My husband and I and a delighted audience were pleased to hear the Genevans, the college choir of students from Geneva College sing their concert. They are on choir tour, and their presentation brought back memories of my tours some sixty years ago with the Hope College Chapel Choir. Delightful.
One of the awesome anthems they sang was one dealing with the Palm Sunday story of Jesus entering Jerusalem. His group of followers, and we’re told that also children shouted: “Hosanna, in the highest. Hosanna to the Son of David. Hosanna to the King.”
Their triumph would end in his death on the cross mere days later. Some in the fickle crowd would yell, “Crucify Him!” and jeer and taunt Him.
In the wisdom of God, Jesus knew every possible emotion we humans suffer: the triumphs, the betrayals, even death.
It is easy to lose sight of the knowledge of what it cost Jesus to leave the glory of heaven, described in Revelation, to be scorned on earth. He was born into the non-hygienic, non-sterile stable, not at all acceptable to modern health plans. His bed was not a warmed bassinet, wrapped in warmed blankets, attended by medical personnel trained to note subtle changes that neonatals present. No. His face was likely scratched by straw meant as cattle feed. No attending physician, no conveniences, just a dark, dank, smelly, noisy, cold cave.
He never owned a house, or an animal, or a closet full of clothes. He never traveled far, although His message is now worldwide. He seldom saw family. He never took a wife or raised children. Yet, the church is His bride and we and millions more are His children.
I delight that young people sang their hearts out last night, bringing truth and the beauty of music to an audience. It is refreshing to see college kids in love with Christ. Their radiant faces and enthusiasm for the message they presented was refreshing when most churches don’t even acknowledge the ministry of well-presented choral music today. But the view from here was that sometime, in the future, long after I’m gone, probably, hymns and anthems will be rediscovered as means of grace to worshipers. Last night’s performance was a highlight for me.
My Psalm 313: Hosanna and Praise
MY PSALM 313 HOSANNA AND PRAISE
Almighty Father, Prince of Peace, Holy Spirit my comfort,
What joy to come with songs of joy
To pray to Your Presence in heaven this day,
Lifting Your Name, Almighty. in overflowing praise.
Dear Father, You sent Your Son to fill our hearts
With the joy of our salvation.
The fountains and springs and rivers and oceans
Shout Your Name in exultant praise and worship.
The very stones rise up to proclaim the Son of David
The promised Son of God from prophecy foretold,
And we raise our Hosannas and honor Your Name.
Lord Jesus, we thank You, Priest, Prophet, our King!
With acclimation we witness Your Presence among us
Sent as a Child bedded in straw, Your rustic nursery,
Yet hailed by angels, shepherds, and wise kings
Who knew the world had suddenly changed
The night of your birth.
We knew You as Teacher, as Messenger, Healer, Preacher
For You proclaimed that Your Father, our God
Reached down to raise us Adopted as heirs,
His very own chosen, His children, sons and daughters
Created, related, elated to call Him, Abba, Father.
You walked dusty roads, slept where You roamed
To tell all nations of Your Father’s love.
Foregoing earth’s pleasure, You sacrificed all
To here proclaim salvation’s good word.
Although The King, You became mere mortal
A man among men, a servant to all
So we could become Yours, in Your eternal kingdom,
An irony we never, will never, comprehend.
And we now know, on dark Gethsemane
Your Father loved us enough to send You
His only Son, yes, You, Jesus the Christ
To be the blessed sacrifice to bear the sins of the world.
Yes, my sins were shed with Your blood that day,
Atonement for my past, today, and tomorrow,
For never could I come to Your Eternal Presence
The throne room of Almighty, Holy God
Without Your precious Blood given freely that day.
And Holy Spirit, my Comforter, Intercessor,
You called me to faith, even called me by name,
The mystery internal that prompted my heart
To understand God’s message brought here to my soul.
Thanks overflowing for letting me see
The story of creation to redemption and His living in me.
Because united, Father, Son, Holy Spirit Triune
I now know the import of that love sacrificed,
And yearn to be borne one day to Your Presence
With clouds of witnesses already worshiping there.
I’ll add my voice to the oceans and rivers
And stones and mountains and all of creation
To glorify, praise, and worship Your Name
With the angels and martyrs, and mere folks like me.
’Round Your Throne, in Your Presence,
Abba, Father, My Lord. Amen.
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