Praise awaits you
Psalm 65
(HOLY MANNA)
(HOLY MANNA)
1 Praise awaits you, God of heaven,
in your house as we prepare
acts of worship and obedience
due to you, who hear our prayer.
When our failures overwhelmed us
you atoned for all our sin,
when you brought us to your dwelling
we were thrilled to enter in.
2 All your gifts reflect your kindness,
justice shines in all you do.
God our Saviour, our provider,
hope is always found in you.
Mountains form at your direction,
storms fall silent at your voice -
and, astonished by your wonders,
east and west alike rejoice.
3 You supply life-giving water
and, as harvest-time draws near,
where the soil before was sterile
your abundance crowns the year.
Now the shouts of jubilation
echo down from mountain-height,
while the corn-filled valleys answer
with a song of sheer delight!
~~~
Tune: HOLY MANNA
Metre: 8.7.8.7 D Key: G
words © Emma Turl / Jubilate
CCLI: 5813579
music arrangement © John Turl / Jubilate
CCLI: 7231509
Sources: Psalms 65, 84:4, 104:13-14, 145:15-19, Isaiah 55:12, Amos 4:13, Matthew 8:26, Luke 13:29, John 4:13-14, Acts 14:17, 1 Corinthians 3:7, 1 John 2:2, Revelation 15:3
Themes: awe, beauty, creation, harvest, joy, justice, kindness, life, nature, praise, prayer, provision, reconciliation, worship
The ooccasion for which Psalm 65 was intended, I am told, might have been the anticipation of a harvest festival or perhaps a spring celebration such as firstfruits after Passover, or else thanksgiving for a national deliverance after famine. Its three sections focus on praise to God for his amazing forgiveness, his power in creation and his extravagant provision. The psalm text is a gem of beauty in the various translations available to me in English, so I guess that the very cadences of its imagery - and not simply the truth they convey - must be stunning in the original Hebrew! The blessings of mercy and grace from God are as abundant as the profusion of harvest, and although that may be a distant memory or a dream unrealised as yet for many at present in literal terms, we already have its provision spiritually and can look forwaerd to the promises being completely fulfilled when the planet which we so easily and carelessly spoil is wonderfully renewed. So much from these verses can be seen to come to pass in the life of Jesus as he quietens the angry waves, offers the water of life for us to drink and says that "people will come from all over the world to take their places in the Kingdom of God" (Luke 13:29). In 2021 John, my husband, came upon the video Performance from (Wasilla Bible Church in Alaska, where this hymn is sung to HOLY MANNA, the American Folk Melody attributed to William Moore (1790-1850). John made an arrangement of that setting which is available to download at HOLY MANNA - Jubilate .