Out of God's Love

This started as a poem, probably in 1980.  And there it sat for 20 years until I was inspired to tweak it, adjust it and set it to music.  The end result is much more flowing, much more lyrical and conveys the sense of wonder at God's unbounded love toward us that I had initially tried to give.  It is out of His love that any of us are saved—rescued from wrath.  It is not from anything that we have done, "but according to His mercy He saved us."  (Titus 3:5)

The mp3 may be found here.

Cool is the rushing wind of God,
dancing o'er parched and barren ground,
     bringing life,
     bringing rain,
bringing love where strife did abound.

Deep is the flowing Love of God,
rippling throughout eternity,
     bearing fruit,
     yielding fruit,
echoing of Calvary!

Dark are God's mysteries:
giving up His Son.
Dying for us our life to bring;
sacrifice of Love so staggering!
    Amazing!

Bright is the morning in God's Plan,
cascading from His wounded hands:
     risen Lord,
     saving Lord;
see His children all adore Him.

 

Loud are the chords which in heaven ring,
praising the Lord, His Holiness:
King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
Sov'reign God by earth adored.
     Praise to His Name,
     Praise now His Name,
which ev'ry tongue shall confess!

- D. Benning

The Master Potter

The master Potter scraped His wheel
     And threw a lump upon it;
The Earth Son and the Spirit watched
    As Heaven's chords responded.
        His fingers fashioned out of Nothingness
            The Mysteries of Life
        And from the empty Void
             Brought Light from out of Night.
                He thought of all the laughter
                    That would fill the empty space;
                He thought then of the one with Sin
                     Who'd ravage like a mace
                            The fragile vessels He created.
                He thought of all the sorrow
                    That would fill the lonely world
                And how at His own Son
                    They'd hate and malice hurl.
        He pondered then these broken pots,
            Shattered beyond recognition,
        Responding to His healing Fire—
            Fit vessels once again!
So then He picked the lump up
    And placed it in His Hand;
Then breathing gently in its mouth,
    He created man.

- D. Benning

Wings of Flight

The inspiration for this poem came from my appreciation of George Herbert's poem of a similar title: "Easter Wings." (Click the title to view his poem.)

So one evening, I was contemplating his poem and wondering if it could be set to music.  I couldn't do it.  I couldn't accommodate the various syllabifications and varying accents within the two verses.  So I toyed with writing my own poem based on his structure.

That worked.  It worked very well.

But there it sat.  For fifteen years.  Until I had the opportunity to arrange it four four female voices and record it.  You can find a recording of this song here.
Direct link to the mp3 here.

Wings of Flight

Sov'reign Creator of the rolling spheres,

Foolishly we have gone astray:

Decaying more till fears

Are all our days

And years.

With Thee

I long to rest

From sin's dread tyranny

And lean my soul upon Thy breast.

Vanquishing fear Thy rest is flight to me.

O Lord, from birth my life hast always been

Filled with affliction, grief and care;

Looking for life in sin

But nothing there

Again.

But see!

Thy love hast borne

For me a guarantee

Of Life in Thine eternal morn.

Thy Love for me hast put the flight in me.

Thy Love and Grace hast risen in my soul,

Risen with healing in Thy wings.

Father of Lights, control

So from me springs

Thy goal.

From Thee

How could I haste?

Where could I go or be?

Thy Words alone my life have graced.

Capture my heart and set Thy flight in me.

How soon shall time dissolve and fly away,

Carrying Thy sons away to Thee?

Risen then shall this clay

No longer be

Astray.

To Thee

I then shall fly

And taste Thy victory

And all my longings satisfy.

Then shall Thy Cross be wings of flight to me.

 

- D. Benning

O God, the Rock of Ages

I love this hymn, a retelling in verse of Psalm 90.  It was originally written by Edward Bickersteth in 1860.  I felt that somehow it was forgotten—especially when used with the tune NEW WEDLOCK from J. T. White's The Sacred Harp collection of 1844.  I rearranged the words and updated it to a bit more modern language and added choruses.

