Seeking Fortune, Finding Fame Psalm 107

Thank the Lord whose steadfast love, gathers and redeems us folk;

calls us in from every land, where we scattered, bore the yoke.

From the east and from the west, south and north. 

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Draws us in from wilderness, wanderers who ev’ry day,

cry to heaven in distress, to be set back on our way.

Let us thank the Lord for this, steadfast love. 

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Trapped in misery and gloom, when our chicks return to roost

Fallen down with none to help, turning heavenward from hell,

Find ourselves remembered and free again.

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Sickened through our sinful ways, off our feed and near to death,

Thinking back to better days, cry to God in our distress.

By God’s word we find we’re healed, and rejoice.

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Seeking fortune, finding fame, seeing wonders far away,

Battered by outrageous fate, courage lost and sore afraid;

When the storms of life are stilled, God be praised. 

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Fruitful ventures turn to waste, healthy lives are lost to plague.

God can turn it all around, cleanse our filth and make us sound.

God restores community. Blessing flows.

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When diminished and brought low, even princes come to know

That their way is in God’s hand, that they are not in command. 

Let those who are wise give heed, to the Lord.

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Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 107

Text: © David Alexander

Tune: Lux Prima, Public Domain

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2014/Score/JesusSunOfRighteouness-LuxPrima.pdf

Audio: www.smallchurchmusic.com 

Set Us On Your Path Anew

First off, God, we know you’re good, and happiness is found around

Places where both righteousness and justice wrapped in love abound.

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Our ancestors sometimes knew this, but more often they forgot.

When they suffered, they remembered. You reached out and saved that lot. 

—-

We’re not them, but like our forebears, we forget your goodness, too. 

Save us like you rescued them, and set us on your path anew.   

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Photo by Ugne Vasyliute on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 106

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Waltham

Score:  https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2012/Score/FatherGod-WalthamAlbert.pdf 

Memory Dies

Getting free with lots of loot, 

giving former lords the boot,

living under heaven’s care

food and water everywhere,

not forgotten but supplied

with some principles to guide

just and free and settled lives,

all too soon that mem’ry died.  

———-

Photo: by Sylwia Bartyzel on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 105:37-45

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Aberystwyth

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF-2010/WatchmanTellUs-Aberystwyth.pdf 

Waters, Frogs and Beasts

When God sent Moses, darkness came, and Aaron was his priest.

Then things went on, from bad to worse, for waters, frogs and beasts.

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First infestations, hail and lightning flashing through the land.

When locusts came and ate the food; not even trees could stand. 

—–

The king defied. The firstborn died. At last the people left.

But, not until they’d borrowed gold and things they thought were best.

—–

“It’s only for a week or so, a time of little length.”

They left no forwarding address, just took a nation’s strength.

———-

Photo: by Ladd Greene on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 105:26-36

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Aberdeen

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF-2010/OurFatherHear-Aberdeen.pdf 

Prisoner and Slave

A man, both prisoner and slave who once a mighty empire saved.

With shackled feet and neck held tight he did not hesitate to fight.

He called out truth ‘til finally released from jail, he was set free.

That slave from jail made history and taught the elders how to see.

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Photo: On the Chain Gang.  https://lccn.loc.gov/2002711523

Source:  Psalm 105:16-22

Text:  © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: O Grosser Gott

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/2011/Score/OGodOfGod-OGrosserGott.pdf 

God Kept Faith

The Lord our God has judged all the earth.

The covenant is ever in mind, 

that once was sworn as solemn word, 

unto a man called Abraham 

and later confirmed to everyone else. 

—–

The people of God once thought themselves few, 

of little worth wherever on earth. 

They wandered here, and sojourned there, 

while God kept faith on their account. 

“Don’t touch those I choose, and do them no harm.”

—–

Photo by Jyotirmoy Gupta on Unsplash

Source:  Psalm 105:7-15

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune:    O Jesulein Suss (Arr. J.S. Bach)

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/OJesusSweet-OJesuLeinSuss.pdf 

Don’t Be Shy, Sing Proudly

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O give thanks unto the Lord. Sing your praises loudly.

Tell of all God’s wondrous works. Don’t be shy, sing proudly.

Let your heart be filled with joy, strengthened in God’s presence,

chosen of the Lord on high, show your righteous essence.

——

Photo by Andrew Leu on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 105:1-6

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Ave Virgo VirginumScore: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/ComeYeFaithul-AveVirgoVirginum.pdf

天，地 ，海，萬物 (Psalm 104 rearranged)

天

Clothed with honor, wrapped in light, chariots of clouds you ride. 

Winds your messages convey, fire and flame your word obey.

地 

You make springs in valleys burst, where wild asses quench their thirst.

Near your streams the birds have nests. With your fruit the Earth is fed.

海

You put land where it should stay; placed the sea not far away.

Rain and snow from clouds on high forests bring to mountainsides.

萬物

Grass for cattle, wine for hearts, oil for faces, light and dark;

sun and moon and sky and sea, let us all rejoice in these. 

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Photo by Frank Saunders Jr on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 104

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Culbach

Score: https://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Score_PDF/LifeOfAges-Culbach.pdf 

Attention, Body, Spirit, Soul

Attention, body, spirit, soul 

and everything that makes me whole; 

and bless the Lord.

Do not forget these benefits; 

you’re healed and lifted from the pit;

and bless the Lord. 

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With steadfast love and mercy crowned, 

your youth renewed and goodness found, 

now bless the Lord.

The Lord has worked in history 

to raise oppressed from misery,

so bless the Lord.

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God’s slow to anger, full of love. 

Repays us not as we deserve, 

so bless the Lord.

As far as east is from the west, 

with sins removed we enter rest, 

so bless the Lord.

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Our days like grass, they swiftly pass. 

The love of God will ever last. 

We bless the Lord.

Let children of God’s covenant, 

who know the righteousness God sent, 

now bless the Lord.

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O you, God’s angels, heav’nly host, 

who serve the Lord from coast to coast, 

come bless the Lord.

From everything that God has made 

in every place where people prayed, 

make blessing heard.  

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Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash

Source: Psalm 103

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Tune: Snowden 

Score:  https://hymnary.org/media/fetch/211744

Make our Homeland Great Again (Psalm 102)

Hear my cries, attend my prayer, listen like you’re really there.

On this day of my distress, I need answers now, express!

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All too quickly my days pass, and I wither much like grass.

Sleep deprived, and foe beset, I’m too wasted to eat bread.

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Other people suffer, too, trust their futures, God, to you.

When it’s time you’ll rise up, then, make our homeland great again.

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Write it down for distant years, when our childrens’ children fear

that the Lord looked on the doomed, set them free and gave them room.

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Earth’s foundation you have laid, and the heavens you have made. 

These will perish, you’ll endure. May our children live secure. 

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Photo by Stefanie Fischer on Unsplash 

Tune: Alcester

Source: Psalm 102

Text: © David Alexander, 2020

Score: https://hymnary.org/media/fetch/125912