Sunday Singables: "O Great God"

"O Great God" by Bob Kauflin, based on the puritan prayer Regeneration from Valley of Vision, released on Valley of Vision by Sovereign Grace Music (2006)



This song, and the rest from this album, are based on various prayers from The Valley of Vision, a collection of puritan prayers. This book is a great asset to any devotional. You can order it through Amazon or just read many of these prayers online at Banner of Truth's website.

Why I recommend this song for worship-

 I am always in need of being reminded about my sin. It is so easy for me to think I'm better than I really am, or to believe I've done a good job saving myself this week. The words of this song bring us back to the reality of Ephesians 1-2, that we were dead in our trespasses and sins, unable to see or hear God, until He came and awakened our hearts. That is the heart of grace and the foundation of the gospel. This particular song walks through a great progression of really understanding our salvation. It begins in verse one with a focus on God in all his sovereign wonder. Verse 2 shifts the focus to man and his lostness without God. It depicts our regeneration (the name of the prayer this song is based on) and how we found peace with God through the gospel. The final verse urges us to take action and live a life that is consistently dependent on God's grace and full of obedience. I find this song particularly encouraging as a closing song, as we did it today, to send us out in a spirit of humble obedience, grateful for all God has done and will continue to do.

Changes I've Made-

 There isn't much to improve with this song. The only thing we typically do is shorten the bridge. We usually transition right from the first measure of the bridge to the last, then into the key change. However, this depends on the situation. This morning when we sang this at our church the full bridge gave us time to say a few words and stand the congregation for the final verse. Overall, I really like this arrangement and the flow from a quieter, piano driven verse one to a full band by the end of the song. If you aren't using this song yet, I hope it will be an encouraging one for you to worship with.

--> Click here for a .pdf of the lead sheet
--> Click here for a .pdf of the guitar chart
--> Click here for a .pdf of the piano music
--> Click here for a .pdf of the string music
You can find all of these links at Sovereign Grace's website for this song.

This song is available from Amazon & iTunes.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why I Believe in Infant Baptism: Opening Thoughts

Image
What images come to mind when you think of infant baptism? Is it a sacred ritual done with pomp and circumstance with robes and a gold plated dish of water? Is it a routine ceremony that is a regular part of your worship? Is it a crazy belief some of "those" people believe in, but certainly not someone serious about Bible study? Do you have images of a child being held up before the church like Simba in The Lion King? Is it just a glorified baby dedication? I think I've had all of the above mentioned thoughts at one time or another throughout my time as a Christian. I've believed the stereotypes and didn't really study it too hard on my own. But, once I did, I came to some revelatory conclusions, at least for me. I wasn't raised to believe in infant baptism. I grew up as a baptist, meaning that I believed what most baptists believe. A person professes faith in Christ first, then shows that commitment by obediently entering into the waters of baptism. From
Read more

Easter Sunday Singables: "Above All" (new lyrics)

Image
During these Sundays of Lent leading up to Easter I'll be featuring a different song focused on the death and resurrection of Christ. "Above All" by Michael W. Smith, released on Worship  (2001), new lyrics by Joshua Huff The new lyrics I added as a second verse to this song are also found in a modified version on the song I wrote called Justified , available on my album Enriched Affections . Why I recommend this song for worship- The reason we celebrate Easter is because of what happened on Good Friday. Without the cross and its incredible spiritual significance, Easter is just another Sunday. This song places a great emphasis on the cross and Christ's exalted place above all things. It mirrors the "emptying" passage in Philippians 2 which speaks of Christ place next to the throne of God and points us there from the cross. The melody supports these truths wonderfully and it is very singable. However, I think the song on its own doesn't go f
Read more

Sunday Singables: "You Are God Alone"

Image
"You Are God Alone (Not a God)"  by Philips, Craig, and Dean, released on Let the Worshippers Arise (2004) Why I recommend this song for worship- As we come before the Lord in worship, it is important to remember Who we are worshiping. We aren't coming before a famous singer or venerated politician. We aren't about to see our favorite sports team play. This is God we are addressing. This song reminds us of who God is and why He is worthy of our worship. It takes the focus off us and fixes our eyes on the Father. The melody honors the lyrics and lets us build on different themes emotionally and musically. This song has always been a great reminder to me of God's sovereignty and leaves me standing in awe that He could love someone like me. Changes I've Made- I haven't adjusted too much with this one. They keys posted below are both pretty singable, but I would recommend doing it in A (or G with capo 2 for guitar). Any lower and the verses get ha
Read more