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Skrevet af Jørn Nielsen   
Lørdag, 26. april 2014 05:04


My heart overflows with a pleasing theme, I address my verses to the King! Ps.45:1


One of my absolute favorite hymn writers is the German Paul Gerhardt, not only because of his rich hymns, but also – or in particular – because of his life that had disappointments, financial difficulties with a big family to provide for, opposition to his pastoral office that at one time left him out of work, that again prompted that dear man of God to write faith strengthening hymns to the glory of Jesus Christ.


At such a time of need he wrote in 1666, “If it be God´s will that I shall again serve Him as a preacher, I shall do that with what is left of me, if only it may be to His glory.  If it be not His will, however, I shall in my loneliness love, praise and thank Him as long as my lips can move.”


These words of his I have for my own edification written in my Bible.


In the so called “Living Bible” Ps. 45:1 says, “I will write a lovely poem to the King…”  It´s such a privilege, in a very modest way, to follow the footsteps of David and other psalmists and even anointed hymn writers from my own country and from abroad.  Like Paul Gerhard you may find yourself lonely (and even opposed), and yet many a time God condescends to “overflow” your heart with pieces of poetry the origin of which is in the Bible.  These are moments where all you can do is to lay down the verses at His feet, for the verses are to Him!


But why has God made a big part of the Bible in poetry?  Why is His word not just idiomatic  down-to-earth logic?  Why poetry?  Maybe you have a good answer, I´m not sure I do.  And yet I believe it has to do with what the psalmist call a heart that “overflows” which may only be expressed in poetry – in “verses to the King” – indeed in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart”.  Nay, not in poetry only, but above all in the heart´s worship and adoration, often without words at all.


April 26, 2014 - jn

 
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