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Songs and God’s Creation

October 21, 2019

6:22 am

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Hymn, Music for Worship, Psalm, Worship, Worship Music Index, Worship Song

Church Music, Creation, Praise, Revelation, Theology, Worship

Open Bible and hymn near an ocean at sunset

This is the first of what I hope to be many posts exploring the connection between music for worship and the study of theology. Below is a list of psalm settings, hymns, and spiritual songs that teach on the doctrine of creation: natural revelation. The songs are arranged under 16 theological statements, including 5 statements for which I have not yet found related songs.

If you have additional suggestions for songs related to the doctrine of creation that should be included in the index, please comment or send me a message.

Note: The songs are listed below by title and author. For more complete entries (including tunes and hymnal page numbers) see the page for “Songs and God’s Creation” in Theology and Song: A Theological Index of Music for Worship online. I will be updating the online Index with more songs and topics in the days ahead as I receive recommendations.

Songs and God’s Creation: Natural Revelation

1. Creation affirms that there is a Creator—God created heaven and earth

All Things Bright and Beautiful (Cecil F Alexander)
Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne—Psalm 100 (Isaac Watts / John Wesley)
God, the Lord, a King Remaineth—Psalm 93 (John Keble)
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas Obediah Chisholm)
Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah—Psalm 146 (The Psalter, 1912)
Hast Thou Not Known, Hast Thou Not Heard (Isaac Watts)
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Isaac Watts)
Let All Things Now Living (Katherine Davis • Welsh melody)
The Spacious Firmament on High (Joseph Addison)
This Is My Father’s World (Maltbie Babcock)
Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)
With Glory Clad, With Strength Arrayed—Psalm 93 (Tate and Brady’s New Version)
Wondrous King, All-Glorious (Joachim Neander / William Schaefer)

2. Creation glorifies God—all things exist for His glory and praise

All Creatures of Our God and King (St. Francis of Assisi / William H Draper)
All Glory to You (Steve and Vikki Cook) • Sovereign Grace Music
All People That on Earth Do Dwell—Psalm 100 (William Kethe / Thomas Ken)
All that I Am I Owe to Thee—Psalm 134:14–24 (The Psalter, 1912)
Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne—Psalm 100 (Isaac Watts / John Wesley)
Behold Our God (Ryan, Jonathan & Meghan Baird / Stephen Altrogge) • Sovereign Grace Music
Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim—Psalm 135 (The Psalter, 1912)
For the Beauty of the Earth (Folliott Sandford Pierpoint)
From All That Dwell Below the Skies—Psalm 117 (Isaac Watts)
God, the Lord, a King Remaineth—Psalm 93 (John Keble)
Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah—Psalm 146 (The Psalter, 1912)
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Isaac Watts)
Let All Things Now Living (Katherine Davis • Welsh melody)
Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Prudentius / J. Neale / H. Baker)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Joachim Neander / Catherine Winkworth)
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (Jonann Schütz / Francis Cox)
The Spacious Firmament on High (Joseph Addison)
This Is My Father’s World (Maltbie Babcock)
With Songs and Honors Sounding Loud—Psalm 147 (Isaac Watts)
Wondrous King, All-Glorious (Joachim Neander / William Schaefer)

3. Creation testifies of God’s wisdom and design

All that I Am I Owe to Thee—Psalm 134:14–24 (The Psalter, 1912)
Hast Thou Not Known, Hast Thou Not Heard (Isaac Watts)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Joachim Neander / Catherine Winkworth)
Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)

4. The testimony of creation is insufficient for knowing the way of salvation.

Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)

5. The testimony of creation leaves man inexcusable

6. God delights in creation—all things were made for His pleasure

All Glory to You (Steve and Vikki Cook) • Sovereign Grace Music
Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)

7. God made all of creation and pronounced it good

I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Isaac Watts)

8. The world was spoken into existence by God’s Word.

I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Isaac Watts)
Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Prudentius / J. Neale / H. Baker)
Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)

9. The world was created by God ex nihilio (out of nothing).

10. The world continues to be upheld and sustained by God

All Things Bright and Beautiful (Cecil F Alexander)
Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim—Psalm 135 (The Psalter, 1912)
Forever Settled in the Heavens—Psalm 119:89–97 (The Psalter, 1912)
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas Obediah Chisholm)
Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah—Psalm 146 (The Psalter, 1912)
Hast Thou Not Known, Hast Thou Not Heard (Isaac Watts)
I Sing the Mighty Power of God (Isaac Watts)
Let All Things Now Living (Katherine Davis • Welsh melody)
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (Jonann Schütz / Francis Cox)
With Glory Clad, With Strength Arrayed—Psalm 93 (Tate and Brady’s New Version)
With Songs and Honors Sounding Loud—Psalm 147 (Isaac Watts)

