Trusting While Under Threat (Psalm 142)

With my voice I cry God, and make supplications

I pour out all my complaints, and all my frustrations.

—–

On the path that I must walk, many traps lie waiting.

There is no one who takes note, everyone is hating. 

—–

So I cry to you, O Lord, for you are my refuge.

When I’m low please hear my cry. There is much to tell you. 

—–

Save me from my enemies. Bring me out of prison.

I’ll give thanks unto your name. You’ll hear those in heaven.

———-

Photo: by Pikrepo.com  Royalty Free 

Source:  Psalm 142

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:     Melling, Public Domain

Score:    https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2018/Score/ComeLordToOurSouls-Melling-Chords.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Listen Faithfully (Psalm 143)

Hear what we’re pray-ing Lord in faith-ful-ness

Answer our  hearts’ concerns in right-eous-ness

Don’t judge us harshly, for no case can stand,

No one is righteous, we should all be canned.

—–

We’ve been pursued by foulest enemies

Who seek to crush our lives and justice freeze..

Therefore our spirit faint, and hearts are weak,

Sitting in darkness where we cannot speak.

—–

When we look back upon the days of old

All of the things you’ve done and stories told

We stretch our hands to you in hope and faith

Our souls are thirsting in these trying days.

—–

Answer us quickly, Lord, our spirits fail.

Without your face to see our souls would wail.

Morning by morning show us how to go.

For it’s to you we each lift up a soul. 

—–

Teach us to do your will, for you are God

Lead us along the path the righteous trod.

Though all around us there is constant strife

We are your servants, Lord; preserve our lives.

———-

Photo: by Julien de Salaberry on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 143

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:  Highland Cathedral, Public Domain

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/ThouArtBeforeMe-HCathedral.pdf    

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Draw Me In (Psalm 141)

Hear me calling and come quickly. Listen up, I’m asking you.

Praying is the way I worship. Other things, I do them too. 

Guard my words and guide my heart while keeping me from wicked deeds.

Save me from the vile temptations of my baser tendencies. 

—–

Lead me to some righteous people who will keep me safe from sin.

Never let the oil of evil rest upon my fragile skin.

May the time I spend with you, God, keep me from all wickedness.

If not now, then in the judgment, make it clear that I was blessed. 

—–

You have given much to see, but now my eyes are turned towards you,

seeking refuge, needing safety from the things the wicked do.

Snares are set, and it’s quite sure that I’ll get caught up by some sin.

Yet I trust in your forgiving, steadfast love to draw me in.

———-

Photo: by Nikola Knezevic on Unsplash  

Source:  Psalm 141

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:     Beach Spring, Public Domain

Score:    https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2011/Score/ComeYeSinners-BeachSpring.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Set Me Free From Evil

Set me free from evil, and its doers, Lord.

From their thoughts of vi’lence, and their cries for war.

From their tongues like snakes and lying viper lips,

keep me from their venom, and their crushing grips.

—

    Root and branch of justice, for the weak and poor,

    May we live uprightly, with you evermore.

—–

Guard me, Lord, from wicked plots and hidden traps.

Guide me far from those who’d lead me to a lapse.

Keep my feet on your way, safe from hidden nets;

from the snares along the road that have been set. 

—   

    Root and branch of justice, for the weak and poor

    May we live uprightly, with you evermore.

—–

I confess none other to be God but you.

Hear my ev’ry prayer, ev’ry cry I hue.

Keep me out of battle. Your name I invoke.

Stop the evil plotting of all wicked folk.

—

    Root and branch of justice, for the weak and poor

    May we live uprightly, with you evermore.

—–

Ev’rywhere around me, wicked people boast.

May they not prevail but fail at the utmost.  

May they learn the error of their twisted ways

Yet, may you forgive them, by your plentious grace. 

—

    Root and branch of justice, for the weak and poor

    May we live uprightly, with you evermore.

———–

Photo:  by David Clode on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 140

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:  Wye Valley (with Refrain)  Public Domain

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/LikeARiverGlorious-WyeValley.pdf

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Lead Me On Your Way

Kill the wicked, God. Make the bloodthirsty de-part.

