Watts: What shall I render to my God

Thursday, November 26, 2015
    Commemoration of Isaac Watts, Hymnwriter, 1748
    Thanksgiving (U.S.)
Meditation:
How can I repay the LORD
    for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
    in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD
    is the death of his saints.
O LORD, truly I am your servant;
    I am your servant, the son of your maidservant;
    you have freed me from my chains.
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
    and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
    in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD—
    in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.
    —Psalm 116:12-19 (NIV)
Quotation:
What shall I render to my God,
    For all his kindness shown?
My feet shall visit thine abode,
    My songs address thy throne.

Among the saints who fill thine house,
    My off’ring shall be paid;
There shall my zeal perform the vows,
    My soul in anguish made.

How much is mercy thy delight,
    Thou ever blessed God!
How dear thy servants in thy sight!
    How precious is their blood!

Now I am thine, for ever thine,
    Nor shall my purpose move;
Thy hand hath loos’d my bonds of pain,
    And bound me with thy love.
    ... Isaac Watts (1674-1748), Psalms of David Imitated [1719], in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, ed. Samuel Melanchthon Worcester, Boston: Crocker & Brewster, 1834, p. 230 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 116:12-19; Joel 2:32; Jon. 2:9; Luke 12:4; Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13; 12:1; Heb. 13:15
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your people raise their praises to You.

CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
    search    script    mobile
sub    fb    twt    Jonah