Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#240

240. Come, All Who Fear the Lord God

1 Come, all who fear the Lord God,
O saints, your voices raise.
Come, stand in awe before him
and sing his glorious praise.
You lowly and afflicted
who on his word rely,
your heart shall live forever;
the Lord will satisfy.

2 All kindreds of the nations
to Christ the Lord shall turn.
Through earth's remotest regions
his altar fires shall burn.
All kingdoms, power, and glory
belong to him alone.
He rules o'er all the nations;
kings bow before his throne.

3 Both high and low shall worship,
both strong and weak shall bend.
A faithful church shall serve him
till generations end.
His praise shall be recounted
to nations yet to be.
The triumphs of his justice
a newborn world shall see.

Text Information

• First Line: Come, all who fear the Lord God
• Title: Come, All Who Fear the Lord God
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  Psalm 22:23-31
• Topic: Doxologies; King, God/Christ as; Opening of Worship; Afflictions; Missions; Nation
• Source: Psalter, 1912

Tune Information

• Name: TOURS
• Composer: Berthold Tours (1872)
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Key: E♭ Major

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st.1 = Ps. 22:23-26
st.2 = Ps. 22:27-28
st.3 = Ps. 22:29-31

Like 239, this text is based on the concluding portion of Psalm 22. This versification stresses the communal aspect of praise and worship and highlights the righteousness that is part of the Lord’s sovereign rule. The New Testament interpretation includes direct references to Christ and to the church, whose mission is to spread the praise of the Lord. The versification originally began “Come, ye that fear Jehovah” and was first published in the 1912 Psalter. See PHH 22 and 239 for other comments on Psalm 22.

Liturgical Use:
Beginning of worship; praise occasions.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

The tune was named after its composer and published in the British volume The Hymnary (1872). TOURS has four broad phrases. Its repetitions of melodic and rhythmic units make it accessible and loved. The harmony suggests a stately tempo.

Berthold Tours (b. Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 1838; d. Fulham. London, England, 1897) received an early musical education from his father, a well-known Dutch organist of the St. Laurents Kerk, Rotterdam, and continued his training in conservatories in Leipzig and Brussels. He also spent two years studying in Russia. Given the opportunity to teach violin in London and to play in several orchestras, he moved to London in 1861 and settled there permanently. In 1862 Tours became organist of the Swiss Church (Holborne) in London. From 1878 on he served as an editor and arranger for Novello, the well-known music publisher. Tours wrote piano arrangements of operas and oratorios but is best remembered for his hymn tunes, anthems, and liturgical service music.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook