Psalms!

Today at church we had Sons of Korah lead worship. Pretty amazing, haven't a clue how we managed to arrange that. The above video is just the most beautiful song. Sons of Korah sing a musical journey through the psalms in a variety of styles - which of course the Psalms are - they represent a variety of moods and situations. There's something there for whatever we are going through.

Psalm 91 (above live clip) is Little Miss August 2009's special scripture. All of it! It was so special to us in the months before she was born, very appropriate and encouraging. Well today it was that again. If we had a day when we needed Psalm 91 - today's been the nearest for a while. And I can't think of a more beautiful way to enjoy it.

In church this morning they began leading our worship- usual songs led a little differently (!) and then went into what I imagine is a much abridged version of their live concert. They finished with Psalm 91 but earlier in the service they sang this:



Like I said - a variety of styles! Undoubtedly talented and Spirit inspired. We kept the children in the service this morning instead of sending them to Sunday School, and I am glad we did. We thought we might have fun experimenting with putting some Psalms to music with them in the coming weeks. They love the Psalms, it is often their 'book of choice' for our Bible time in the week. We have bought a few CDs so we can use them for meditation / reading the Psalms in a different  way. All of their songs are lifted straight from the text - a challenge if you've ever done that like we have - and only the occasional change to help the words fit around the setting.

I came home so grateful we can bring the Psalms alive like this in church - having "grown up" with the Oxford Psalter and plainsong chant (good for memorising scripture but I am not sure at the time we were singing them it meant a great deal to anyone certainly the 'usefulness' is limited). I feel like now I have found something that expresses far more what the original intention of the Psalms was. Some are dances, praise, joyful - others laments or balads. All expressing the heart of the writer. Will take that idea with the boys and talk about it some more. I'll also have it in mind as I try to use the Psalms more myself - something I've done far more of in the past year - praying the Psalms is amazing.