Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#243

243. How Lovely Is Your Dwelling

1 How lovely is your dwelling,
O Lord of hosts, to me;
my soul is longing, fainting,
the courts of God to see.
The beauty of your dwelling
will bring me joy anew.
My heart and flesh are crying,
O living God, for you.

2 Beneath your care the sparrow
finds place for peaceful rest;
to keep her young in safety
the swallow finds a nest.
So, Lord, my King Almighty,
your love will shelter me;
beneath your wings of mercy
my dwelling place will be.

3 Blest they who love and serve you,
whose joy and strength you are.
Forever they will praise you,
your ways are in their heart.
Though tried, their tears like showers
shall fill the springs of peace;
and all the way to Zion
their strength shall still increase.

Text Information

• First Line: How lovely is your dwelling
• Title: How Lovely Is Your Dwelling
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  Psalm 84:3-7
• Topic: Temptation & Trial; Trust in God; Opening of Worship; Church; Ministry & Service; Pilgrimage & Conflct; Refuge
• Source: Psalter, 1912, alt.

Tune Information

• Name: ST. EDITH
• Composer: Justin H. Knecht (1799)
• Composer: Edward Husband (1871)
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Key: E♭ Major

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st.1 = Ps. 84:1-2
st.2 = Ps. 84:3
st.3 = Ps. 84:4-7

Taken form Psalm 84:1-7, “How Lovely Is Your Dwelling” is a prayer of longing for God’s house and for the blessing of serving God there. Stanza 1 describes the beauty of God’s house and the soul’s longing for the joy and comfort of that holy place. Stanza 2 highlights God’s care of his people, combining the images of sparrow and swallow from Psalm 84:3 with the image of God’s sheltering wings found in other psalms (36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 91:4). Stanza 3 extols the blessedness of being God’s people in Zion or the New Jerusalem.

The versification is form the 1912 Psalter, the original first line read “O Lord of hosts, how lovely.” See PHH 84 for other comments on Psalm 84.

Liturgical Use:
Beginning of worship; expressions of longing for the New Jerusalem.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

The original form of ST. EDITH (also known as ST. HILDA) was composed in 1793 by Justin Heinrich Knecht for the text “Der neidern Menschhiet Hülle.” It was published in Vollstandige Sammlung … Choralmelodien (1799), edited by Johann Friedrich Christmann and Knecht, who composed ninety-seven of the tunes in the collection.

Knecht (b. Biberach, Germany, 1752; d. Biberach, 1817) mastered the flute, oboe, trumpet, violin, and organ. He taught literature in Biberach and became the town’s music director in 1792, pioneering the use of program notes in his public concerts. After serving as director of the theater orchestra in Stuttgard (1807-1809), he returned to Biberach for the rest of his life. Knecht was a prolific composer of songs for the stage, church music for the organ and choir, and instrumental pieces. He also wrote several theoretical works on music and method books for organ playing.

Edward Husband (b. Hampshire, England, 1843; d. Folkestone, Kent, England 1908) exchanged two lines of the original tune with two lines of his own in 1871 to produce the current setting. Educated at St. Aidan’s College, Birkenhead, Husband was ordained in the Church of England in 1867. He was a pastor in Atherton from 1866 to 1872, after which he served at St. Michael and All Angels’ Church in Folkestone. In 1885 he compiled an Appendix of hymn tunes for the Folkestone church. An organ teacher as well as a pastor, Husband edited The Mission Hymnal (1874) and Supplemental Tunes to Popular Hymns (1882).

The tune title refers to the tenth-century British virgin Edith of Wilton (near Salisbury, Wiltshire), who refused various important positions and instead served the poor. Sing this tune in four broad phrases with rhythmic precision.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook