All People That On Earth Do Dwell by Maxie Dunnam

Why the Psalms Still Matter in Modern Worship

The Psalms is probably the most popular part of the Bible. Numerous religious and secular documents quote from it. It has been a significant part of literature and movies in our Western culture. It is a huge resource in Christian-Jewish worship.

Know that the Lord is God indeed, without our aid he did us make. What kind of sentence is that? Though strange to our modern ear, the way the sentence that continues makes the religious aspect certain. We are his folk, he does us feed, and for his sheep he does us take. That’s not on-the-street language.

How Hymns and Liturgical Language Deepen Spiritual Experience

I worship often and am not a worship critic. One season of my life that vividly shaped my experience and understanding of worship are the years I spent as a member of The Ecumenical Institute of Spirituality, led by Douglas Steere. Having been an official observer of Pope John XXIII’s Second Vatican Council, Douglas was inspired to establish the Institute. Its mission was to bring together an equal number of Protestant and Roman Catholic scholars to talk about the horizons of spirituality as it impinges on all aspects of life.

Though we met together only once yearly, each of those meetings included multiple worship experiences. Those experiences transformed my understanding and appreciation of worship, which calls me back to the sentence that started this reflection.

Know that the Lord is God indeed, without our aid he did us make;

We are his folk, he does us feed, and for his sheep he doth us take.

We sang it as our opening worship hymn this past Sunday. To-day I found and read all the words in my hymnal. I remembered a hymn we sang a lot in the past. I found it in my hymnal and sang joyfully the same thoughts of last Sunday,

Praise Him? Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Sing O earth-His wonderful love proclaim!

Hail Him! Hail Him! highest arch-angels in glory;

Strength and honor give to his holy name!

Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard his children

In his arms He carries them all day long.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!

The Role of Listening and Language in Christian Worship

Words are important and are a large part not only of our worship, but the whole of our Christian life. In worship we need to listen to what is spoken. In our relationships we need to honor whomever is speaking and seek to honestly hear and respond to what is said.