Those with malice on their tongues, who refuse to do your will.

When they rise up against you, I hate them like you.

—–

As I hate that lot, perfect loathing fills my heart.

I count them as enemies. Look into my heart and see,

If there’s any wickedness. Lead me on your way.

———-

Photo: by Kevar Whilby on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 139:19-24

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:  Lu-ming Hong, Public Domain

Score:     http://gepu.shenshi777.com/htm/12067.html 

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission   

Inner, Outer Parts

Forms the soul and spirit; inner, outer parts,

knits them all together, in a godly art.

Wonderful and worthy of the highest praise

is the One whose image guides how we are made.

—–

Nothing has been hidden from the One who wove

Intricately, deeply, tangled up in love.

Knowing from commencement, where our lives might lead,

caring and preparing, for our ev’ry need. 

———-

Photo: by Nnaemeka Ugochukwu on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 139:13-18

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Newark, Public Domain

Score:https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2017/Score/WePraiseTheLords-Newark-Chords.pdf

Chord Sheet:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2017/Score/WePraiseTheLords-Newark-Chords.pdf 

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

Though in the Darkness

How might I escape your spirit? Where’s the place for me to flee?

It’s for sure that you’re in heaven, and in hell quite possibly.

If I ride the winds of morning to a shore across the sea,

Even there you’re bound to meet me, hold me tight and lovingly,

hold me fast and lovingly.

—–

There’s no sin that’s strong enough to separate me from your love.

Nothing that you haven’t seen already from your place above.

Darkness has no pow’r to hide me. Everywhere with you is light.

In the dark night of my soul you see completely. Dark to me, to you is bright. 

Dark to me, to you is bright. 

---

Photo:  by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 139:7-12 

Text:   © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Diolch a Chan (Welsh: Arglwydd mawr y nef a’r ddaear) Public Domain

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com   Used by Permission

Before a Word is On My Lips

Before a word is on my lips, you know it, Lord, completely.

You hem me in: before, behind, and lay your hand upon me.

—–

Such knowledge is too wonderful, so high I can’t attain it.

There’s not a place that I could flee escaping from your spirit.

—–

Your presence is a present for my time beneath the heavens.

But even death is where you are alive in more than essence. 

—–

With morning’s wings, I’d fly away to cross the oceans’ vastness.

But even there, “there” is no “where”, devoid of your own fastness. 

———-

Photo:  by Dario Didon on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 139:4-9

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Barbara Allen, Public Domain

Score:  unavailable

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission

For Never Ever Ending Love

For never ever ending love we give our thanks to God.
The wonders of the earth and sky, the waters everywhere.
The stars and lights we see at night, the moon and sun up there.
All these God made to give to us, and put them in our care.
—–
For never ever ending love we give our thanks to God.
When we get stuck God hauls us out and gives us liberty.
No obstacle can stand between us and our destiny.
No tyrant stop the will of God to bring community.
—–
For never ever ending love we give our thanks to God.
Though we are low and God is high, we are remembered yet.
God’s gift of saving grace to us, we never will forget. 
Upon the earth and heaven’s gates, are places where God is met.
———-
Photo: by Brandi Ibrao on Unsplash
Source:  Psalm 136
Text:  © David Alexander, 2020
Tune: Spes Celestis
Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/HowHappyEveryChild-SpesCelestis.pdf 
Chord Sheet:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2019/Score/HowHappyEveryChild-SpesCelestis-Chords.pdf 
Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com Used by Permission

Before the gods I Sing Your Praise

Before the gods I sing Your praise,

O maker and giver of all of my days.

I bow down towards Your ho-ly place

exalt Your word and ho-ly name. 

—–

You hear us cry and strengthen souls.

We’ve heard your word and seen your glow.

For You, though high, regard the low.

The haughty, You tell them where to go.

—–

‘Mid troubled times we walk abroad.

Stretch out Your hand; protect us, God.

We’re trusting in your steadfast love.

You’ll never forsake what you have done. 

———-

Source:  Psalm 138

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Beloit

Audio:  www.smallchurchmusic.com  Used by Permission