Wonderful Worship!

by Sharon Sampson

Singing the Psalms always brings truth to my mind and stirs my affections. My heart has been especially warmed by the recent Psalm settings written and sung by RPCNA pastor Brian Wright. As of the writing of this article, Brian has more than a dozen recordings on YouTube under Anatomy of the Soul. I love all of his selections, but I was particularly moved recently by his arrangement for Psalm 132A from the Book of Psalms for Worship.

Here is the text:

1. For the sake of David, turn Your thoughts, O LORD,
To the things he suffered, hardships he endured.
Then he made a promise vowing to the LORD -
Mighty One of Jacob – unto Him he swore:

2. “My house I’ll not enter, there I’ll not repose;
I’ll not let my eyes sleep, nor my eyelids close,
Till I find a dwelling where the LORD would live -
Mighty One of Jacob – Him a house I’ll give.”

3. It was first in Ephrath we heard news resound:
In the field of Jaar, there it had been found.
At His place of dwelling, let us enter in;
Gathered at His footstool, let us worship Him.

4. LORD, now rise and enter with Your ark of might
To that place of resting, pleasing in Your sight.
Let Your priesthood serve You, clothed in righteousness;
Let Your saints with singing joyfulness express.

I listened to Brian’s arrangement one recent Lord’s Day morning as I prepared for worship. I was thinking of David’s greater son who suffered hardships on our behalf (Isa. 53:3-4). I was thinking of the one who came not to do his own will but the will of his father who sent him (John 6:38). I was thinking of the one who became flesh and tabernacled among us (John 1:14). I was thinking about my church congregation as God’s temple (1 Cor. 3:16). I was thinking of the one who has clothed us with garments of salvation and in a robe of his righteousness (Isa. 61:10). I was thinking that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and God's special possession, gathering to declare his praises (1 Pet. 2:9). Yes, I was thinking of our Lord Jesus Christ. And I couldn’t wait to get to church and join the saints in joyful singing!