895

Hear My Prayer, O God

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Scripture References

Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Further Reflections on Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Belgic Confession, Article 26 provides the foundation for all our praying: “We believe that we have no access to God except through the one and only Mediator and Intercessor ‘Jesus Christ the righteous,’ who therefore was made human, uniting together the divine and human natures, so that we human beings might have access to the divine Majesty. Otherwise we would have no access.” We offer our prayers, therefore, “only on the basis of the excellence and dignity of Jesus Christ, whose righteousness is ours by faith.” Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 46, Question and Answer 120 verifies this privilege when it says, “Through Christ God has become our Father, and…just as our parents do not refuse us the things of this life, even less will God our Father refuse to give us what we ask in faith.”

895

Hear My Prayer, O God

Additional Prayers

Merciful God, with souls parched by sin
and spirits withered by enemies within and without, we lift our hands to you.
Lead us by your Spirit on the path of truth and guard us from all harm,
trusting in Jesus Christ, our refuge and our righteousness. Amen.
— Psalms for All Seasons (http://www.psalmsforallseasons.org)

A Petitionary Prayer
 
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I call to you from distress.
Please hear me.
I dwell in darkness.
Enlighten me.
I dwell in fear.
Encourage me.
I dwell in weakness.
Strengthen me for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
— Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.
895

Hear My Prayer, O God

Tune Information

Name
HYMN CHANT
Key
e minor
Meter
5.6.5.6 D

Recordings

895

Hear My Prayer, O God

Hymn Story/Background

Psalm 143 is one of the historic penitential psalms, a humble cry for help in seemingly hopeless circumstances. Hal Hopson’s setting is also very humble, like a chant (hence the tune name). The first half is virtually identical to the second half (AA’), and its simple repetitive harmony invites singing in harmony, perhaps even unaccompanied—or accompanied quietly, legato, with just enough support to keep the congregation moving without dragging.
— Emily Brink

Author Information

Carl P. Daw, Jr. (b. Louisville, KY, 1944) is the son of a Baptist minister. He holds a PhD degree in English (University of Virginia) and taught English from 1970-1979 at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia. As an Episcopal priest (MDiv, 1981, University of the South, Sewanee, Tennesee) he served several congregations in Virginia, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. From 1996-2009 he served as the Executive Director of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. Carl Daw began to write hymns as a consultant member of the Text committee for The Hymnal 1982, and his many texts often appeared first in several small collections, including A Year of Grace: Hymns for the Church Year (1990); To Sing God’s Praise (1992), New Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1996), Gathered for Worship (2006). Other publications include A Hymntune Psalter (2 volumes, 1988-1989) and Breaking the Word: Essays on the Liturgical Dimensions of Preaching (1994, for which he served as editor and contributed two essays. In 2002 a collection of 25 of his hymns in Japanese was published by the United Church of Christ in Japan. His current project is preparing a companion volume to Glory to God, the 2013 hymnal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  
— Emily Brink

Composer Information

Hal H. Hopson (b. Texas, 1933) is a prolific composer, arranger, clinician, teacher and promoter of congregational song, with more than 1300 published works, especially of hymn and psalm arrangements, choir anthems, and creative ideas for choral and organ music in worship. Born in Texas, with degrees from Baylor University (BA, 1954), and Southern Baptist Seminary (MSM, 1956), he served churches in Nashville, TN, and most recently at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. He has served on national boards of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians and the Choristers Guild, and taught numerous workshops at various national conferences. In 2009, a collection of sixty four of his hymn tunes were published in Hymns for Our Time: The Collected Tunes of Hal H. Hopson.
— Emily Brink
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