In the Presence of Your People

In the presence of your people

Paraphraser: Brent Chambers (1977)
Tune: CELEBRATION (Chambers)
ONE LICENSE: 311
Published in 17 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Representative Text

In the presence of your people
I will praise your name,
for alone you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Let us celebrate your goodness
and your steadfast love;
may your name be exalted
here on earth and in heaven above.

Source: The Book of Praise #427

Paraphraser: Brent Chambers

Brent Sinclair Chambers (b. Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, 1948) composed this song after experiencing an evening of ethnic music and dance in 1977. Chambers attended the Bible College of New Zealand and Auckland University and then became a self-employed painting contractor and song writer. He has written or co-written over five hundred songs, a number of which have been recorded or published. He based the text on Psalm 22:3, 22 and Psalm 145:7, though the words of the first line could also have been taken from Psalm 52:9b. He named his tune CELEBRATION, and both text and music were published in Scripture in Song (1977), one of the most important Scripture-chorus collections (initially from New Zealand) of the 1970s. The vocable "lai," s… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: In the presence of your people
Title: In the Presence of Your People
Paraphraser: Brent Chambers (1977)
Meter: Irregular
Place of Origin: New Zealand
Language: English
Copyright: © 1977, Scripture in Song. Admin. By Integrity Music

Notes

Scripture References:
st. = Ps. 22:3, 22; 52:9b; 145:7

Brent Sinclair Chambers (b. Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, 1948) composed this song after experiencing an evening of ethnic music and dance in 1977. Chambers attended the Bible College of New Zealand and Auckland University and then became a self-employed painting contractor and song writer. He has written or co-written over five hundred songs, a number of which have been recorded or published. He based the text on Psalm 22:3, 22 and Psalm 145:7, though the words of the first line could also have been taken from Psalm 52:9b. He named his tune CELEBRATION, and both text and music were published in Scripture in Song (1977), one of the most important Scripture-chorus collections (initially from New Zealand) of the 1970s. The vocable "lai," suggested for the descant line on the repetition of the music, can be replaced with combinations of "ah" and "alleluia." Other stanzas can be added as well.

In 1986 Bert Polman (PHH 37) wrote two additional stanzas based on Psalm 22:3, 23-28. These additional stanzas were rejected by the copyright owners for the Psalter Hymnal, but were accepted later for publication in Songs for LiFE (CRC Publications, 1994):

2
All who love you sing your praises
and proclaim your power,
for alone you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
You have not ignored our suffering,
but have heard our cry;
may your power be exalted
here on earth and in heaven above.

3
All who seek your rule will praise you
and be satisfied;
for alone you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel. All the peoples of the nations
will bow down to you;
may your rule be exalted
here on earth and in heaven above.

Liturgical Use:
Beginning of worship, especially at festive services.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune

CELEBRATION (Chambers)

CELEBRATION is music in the style of the Jewish hora, that is, "dance music." Sing the tune with enthusiasm, beginning more slowly, and increasing the tempo for each repetition or new stanza. The accompaniment is best played with piano and/or guitars. The exuberant character of this music also invit…

Go to tune page >


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 17 of 17)

Alleluia Aotearoa #70

Church Family Worship #334

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #121

Complete Mission Praise #341

Text InfoAudio

Glory to God #631

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #121

Audio

Psalms for All Seasons #22F

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #160

Renew! Songs and Hymns for Blended Worship #12

Songs for Life #25

Songs of Fellowship #244

Text

The Book of Praise #427

The Worshiping Church #19

Together in Song #727

Voices United #745

Audio

With Heart and Voice #7

With One Voice #720

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us