GS 2010 art 132

GS 2010 Article 132 – Hymn: Now Blessed be the Lord our God

1.          Material

  • 1.1        Letters from Attercliffe (8.3.J.25), Carman East (8.3.J.3), and Burlington-Ebenezer (8.3.J.26).
  • 1.2       SCBP Report, Section Four, 10.3.II.25 (8.2.j).

2.          Observations

  • 2.1       This hymn is a doxology.
  • 2.2        The churches who submitted comments on this hymn object to its inclusion because it is a partial paraphrase of Psalm 72, so that the full message of the psalm is obscured, and, its content is redundant, since it is already included in the Psalms.

3.          Considerations

  • 3.1        It is not in principle incorrect or unfaithful to Scripture to paraphrase the words of Scripture, or to sing parts of the Psalms. We often sing selected stanzas of the Psalms in the worship service.
  • 3.2       The text of this hymn is particularly appropriate as a doxology.

4.          Recommendation

That Synod decide to approve the Hymn Now Blessed be the Lord our God for inclusion in the expanded hymn section of the Book of Praise, as recommended by the SCBP.

ADOPTED