O God, Why Have You Cast Us All Away?

O God, why have you cast us all away?

Versifier: Marie J. Post (1985)
Tune: LANGRAN
Published in 1 hymnal

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI
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Versifier: Marie J. Post

Marie (Tuinstra) Post (b. Jenison, MI, 1919; d. Grand Rapids, MI, 1990) While attending Dutch church services as a child, Post was first introduced to the Genevan psalms, which influenced her later writings. She attended Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she studied with Henry Zylstra. From 1940 to 1942 she taught at the Muskegon Christian Junior High School. For over thirty years Post wrote poetry for the Grand Rapids Press and various church periodicals. She gave many readings of her poetry in churches and schools and has been published in a number of journals and poetry anthologies. Two important collections of her poems are I Never Visited an Artist Before (1977) and the posthumous Sandals, Sails, and Saints (1993). A member… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O God, why have you cast us all away?
Title: O God, Why Have You Cast Us All Away?
Versifier: Marie J. Post (1985)
Meter: 10.10.10.10
Language: English
Copyright: Text © 1987, CRC Publications

Notes

A prayer asking God to remember his covenant, reassert his mighty power; and deliver his people from the enemies who have mocked God and destroyed his holy temple.

Scripture References:
st. 1 = vv. 1-2
st. 2 = vv. 3-11
st. 3 = vv. 12-14
st. 4 = vv. 15-17
st. 5 = vv. 18-19
st. 6 = vv. 20-23

Similar in theme to Psalms 79 and 137, this prayer most likely dates from the time when the kingdom of Judah was destroyed, the promised land devastated, and the temple reduced to ruins. The lament that "no prophets are left" (v. 9) suggests that the author was among the small remnant who remained in the land (Jer. 43:4-7). In these desperate circumstances the psalmist cries out to God to remember his people (st. 1) and to bring an end to the mockery of those who have destroyed the house of the LORD (st. 2). Recalling the mighty displays of God's power in creation and in the Exodus (st. 3), the psalmist appeals to God as LORD over all creation (st. 4). Remember how these enemies have "reviled your name," says the psalmist; save us from these "wild, raging beasts" (st. 5). We pray with the psalmist, "Remember your covenant with us, O LORD; deliver your oppressed people and defend your cause against the rage of your foes" (st. 6). Marie J. Post (PHH 5) versified this psalm in 1985 for the Psalter Hymnal.

Liturgical Use:
Worship services focusing on the Israelites' exile; whenever Christians experience persecution; for services when we want to offer prayers on behalf of refugees who are exiled and displaced.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune

LANGRAN

LANGRAN (also known as ST. AGNES) was composed by James Langran (b. London, England, 1835; d. London, 1909) and first published by Novello in a pamplet in 1861 as a setting for the hymn text "Abide with Me." Several other texts have also been set to the tune, which is one of Langran's best. Sing it…

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Media

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #74
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  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
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Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #74

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