11. God creates all people—He is the One who gives and sustains all life.

All People That on Earth Do Dwell—Psalm 100 (William Kethe / Thomas Ken)
Let All Things Now Living (Katherine Davis • Welsh melody)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Joachim Neander / Catherine Winkworth)

12. God created man (male and female) out of the dust of the earth

Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne—Psalm 100 (Isaac Watts / John Wesley)

13. Man was breathed into a living being by God.

14. God made man (male and female) in His own image

15. God gave man dominion over all other living things on the earth.

16. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.

Today We Gather in This Place (Ken Puls) • Ken Puls Music

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The next post in the series will be “Songs and God’s Word: Special Revelation.”

For more complete entries (including tunes and hymnal page numbers) see the Theological Index of Music and Worship online:

Entry for “Songs and God’s Creation”

TOC for Index: Theology and Song

Theology and Song

by Ken

October 15, 2019

6:22 am

1 Comment on Theology and Song

Hymn, Music for Worship, Psalm, Worship, Worship Song

Church Music, Theology, Worship

Music and theology have always been closely entwined. Theology (in the broadest sense) encompasses what we understand to be true about God, His Word, and the world He has made. Music, as it comes alongside theology, helps the church say and celebrate in song what it believes and affirms to be true.

God’s people have been writing music for thousands of years. Beginning with the rich wellspring of the psalms, music has served the church to carry the voice of God’s people in praise, prayer, and proclamation. Within the many settings of psalms, and numerous hymns and spiritual songs is an opulent banquet of truth. For those who are willing to search, there are many savory delights to be found.

Unfortunately many churches miss out on this feast of song. Some shy away from doctrinally rich lyrics and prefer instead those that are lighter and more subjective. Some, despite Paul’s paradigm in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, exhorting the church to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, impose a more narrow interpretation: “only the psalms,” “only the old hymns that have stood the test of time,” or “only what is new, contemporary, and speaks to me today.” Some are content to sing a limited number of favorites. Others select music based on emotional appeal or a catchy melody, rather than theological soundness.

In this new series, Theology and Song, I hope to encourage pastors and musicians to think theologically about music in worship. Each post will focus on a specific theological topic and will feature a portion of my Theological Index of Church Music.

I began the Index 26 years ago (in 1993) as a project for one of my PhD seminars when I was at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The index listed 350 psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and arranged them according to the theological truths that they highlight. It proved especially valuable in ministry for planning worship and selecting music that would underscore the sermon. You can read more about the Index in an earlier article: “Selecting Music for Worship—Know Theology.”

As I post this series on my blog, I will be updating and expanding the Index so I can make it available on my website as a resource for worship leaders. My list of songs will certainly not be exhaustive. I’ll be asking for your suggestions and adding songs (as well as more topics) to the Index in the days ahead.

Here is list of some of the upcoming topics: [updated]

Songs and God’s Creation (Natural Revelation)
Songs and God’s Word (Special Revelation)
Songs and the Trinity (One God in Three Persons)
Songs and Knowing God (God’s knowability and Incomprehensibility)
Songs and God’s Presence (God’s Immanence and Transcendence)
Songs and God’s Sovereignty
Songs and God’s Decrees
Songs and God’s Will

TOC for Index: Theology and Song

Salvation Is of Our Lord!

by Ken

October 1, 2019

6:22 am

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Hymn, Music for Worship

Hymn, Praise, salvation, Sovereignty, Worship

Here is another hymn from my archives. According to my journal, I composed my 2nd hymn 34 years ago (September 1985) as “a call to worship proclaiming God’s sovereignty in salvation as well as in creation.” The title is taken from the prayer recorded in the 2nd chapter of Jonah. In this prayer Jonah says: “Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God (2:6)” At the end of the prayer in verse 9 he declares: “Salvation is of the Lord.”

Salvation Is of Our Lord!

But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the Lord.
(Jonah 2:9)

1. We, Your children, praise You, Father,
And receive Your love outpour’d.
We proclaim this truth in wonder:
Salvation is of our Lord!

2. We were sinners lost in darkness,
Bound to death by sin’s strong cord.
Your free grace has wrought our freedom;
Salvation is of our Lord!

