Casper’s Corner #27: A Psalm of PRaise

Psalm 150 is a familiar Psalm of praise. Used frequently on music Sundays in our churches, and many times as a Call to Worship, the psalmist extols the use of instruments in worship as important components of our praise for God. Our twenty-first century sensibilities recognize and accept this style of praise with no struggles of conscience. However, in our eighteenth century Schwenkfelder tradition, this was not always so. First, consider this easily recognizable translation of this familiar Psalm:

Psalm 150 (American Standard Version)

1. Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; Praise him in his mighty heavens.

2. Praise him for his acts of power; Praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet; praise him with the harp and lyre,

4. Praise him with tambourine and dancing; praise him with the strings and flute,

5. Praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

6. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD

Our Schwenkfelder ancestors, however, worshiping in the eighteenth century, found instruments in worship to be a great concern. Musical instruments in a worship service are not mentioned in the New Testament, so very conservative Protestants did not use them in worship.  An explanation of this concern in the words of Christopher Schultz is found in the introduction of the “Neu-Eingerichtetes Gesangbuch”– the Schwenkfelder hymnal of 1762:

“We want to note here that the naming of musical instruments for the praise of God that appear in the Psalms is left out here and in their place a “new heart”, “soul”, etc has been inserted, which our forefathers had done and preferred. Hopefully this will not offend anyone because this type of ornamental ceremonial worship service of the Old Testament stopped and the true praise and service of God by believing people should and does happen in spirit and truth, John 4:24.” (John 4:24: God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.) (Translated by Dr. Allen Viehmeyer)

It is of great interest to see how our forebears incorporated this idea of “worshiping in spirit and in truth” into this Psalm, as it was published in 1762. Dr. Allen Viehmeyer recently discovered this interesting interpretation and made this translation so that we, too, may be inspired by the sincerity of faith our ancestors sustained. Note especially, as you read this, how the author of this interpretation understands and wants the reader to understand the New Testament way of praising God—praise as a very personal, spiritual practice.

The first and second verses are similar in both our contemporary translation and in the 1762 hymnal. The Schwenkfelder version inserts elements of spirituality, however, adding God’s “glory” and praising God in “spirit and in truth”. The third verse includes the element of praising God through personal confession – in both word and deed. The fourth verse links praise of God with adoration and with unity of spirit, God’s loving kindness towards us renews our spirit – praise inspired directly from the action of God within us. Interestingly, the fifth verse tells us to praise God with “new tongues” – with pure, joyful tones of celebration of “body, soul and spirit.” And finally in the sixth verse, we find strong similarities to our modern version as we praise God continually with the resulting praise through God’s spirit extending “near and far”. Certainly a different and inspiring translation of Psalm 150, our Schwenkfelder forebears draw us to consider our praise in worship today in ways we might not have considered before.

1. Hallelujah! Praise God the Lord in His sanctuary and glory. Praise Him in His mighty heavens, in spirit and in truth.

2. Praise Him in His good deeds, in all the works He performs. Praise Him now and forever in His great glory.

3. Praise Him and declare His grace with confession in word and deed. Praise Him with psalms and songs, in fullness of equal sound.

4. Praise Him with pure adoration and with unity of spirit. Praise Him wiyh gifts of His loving kindness and with renewed spirit.

5. Praise Him all with new tongues. Praise Him with joyful tones of celebration; body, soul, and spirit -- all pure in power and shall be the tool of his praise.

6. All that that lives and breaths praise the Lord day and night; therefore resound near and far through His spirit: Hallelujah!

(Translated by Dr. Allen Viehmeyer)