The result?
You can view the music and listen to an mp3 of it here: O God, the Rock of Ages.

O God, the Rock of Ages
Alt. version, 2012, with added choruses.

O God, the Rock of Ages,
Who evermore hast been,
What time the tempest rages,
Our rest and peace within;
O Lord, the same as ever

Before creation’s chord,

To endless days forever,

The Everlasting Lord!

Our years are like the shadows
On sunny hills that lie,
Or grasses in the meadows
That blossom but to die;
A sleep, a dream, a story
By strangers quickly told
An unremaining glory
Of things that soon are old.

      Teach us our days to number

      So when our years are o’er,

      We then in final slumber

      May wake on Heaven’s shore!

O You, who cannot slumber,
Whose light grows never pale,
Teach us aright to number
Our years before they fail;
On us Your mercy lighten,
On us Your goodness rest,
And let Your Spirit brighten
The hearts that You have blessed.

Lord, crown our faith’s endeavor
With beauty and with grace,
Till, clothed in light forever,
We see You face to face:
A joy no language measures,
A fountain brimming o’er,
An endless flow of pleasures,
An ocean without shore.

      O Lord, our Lord forever,

      Our portion without end;

      O Love that none can sever,

      What bliss Your Grace portends!

      O Lord, our God and Savior,

      Your mercy and Your Love

      Here rest on us with favor—

      Bring us to Heav’n above!

- D. Benning

A New Psalm 119, part 3

More than 3000 years ago, David penned his epic psalm praising God's Law in an acrostic psalm.  What if we should update it to be an English language acrostic psalm?  This is the last part of three that explores what it would sound like if David had written his psalm in English in the middle of the 21st Century.

Regal are all your laws and decrees, O Lord,
    for you are the Eternal King of the Ages.
Reigning in splendid beauty are you, Sovereign Lord;
    your ordinances display your wisdom, love and power.
Radiant are all your precepts, O my God;
    they shine with the light of your eternal counsel.
Rejoicing with your saints and angels because of your statutes,
    I find great pleasure in all I discover therein.
Right and perfect are all your ways;
    at your right hand are pleasures evermore.
Righteous Lord and mighty King of everything,
    all your creation shall praise your holy laws.
Restore me, O Lord, according to your promises,
    the promises that I have read in your faithful Word.
Reward there is at the end of all your ways;
    your are our shield and very great reward.

Scarlet were my sins until you cleaned me;
    your word, O Lord, has cleansed me.
Spotless you have made your servant, O my Lord;
    not of me, but your Spirit enables me to keep your statutes.
Shepherd of my souls, watch over my life;
    your commandments guard my life.
Search my heart. O heart-knower, and find
    all ways contrary to your precepts.
Sleep you grant to all your people,
    to those who trust in your faithful Word.
Submit unto the way of the Lord, O my soul,
    and he shall direct your feet in his commands.
Sustain me, O my sovereign Lord, by your law;
    hold my life in the hollow of your hand.
Shelter there is for all who trust in your Word;
    those who run to it find great refuge.

Those who trust in you and your Word are as a mountain;
    unmovable and unshakeable they shall stand.
Teach me your commands, O Lord,
    so that I will run in your path of righteousness.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    his precepts are good and right always.
Thanksgiving praise and honor belong unto you, O Lord,
    for your statutes which are perfect and pure.
Trust in the Lord with all your soul
    and lean upon his Word for your direction.
Truth, O Lord, I find in all your ways;
    direct me in the path of life.
Turn your ear unto the cries of your servant,
    for I delight in your gracious commands.
Treasured above all is your law, O my God;
    it is more valuable than houses full of choice gold.