3. We, Your saints beforehand chosen,
Called of God, by You adored,
Given part in Christ’s atonement;
Salvation is of our Lord!

4. Guide us, Father, as we worship,
Join our hearts in one accord.
Joyfully we sing before You:
Salvation is of our Lord!

Download free sheet music for this hymn, including an arrangement of the tune ST. OSWALD for classical guitar.

More Hymns and Songs from Ken Puls Music

More Hymn tunes arranged for classical guitar

Lord We Come to Hear Your Word

by Ken

August 23, 2019

6:09 am

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Hymn, Music for Worship, Prayer, Worship

Church Music, Hymn, Pastor, Prayer, preaching, Worship

When we hear or read God’s Word, we should always pray for understanding and wisdom. And when we have opportunity to gather with the church and sit under the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, we should pray for the pastor. Apart from God’s grace, all our efforts to worship and serve Him will be in vain.

Lord We Come to Hear Your Word

A Prayer for God’s Grace in Worship

Lord, we come to hear Your Word.
Shine Your light! Unsheathe Your sword!
Send Your Spirit forth in pow’r.
Come and bless Your church this hour.
We confess, our thoughts have strayed;
Minds distracted and dismayed.
On the Son fix now each thought;
Help us worship as we ought.

Lord, as we prepare to hear,
Wake each soul, unstop each ear.
Conquer every stubborn heart;
Mercy, saving grace impart.
We confess, without Your grace,
Vain our efforts in this place.
Send illumination’s light;
Open eyes and give us sight.

Lord, we lift up to Your care
Him who stands now to declare
Truth that teaches, warns, consoles;
Bless this feast to feed our souls.
For Your Word, O Lord, we yearn;
Empty, let it not return.
Come, accomplish all Your will —
Draw, convict, give life and fill.

For Your Word, O Lord, we yearn;
Empty, let it not return.
Come, accomplish all Your will —
Draw, convict, give life and fill.
Draw, convict, give life and fill.

Listen to this setting of “Lord, We Come to Hear Your Word” recorded at Desert Springs Church in Albuquerque, NM.

And download the music from band camp:

<a href="http://desertspringschurch.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-our-song">This Is Our Song by Desert Springs Church</a>

More Music on Bandcamp by Desert Springs Church

More Music on Bandcamp by Ken Puls

Seek First the Kingdom of God

by Ken

July 15, 2019

6:07 am

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Hymn, Lyric Video, Music for Worship, The Pilgrim's Progress

Church Music, Delight in Christ, Hymn, Kingdom of God, perseverance, Pilgrim's Progress

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Pressing on We Journey

Christ our greatest treasure,
He our highest aim!
Christ our deepest comfort,
Him we now acclaim!
By His death, He saved us,
By His life, we live.
To the King of glory,
All our lives we give .

Pressing on, we journey,
Christ we now confess,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.

Rescued from destruction,
Told to seek the light;
Pulled up from the mire,
Fitted for the fight.
Christ, in every instance
Guides us in the Way,
Graciously providing
Mercies every day.

Pressing on, we journey,
Pilgrims we progress,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.

Fret not for tomorrow,
Fear not past regrets.
He heals every sorrow,
Sure the course He sets.
All these things are added,
What to eat and wear;
All our needs provided,
By His loving care.

Pressing on, we journey,
Joys we now possess,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.

We long for that day when
We’ll see face to face
Christ, the King of Glory,
Full of truth and grace.
But until that moment,
Finally He descends,
We will ever seek Him,
Faithful to the end.

Pressing on, we journey,
Hope we now express,
Seeking first His kingdom
And His righteousness.

This hymn, from the album The Lord is My Delight, is based on Jesus’ command in Matthew 6:33 to seek “first His kingdom and His righteousness” and on John Bunyan’s allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Check out the lyric video on youtube:

And download the music from band camp:

<a href="http://kenpulsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-lord-is-my-delight">The Lord Is My Delight by Ken Puls</a>

Click here to download lyrics and free sheet music, including an arrangement of the hymn tune WYE VALLEY for Classical Guitar.

Read A Guide to John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (including notes and commentary on Bunyan’s allegory by Ken Puls)

The Love of God

by Ken

May 28, 2019

6:22 am

A Prayer for the New Year

by Ken

January 1, 2019

6:22 am

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History, Hymn, Music for Worship

Church, Church Music, Hymn, John Newton, New Year, Prayer, throne of grace

This hymn, entitled “Prayer for a Blessing” by John Newton is from Part I “Seasons” of Book II of Olney Hymns and was sung “before annual sermons to young people, on New Years’ evenings.”

