I look at the calendar and realize that the month of June is almost over, and I have yet to write a post. Let me admit to you, dear reader, that I don’t have the mental bandwidth for a lengthy, in-depth theological post. I’m finishing final edits on my First London Confession study (due out later this year), and I’m fighting a little sickness, along with other responsibilities. I appreciate your understanding!
That said, I wanted to share the lyrics from a worship song we sing regularly at church. It’s called Not To Us, sung to the old English tune “St. George’s Windsor,” with lyrics written by contemporary pastor and writer Chris Anderson. I’ve been immersed in the song recently because I’ve been transposing and arranging it for our worship team’s guitarists, and I can’t get enough of the lyrics. The lyrics put the words of Psalm 115 to song, reading the psalm as a witness to Christ, emphasizing that he is the true King, and the only one worthy of worship. All other worship is life-sucking; worship of Christ is life-giving. I just think the song so captures the spirit of reformed worship, and the worship of the true, gospel-believing church throughout time.
Not To Us
Psalm 115
Chris Anderson, George Elvey
Not to us be glory Lord, Not to us praise or reward
You alone be magnified, only Your Name glorified!
For Your un-relenting love, For your faithful-ness above
Not to us but to our King: Honor, praise, and glory bring!
Why should heathen mock the Lord? “Where is he?”—their scoffing word
In the heav’ns He reigns alone, ruling from His loft-y throne
What he pleases He per-forms, All to his de-sign conforms
Not to us but to our King: Honor, praise, and glory bring!
Foolish men in vain have prayed, to the idols they have made
Wooden eye and molten ear—gods which neither see nor hear
All who to such stones have fled shall be like them: dull and dead
Not to us, but to our King: Honor, praise, and glory bring!
Come, you saints and saints to come; Trust in God, your Help and Home
All who fear Him, He recalls; He will bless us, great and small
Praise Him! Praise your Shield and Lord, all through life, then ever more!
Not to us, but to our King: Honor praise, and glory bring!
Christ has claimed a chosen race for the glory of His grace
Who but He can praises claim? Who boasts such a matchless name?
We whose song will never cease, long to fade and Christ increase!
Not to us, but to our King: Honor, praise, and glory bring!