Upon your Law, O Lord, do I stake my claim;
    let your truth come to me as your have promised.
Understanding comes from studying your statues;
    I rest upon your words, O Lord.
Unfruitful are all the paths that lead away from your precepts;
    it alone yields light and life!
Unjust are all who follow not your commands;
    you will judge all such with perfect equity.
Upright are all your righteous decress;
    in faithfulness you rule and declare truth.
Unprofitable are all endeavors that do not follow your ways;
    those that walk in your paths are blessed both now and forever.
Unclothed am I when I stand in your sight;
    your law searches and discerns all with terrible precision.
Utterances of truth are all derived from your law;
    in your Light do I see light and truth.

Victory is mine as is all who love your ways;
    by your help I can scale a wall.
Visit your servant by your power and your Spirit;
    I love your law and all that your proclaim.
Vain is the hope of those who love not your precepts;
    I delight in your ways—help me, O Lord.
Virtues that matter are found in your ordinances;
    those who turn aside find only dust and death.
Valid are all your commands that your have uttered;
    in truth I see your precepts carefully are uttered.
Vague are the pronouncements of those who heed not your Word;
    your Word gives clarity and light to all who follow it closely.
Valid are your command, O sovereign Lord,
    for they are the substance of all truth that is real and eerlasting.
Vouchsafe your servant by your promises, O Lord;
    for I trust your Word and your precepts, my God.

Wailings and groanings await all those who neglect your law;
    your way alone points unto the path of life.
Walking according to your precepts is blessing and life everlasting;
    your ways lead me unto eternal life.
When I wandered from your truth, I stumbled;
    your law is a shield of protection for those who walk therein.
Weak am I and frail to act;
    your Spirit strengthens me to obey your precepts.
Walking according to the Spirit, I set my mind on your desires;
    governed by your law I am governed by life and peace.
Warnings are found within all your commands;
    you have set before me both blessings and curses.
Warm my heart lest it grow cold to your truth;
    may this world grow dim in the light of your Word.
Wisdom is found in every line of your law;
    whosoever heeds it gains great knowledge.

Xylophones and marimbas, drums and cymbals—
   let all music praise your gracious laws.
Xerxes saw your commands in action
   and you used him to save your people.
X-rays cannot penetrate as deep as your law,
   for it comes straight from your mouth.
Xylography is but one way to show your Law;
   write it on my heart with your love.
Xerophilous am I because of your Word,
   for I am planted by living streams of water.
Xanadu and Utopia are fabled to be fair,
   but your Law speaks of a beauty far more lasting..
Xeric is my life without your Words;
   I long for it more than the deer for water.
Xebecs skim across the waters
   as I am buoyed up by your commands.
  
You have made known your Word, the path of life;
   at your right hand there are pleasures ever more.
Yielding more treasure than the deepest mine or richest storehouse,
   your commandments are the only source of life and godliness.
Yes and Amen are all the promises found in your Word;
   through Christ they are offered freely to me.
Youths may grow tired and the strong will stumble or faint,
   but those who wait on you according to your law are renewed.
Your Word is a lamp for my feet as I walk;
   those that obey not your commands stumble in great darkness.
Yaweh has spoken and revealed himself in his law;
   great delight is found in searching each line of his will.
Years come and go and all changes or decays;
   your Word however changes not nor will it fail.
Yearning to see you more closely, I study your statutes;
   in each word I see your face revealed.

Zeal for your house fills all my thoughts;
   how may I honor and obey your commands?
Zither and harp, trumpet and flute make music, O my Lord,
   praising you for the excellencies of your law.
Zechariah praised your holy name as he beheld your promises fulfilled;
   promises written down in your Word long before.
Zarephath was honored by a visit from Elijah who spoke your words.
   may I receive your Commands with all reverence.
Zion awaits your coming again with joy and eager expectation;
   when you subdue all enemies and judge righteously by your law.
Zeniths and apexes are found all over this earth;
   your law, O Lord, stands higher then them all.
Zodiac and constellations point to the universality of your reign;
   by your commands do all things consist and exist.
Zealously you defend the honor of your name;
   Oh! may I do all to maintain the honor of your commands.

- D. Benning