I Waited Patiently for God

I waited patiently for God, He turned to me and heard my cry

Versifier: Bertus Frederick Polman (1980)
Tune: MERTHYR TYDFIL
Published in 1 hymnal

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI
Representative text cannot be shown for this hymn due to copyright.

Versifier: Bertus Frederick Polman

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 >

Text Information

First Line: I waited patiently for God, He turned to me and heard my cry
Title: I Waited Patiently for God
Versifier: Bertus Frederick Polman (1980)
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Text © 1987, CRC Publications

Notes

A penitent prayer for God's help when troubles abound and enemies rejoice at the prospect of the psalmist's ruin.

Scripture References:
st. 1 = vv. 1-5
st. 2 = vv. 6-10
st. 3 = vv. 11-13
st. 4 = vv. 14-17

Psalm 40 notes a time of "troubles without number"–troubles the psalmist sees as brought on by sins outnumbering the hairs of his head (v. 12). The occasion cannot be identified, but the situation would fit the circumstances in David's life at the time of Absalom's rebellion. The psalmist begins with an affirmation of trust and a recollection of God's past mercies ("he lifted me out of the slimy pit," st. 1), followed by a declaration of commitment to God's will and to praising God (st. 2). Then comes an appeal that God not withhold mercy, but come to the psalmist's aid-even though the troubles have come because of sin–for they are overwhelming (st. 3). The psalmist also asks God not to delay in shaming enemies and to let all who seek the LORD rejoice and magnify him (st. 4). Hebrews 10 applies vv. 6-8 (st. 2) of Psalm 40 to Christ as the One who has done God's will and has brought a better sacrifice. Bert Polman (PHH 37) versified this psalm prayer in 1980 for morning worship at a Christian Association for Psychological Studies convention for Christian counselors. This unrhymed versification was published for the first time in the 1987 Psalter Hymnal.

Liturgical Use:
Thanksgiving and dedication (st. 1-2); Advent or Lent (st. 2); pleas for God's help (st. 3-4); times when the church reflects on the life-troubling consequences of sin.

-->Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1998

Tune

MERTHYR TYDFIL

Joseph Parry (PHH 18) composed MERTHYR TIDFIL (also called DIES IRAE), first published in Llyfr Tonau Cynulleidfaol Cenedlaethol Cymru (The Welsh National Book of Congregational Tunes), a collection of hymn tunes Parry compiled and published in several parts from 1887 to 1892. The tune is named afte…

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Media

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #40
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)

Instances

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Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #40

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