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"Thy Mercy, My God Is the Theme of My Song"
how this anthem to the goodness and mercy of God through Christ contains so many of the necessary gestures of Christian worship—adoration of our triune God, confession of our sinful condition, assurance of God’s forgiveness through Christ, and a strong sense of reverence and delight in God’s abundant grace and mercy. THY MERCY, MY GOD, IS THE THEME OF MY SONG Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song, The joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue. Thy free grace alone from the first to the last Hath won my affection and bound my soul fast. Without thy sweet mercy I could not live here; Sin would reduce me to utter despair; But through thy free goodness my spirits revive And he that first made me still keeps me alive. Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart; Dissolved by they goodness I fall to the ground And weep for the praise of the mercy I’ve found. Great Father of Mercies, thy goodness I own And the covenant love of thy crucified Son; All praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine Seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine. — John Stocker (18th century), as collected in the RUF HYMNBOOK and recorded on PILGRIM DAYS: INDELIBLE GRACE II. This text, with music by Sandra McCracken, is one of my favorite songs on a new recording by Indelible Grace, a music project out of the Reformed University Fellowship at Belmont University (www.ruf.org) and the college ministry of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee. Rev. Kevin Twit directs this project which now has two CDs (PILGRIM DAYS and INDELIBLE GRACE), both available at www.igracemusic.com. [If you enjoy acoustic music with a folk and Celtic flavor, and if you appreciate the texts of Watts, Wesley, Newton, Cowper, Toplady, Gadsby, and other poet-pastors of centuries past, I strongly suggest that you get a copy of these recordings and/or the RUF HYMNBOOK. You won’t be sorry. Kevin Twit and company describe their music as ancient and indigenous. I like that. Does this sound like a commercial?] Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu |