A prayer asking God to deliver from mortal enemies and thus move all the saints to joyful praise.
Scripture References:
st. 1 = vv. 1-3
st. 2 = v. 4
st. 3 = v. 5
This short prayer for God's help from enemies who threaten the psalmist's life is a revision of Psalm 40:13-17. The prayer is framed by pleas to God to "come quickly" (w. 1, 5; st. 1, 3). Between these urgent calls are prayers asking God to bring disgrace upon the psalmist's enemies (st. 1) and to bring joy to "all who seek" the LORD (st. 2). Bert Polman (PHH 37) versified this psalm in 1983 for the Psalter Hymnal.
Liturgical Use:
Before or after the congregational prayer, especially in time of threat to God's people; the more elaborate concertato version suggested is useful during Advent.
--Psalter Hymnal Handbook
Bert Frederick Polman (b. Rozenburg, Zuid Holland, the Netherlands, 1945; d. Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 1, 2013) was chair of the Music Department at Calvin College and senior research fellow for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Dr. Bert studied at Dordt College (BA 1968), the University of Minnesota (MA 1969, PhD in musicology 1981), and the Institute for Christian Studies. Dr. Bert was a longtime is professor of music at Redeemer College in Ancaster, Ontario, and organist at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Waterdown, Ontario. His teaching covered a wide range of courses in music theory, music history, music literature, and worship, and Canadian Native studies. His research specialty was Christian hymnody. He was also an orga… Go to person page >
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