Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#14

14. The Foolish in Their Hearts Deny

Text Information

• First Line: The foolish in their hearts deny
• Title: The Foolish in Their Hearts Deny
• Versifier: Marie J. Post (1983)
• Meter: CMD
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  Psalm 14
• Topic: Deliverance
• Copyright: Text and music © 1987, CRC Publications
• ONE LICENSE: 120889

Tune Information

• Name: MAPLE AVENUE
• Composer: Richard L. Van Oss (1984)
• Meter: CMD
• Key: g minor
• Copyright: Text and music © 1987, CRC Publications

Text Information:

Denouncing the folly of those who deal with God's people as if there were no God.

Scripture References:
st. 1 = vv. 1-2
st. 2 = vv. 3-4
st. 3 = vv. 5-7

Psalm 14 (= Psalm 53) springs from a time when the many godless run roughshod over the few who walk humbly with God. The psalmist's lyrics refer to the godless as fools because they act as if there were no God to call them to account; yet God sees their folly (st. 1) and their God-defying oppression of his people (st. 2). Confident that the LORD will expose such foolishness, the psalmist voices our prayer for the early deliverance of God's people and anticipates the time of their restoration and joy (st. 3). Marie J. Post (PHH 5) versified this psalm in 1983 for the Psalter Hymnal.

Liturgical Use:
Occasions in which the church suffers from or laments the folly of unbelievers who act toward God's people as if God is dead.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

Richard L.Van Oss (b. Grand Rapids, MI, 1953) composed MAPLE AVENUE in 1984 for this text; it was first sung in 1985 by the senior choir of Maple Avenue Christian Reformed Church. Intended for unison singing, this tune consists of four phrases, the fourth being a repeat of the second. The repeated phrase has in its cadence an F-natural that singers and instrumentalists will want to observe carefully to preserve the tune's minor tonality. Keep the tempo somewhat stately.

Van Oss was educated at Grand Rapids Junior College and Hope College in Holland, Michigan. He served as music director at Maple Avenue CRC (1973-1985) and since 1985 at the First Reformed Church, Holland, Michigan. Since 1975 he has been a music and classroom teacher at the Ravenna (Michigan) Elementary School. Van Oss also served on the committee that compiled the children's hymnal Songs for LIFE (1994).

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook