. The Answer (vv. 2-5a)
3. The Promise (v. 5b)

In the afternoon we'll be wrapping up our study of chapter 2 of the Canons of Dort with a sermon on Article 9 entitled: The Bridegroom and his Bride. Here's the summary:

Despite the attacks of the devil against Christ and his church, the eternal plan of God will prevail. Christ will, from the beginning of the world until its end, gather in the elect from every language, people, and nation. There will always be a church of believers founded upon the blood of Christ to love, praise, honour, and glorify him, for the Bridegroom must have a bride.

As always, visitors are welcome at Jubilee Church.

When evil seems to triumph…After the bombing of MH17.

Opening words to a sermon on Psalm 11 by Rev. George van Popta to be preached this coming Sunday, July 27th, 2014.

Once again we have seen a monstrous evil: a passenger airplane flying 10 km in the air shot out of the sky killing 282 people. We hear about man’s evil every day, but then there are those moments which stop you dead in your tracks and you ask, “How can that be?”

One middle-aged couple, Arjen and Yvonne Ryder, were members of our sister church in Albany, Australia. Three young adults lost their parents, five little children lost their grandparents, others lost a brother and a sister, a congregation lost members, friendships broken.

And that is only one story that we know a little bit about of the devastation this senseless missile strike caused. Similar stories can be told 282 times because of this murderous event. A dozen different nations were represented on flight MH17—Canada as well—all with a unique story

This Summer I am preaching through some of the Psalms. I was drawn to Psalm 11 which speaks about the horrific and grisly evil committed by man, about the despair the people of God feel in the face of such evil, and about our God who will set everything right.

THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE IN THE FACE OF TERROR

1. Reasons for despair

2. Cause     for     trust

This morning's prayer of confession at Jubilee Church

O LORD, Rebuke us not–Psalm 38

O LORD, rebuke us not in your anger

nor chasten us in your holy wrath.

Your arrows pierced us; your hand has crushed us.

          There is no soundness within our flesh.

          Your indignation presses us downward.

          Our guilt is heavy, too much to bear.

           

          Our wounds grow filthy, they stink and fester

          due to our sins and our foolishness.

          We are bent over, bowed down and guilty.

          Gone is our vigour. We have no health.

          All day we’re mourning, feeble and shattered.

          We groan because our heart is upset.

All of our longing, Lord, is before you.

And all our sighing, you hear, O Lord.

Our heart is throbbing; our strength is failing.

Our eyes are darkened, we cannot see.

We do confess our sins and corruption.

We plead upon your mercy, O God.

O LORD, rebuke us not in your anger

nor chasten us in your holy wrath.

Do not forsake us, O LORD, our Saviour.

Make haste to help us, our gracious God.

Be not far from us, Christ, our Redeemer!

Forgive our sins by your precious blood.

Have mercy, Lord! Have mercy, Lord.    AMEN