[197]. A Message From A Poem – O Choir, Praise The Lord With Joy

[197]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – O CHOIR, PRAISE THE LORD WITH JOY

People speak about the heavenly choir, though most of the time they are referring to angles. However there is not one record of angels singing, but many records about angles “saying”. I don’t think angels sing. No evidence.

The Psalms are the heavenly hymn book of the bible. Many of the arrangement are set to instruments and choirs and some of those details we do not understand. However we can see the great care given to the orchestration.

The human voice, so they say, is the greatest of all musical instruments. God has programmed our voices so distinctly that even a blind person can distinguish hundreds of human voices and match them with their characters. How did God make each voice unique? I have no idea. When I hear a flock of birds they all sound exactly the same to me, but the wonder of creation is that, to a bird, their sounds are as distinguishable as ours are. At least I think it must be that way.

The range of human voices is such that the female voice ranges from Soprano, to Mezzo-soprano, and Contralto (highest to lowest).

The range of male voices ranges from Tenor, to Baritone, and Bass (highest to lowest). Of course in female and male voices/singing there is variation in that. (For example on the male side: counter tenor and the castrati.)

I don’t know what I am because I am one of those who just can not keep a tune and would be hopeless as a song leader or choir member. However I love all classical music passionately.

Look at this verse – {{Revelation 5:9 AND THEY SANG A NEW SONG, saying, “WORTHY ARE YOU to take the book and to break its seals, for You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. . .”}} Can you imagine that singing. The verse does attribute the singing to the 24 elders but somehow I think they might be representative of all of us and we all sing, in which case, I will be able to have a perfect voice. We can’t appreciate the range of redeemed voices singing there.

{{Psalm 13:5-6 “I have trusted in Your loving-kindness. My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I WILL SING TO THE LORD because He has dealt bountifully with me.”}}

{{Psalm 33:1-3 “SING FOR JOY IN THE LORD, O you righteous ones. Praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre. SING PRAISES TO HIM with a harp of ten strings. SING TO HIM A NEW SONG. Play skillfully with a shout of joy.”}}

Psalm 47:1-9 For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

{{Psalm 47:6-7 “SING PRAISES TO GOD, SING PRAISES. SING PRAISES TO OUR KING, SING PRAISES, for God is the King of all the earth. SING PRAISES WITH A SKILLFUL PSALM.”}}

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O CHOIR, PRAISE THE LORD WITH JOY

Sweetly lift those highest voices.

Increase your voice on high to God,

So ev’ryone here rejoices.

You low ones too, reach down deeply.

Now present your special choices.

You middle ones there, praise the Lord,

So all of you, blend your voices.

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Raise the roof with praise.

Shout it loudly out.

Sing to Christ our King.

Tell that God’s done well.

Speak of it all week.

Sing of God’s good will.

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Proclaim His Name to all today.

Your singing is God’s gift you share,

And listen folk to what they say.

Then let those voices all proclaim

The talents rich you each display.

O choir, sing to Christ His worth,

And with your lips, your worship pay.

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Sopranos, basses and altos,

Join together for God’s glory.

Tenors, baritones, contraltos,

Complete the choral festival!

Throughout your music you disclose

Your commitment to the Lord’s cause.

For you, let the writers compose.

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Raise the roof with praise.

Shout it loudly out.

Sing to Christ our King.

Tell that God’s done well.

Speak of it all week.

Sing of God’s good will.

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Parts of this were done at some date in the past. Completed 1 January 2022.

R E Ferguson Metre = Either 8 or 5 in passages. Second and Last stanzas are blank verse.