An Ancient Song for Today's Church

(1)Give thanks to God, call on His name;

to men His deeds make known.

(2)Sing ye to Him, sing psalms; proclaim

His wondrous works each one.

(3)See that ye in His holy name

to glory do accord;

And let the heart of ev’ry one

rejoice that seeks the Lord.

(4)The Lord Almighty, and His strength,

with steadfast hearts seek ye:

His blessed and His gracious face

seek ye continually.

(5)Think on the works that He hath done,

which admiration breed;

His wonders, and the judgments all

which from His mouth proceed;

(6)O ye that are of Abr’ham’s race,

His servant well approv’n;

And ye that Jacob’s children are,

whom He chose for His own.

(7)Because He, and He only, is

the mighty Lord our God;

And His most righteous judgments are

in all the earth abroad.

(8)His cov’nant He remember’d hath,

that it may ever stand:

To thousand generations

the word He did command.

(9)Which covenant He firmly made

with faithful Abraham,

And unto Isaac, by His oath,

He did renew the same:

(10)And unto Jacob, for a law,

He made it firm and sure,

A covenant to Israel,

which ever should endure.

(42)For on His holy promise He,

and servant Abr’ham, thought.

(43)With joy His people, His elect

with gladness, forth He brought.

(45)That they His statutes might observe

according to His word;

And that they might His laws obey.

Give praise unto the Lord.

- Psalm 105:1-10,42,43,45, Scottish Psalter (1650)

This song, in the day it was inspired and first sung, looked back into ancient history to the miraculous salvation of God and His covenant preservation of His people. However, this song doesn’t just look back. It serves as an arrow pointing forward, Church, pointing forward to the salvation of Christ and your in-grafting into the ancient purpose of God to save you as His people:

• The Gospel promise to Abraham (Galatians 3:8) is fulfilled in the seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16).
• The Gospel blessing belongs to those true children of Abraham who have put their faith in Christ alone (Romans 4:12; 9:7,8; Galatians 3:7,29; 4:22-31).
• The Gospel obedience is an expression of love to Christ (John 14:15,21; 15:10; 1 John 5:3) and the true fruit of genuine faith (John 3:36; Romans 1:15; 15:18; 16:26; Acts 6:7).

So sing the song, Church, for it speaks of God’s purpose from long, long ago to save you and preserve you today for His praise and a loving, faith-based obedience.