Rebuke Me Not in Anger, LORD

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Rebuke me not in anger, LORD, Your arrows wound and bring despair

Versifier: Helen Otte (1985)
ONE LICENSE: 90321
Published in 5 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Piano/Organ
	Easy Organ Library, Vol. 51

Choral
	Passion Chorale

Instrumental
	Two Lenten Hymns for Flute, Oboe and Org…

Representative text cannot be shown for this hymn due to copyright.

Versifier: Helen Otte

Helen Ann (Brink) Otte Walter (b. Grand Rapids, MI, 1931) versified this psalm in 1982 for the Psalter Hymnal. She received her education at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has worked as a teacher, proofreader, and librarian. She was a member of the Poets' Workshop that worked with the revision committee to prepare psalm versifications for the 1987 Psalter Hymnal. After her first husband died and she remarried, she remained active as a freelance writer, especially of children's stories and dramas, some of which have been published in Reformed Worship under the name Helen Walter. Bert Polman Go to person page >

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Related Texts

All People That on Earth Do Dwell

First Line:	Rebuke me not in anger, LORD, Your arrows wound and bring despair
Title:	Rebuke Me Not in Anger, LORD
Versifier:	Helen Otte (1985)
Meter:	8.8.8.8
Language:	English
Copyright:	© 1987 Faith Alive Christian Resources

Psalm 38
(hymns)

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Notes

A penitent prayer for restoration from severe illness and for deliverance from the opportunistic attacks of enemies.

Scripture References:
st. 1 = vv. 1-4
st. 2 = vv. 5-8
st. 3 = vv. 9-12
st. 4 = vv. 13-16
st. 5 = vv. 17-20
st. 6 = vv. 21-22

Psalm 38 is one of the traditional penitential psalms (along with 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, and 143). Though the occasion is unknown, the author of Psalm 38 recognizes in a debilitating illness the chastising hand of God for some sin (st. 1). The prayer moves from humble confessions of guilt (st. 1, 2, 5) to a lament over the illness that repels friends and attracts enemies (st. 2-4). Utterly weak and in pain, the psalmist waits on the LORD for help, renews the lament and confession of sin (st. 5), and prays for God to "come quickly" and "help" (st. 6). Helen Otte (PHH 17) wrote this versification in 1985 for the Psalter Hymnal.

Liturgical Use:
Serves well as a confession of sin, but may also be used in the context of sickness or other humbling circumstances–whenever God's people want to cry out, "Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my Savior."

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

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Tune

BOURBON

A pentatonic (five-pitch) folk tune from the southern United States, BOURBON fits well with the penitential text of Psalm 38. The tune calls for unison singing, with accompaniment providing a firmly articulated rhythm. Like many pentatonic tunes, when unaccompanied it can be sung in canon after eith…

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CHICKAHOMINY

Henry B. Hays (b. Clarksville, TN, 1920) composed CHICKAHOMINY, which was published in his collection of hymn tunes, Swayed Pines Song Book (1981). Hays was raised in the Protestant tradition but since the 1950's has been a Benedictine monk at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. A Civil War…

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ERHALT UNS, HERR

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