Lent 2 | Psalm 16 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
Psalm 16 (Fullness of Joy) by Shane Barnard

Lyrics:
Preserve me O God
For I find rest in You alone
I say to the Lord
You are my Lord I have no good
Apart from You

All sons and daughters
Brothers sisters my delight
Let's sing together
No other gods shall satisfy
God You satisfy

In Your presence
There is fullness
Of joy of joy

You give me counsel
My heart instructs me
In the night
You are before me
Because You're for me
I'm alright it'll be alright

At Your right hand
There are pleasures
Forevermore
Forevermore

My heart is glad and my soul rejoice
My flesh it dwells secure
Because You put on flesh
Lived a blameless life
My curse on the cross You bore
Then You ripped the doors
Off the City of Death
And the chains fell to the floor
Now the serpent's crushed
It has been finished
And You reign forever more

You are my portion
My cup and You make my lot secure
The lines have fallen
For me in pleasant places
A beautiful inheritance

Passage:
Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you.
2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good besides you.”
3 As for the holy people who are in the land,
they are the noble ones.
All my delight is in them.
4 The sorrows of those who take another god
for themselves will multiply;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
and I will not speak their names with my lips.
5 Lord, you are my portion
and my cup of blessing;
you hold my future.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I will bless the Lord who counsels me —
even at night when my thoughts trouble me.
8 I always let the Lord guide me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad
and my whole being rejoices;
my body also rests securely.
10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol;
you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
11 You reveal the path of life to me;
in your presence is abundant joy;
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.
-- Psalms 16:1-17:5 (CSB)

Musical Reflection:
Nothing But The Blood (PLAINFIELD) by Robert Lowry

Reflection Notes:
Lowry wrote several hymns for his congregation’s use in the late nineteenth century. This particular tune is pentatonic (only five notes used per octave) and falls within a small vocal range, which made it accessible for all parishioners to sing and enjoy.

Prayer:
​​Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.