May God keep us near His throne of grace and may this be our prayer as we begin the new year.

Prayer for a Blessing

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Now, gracious Lord, Thine arm reveal
And make Thy glory known;
Now let us all Thy presence feel
And soften hearts of stone!

Help us to venture near Thy throne
And plead a Savior’s name;
For all that we can call our own,
Is vanity and shame.

From all the guilt of former sin
May mercy set us free;
And let the year we now begin,
Begin and end with Thee.

Send down Thy Spirit from above,
That saints may love Thee more;
And sinners now may learn to love,
Who never loved before.

And when before Thee we appear,
In our eternal home,
May growing numbers worship here,
And praise Thee in our room.

Download free sheet music (PDF) for this hymn, including a guitar chord chart, and an arrangement of the hymn tune BALERMA for classical guitar.

More Hymns from History

More Hymns arranged for Classical Guitar

For God So Loved the World

by Ken

November 13, 2018

6:25 am

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Hymn, Lyric Video

Gospel, Hymn, invitation, John 3:16, Love of God

For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

These words are some of the most well-known and welcoming words of Scripture. Jesus spoke them to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader who was intrigued with Jesus’ miracles and came at night to learn more about Jesus. In this verse Jesus encapsulates His mission. He came to be a Savior not just for the nation of Israel, but for the world. He has come to shed His blood and ransom a people for God“from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9–10).

When Jesus said “whoever believes,” He did not mean “whoever” the way some in our day use “whatever” (as if God doesn’t really care who comes). The wording of the verse is actually very personal. A better rendering would be “each one believing” or “everyone believing.” Each one who places his or her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. Everyone who turns away from their sin and comes to Christ by faith will be forgiven and will have eternal life.

These words are filled with hope. They offer life eternal! Though I am a needy sinner, wholly underserving of God’s kindness and mercy, living in a nation thousands of miles from where Jesus walked the earth, living almost 2000 years after He rose again and ascended into heaven, yet God’s love reaches even me!

Preach this wonderful promise to your soul often! Share with those around you who need God’s grace and mercy. God’s love is wider, deeper, and farther reaching than you could ever imagine!

My Soul What Truth Consoles You?

My soul, what truth consoles you?
For hope, where can you run?
For God so loved the world that
He gave His only Son,
And everyone believing,
Though wrecked by sin and strife,
In Him can never perish,
But have eternal life.

Check out the lyric video of this hymn on youtube:

See more lyrics, including a free Lyric Print (PDF), and download free sheet music for this hymn.

Image from Unsplash

The Lord Is My Delight—Twenty Years

by Ken

October 15, 2018

6:11 am

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Hymn, Lyric Video, Music for Worship

Church Music, Delight in Christ, Hymn, Praise

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:7).

The Lord is my delight!
To serve my Sov’reign King;
My life poured out to do His will,
A joyful offering!

As I arise this day,
May I count all things loss,
To the know the joy of life in Christ
By taking up my cross.

I long to be like Christ,
His will my meat and drink,
Delighting in obedience
In all I do and think.

This day the Lord has giv’n
Belongs to Him, not me,
To be lived out in faith and love,
And not spent selfishly.

Each person that I meet,
Each circumstance I face,
Is an occasion to make known
The riches of His grace.

My joy is in the Lord,
To serve Him all my days;
My life poured out for all to see,
A sacrifice of praise.

This is the title hymn from the album The Lord Is My Delight, a collection of hymns and songs celebrating the joy of following and serving Christ. I wrote the hymn twenty years ago, in October 1998, in my final semester at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I had successfully defended my dissertation in September and I was looking forward to graduation in December with a PhD in Church Music Ministry. The hymn is a declaration of my ongoing commitment to acknowledge every day as a gift from God to be used for His glory.

Check out the lyric video on youtube:

And download the music from band camp:

<a href=”http://kenpulsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-lord-is-my-delight”>The Lord Is My Delight by Ken Puls</a>

Click here to download lyrics and free sheet music, including an arrangement of the hymn tune TRENTHAM for Classical Guitar.

—Ken Puls

More Hymns and Songs from Ken Puls Music

More Hymn tunes arranged for classical guitar

It Is Enough

by Ken

August 30, 2018

6:04 am

Songs and God’s Creation: Natural Revelation

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