Reformation Roundtable

Verse 1 Blest is the man whose trespass is forgiven, Whose sins are covered in the sight of Heaven. Blest is the man against whom, LORD, Thou wilt not count all his iniquity and guilt. How happy he, contrite of heart and lowly, Who has confessed his sins, O LORD most holy; Who does not secretly • Thy laws transgress, Whose spirit harbors no deceitfulness.Verse 2 When I kept silent, sinful ways condoning, I pined away through my incessant groaning. Thy hand weighed down on me in my deceit; My strength was sapped as by the summer's heat. To Thee, O God of justice and compassion, I then at last acknowledged my transgression. I said, "I will confess • my sins to Thee," And all my guilt Thou hast forgiven me.Verse 3 Let all the godly when they grieve and suffer To Thee, O LORD, their supplications offer. Surely when floods of mighty waters rise, They shall not reach him who on Thee relies. Thou art a hiding place for those who serve Thee; Thou, mighty God, from trouble dost preserve me. Songs of deliverance ev' • rywhere resound: Thou me with great rejoicing dost surround.Verse 4 I will instruct you, with my aid provide you, And in your way I, with My eye, will guide you. My counsel will be ever at your side, And, keeping watch, I will with you abide. Be not a fool, who has no understanding; Do not behave like horse or mule, depending On bit and bridle to • control their course; They disobey unless restrained by force.Verse 5 With many woes the wicked are afflicted, But he who trusts in God is well protected. Him will the LORD with steadfast love surround, Those who revere Him are with mercy crowned. Be glad, O righteous, in the LORD rejoicing; Exult in Him, your jubilation voicing, For light and life He will • to You impart. Now shout for joy, you men of upright heart.

At Christ Covenant Church, our 50 year goal is to train our body of believers to sing all 150 Psalms. In the month of February, we learned Psalm 144 which is, as most Psalms are, relevant to the battle at hand today. This metrical psalm was written by Julie and Timothy Tennent of Seedbed and the rousing music written by Leonard R. Payton of St. John Lutheran Church and the music was sourced from the Treasury of Psalms and Hymns #460.

Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion;And to You the vow shall be performed.2 O You who hear prayer,To You all flesh will come.3 Iniquities prevail against me;As for our transgressions,You will provide atonement for them.4 Blessed is the man You choose,And cause to approach You,That he may dwell in Your courts.We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,Of Your holy temple.5 By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us,O God of our salvation,You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth,And of the far-off seas;6 Who established the mountains by His strength,Being clothed with power;7 You who still the noise of the seas,The noise of their waves,And the tumult of the peoples.8 They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs;You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice.9 You visit the earth and water it,You greatly enrich it;The river of God is full of water;You provide their grain,For so You have prepared it.10 You water its ridges abundantly,You settle its furrows;You make it soft with showers,You bless its growth.11 You crown the year with Your goodness,And Your paths drip with abundance.12 They drop on the pastures of the wilderness,And the little hills rejoice on every side.13 The pastures are clothed with flocks;The valleys also are covered with grain;They shout for joy, they also sing.