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You Servants of the LORD Our God

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

Versifier: Calvin Seerveld

Calvin Seerveld (b. 1930) was professor of aesthetics at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto from 1972 until he retired in 1995. Educated at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan; the University of Michigan; and the Free University of Amsterdam (Ph.D.), he also studied at Basel University in Switzerland, the University of Rome, and the University of Heidelberg. Seerveld began his career by teaching at Bellhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi (1958-1959), and at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois (1959-1972). A fine Christian scholar, fluent in various biblical and modern languages, he is published widely in aesthetics, biblical studies, and philosophy. His books include Take Hold of God and Pull (1966), The Gr… Go to person page >

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Text Information

First Line: You servants of the LORD our God
Title: You Servants of the LORD Our God
Versifier: Calvin Seerveld (1981)
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: © Calvin Seerveld
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Notes

A closing liturgy at the temple.

Scripture References:
st. 1 = vv. 1-2
st. 2 = v. 3

Psalm 134 is the last of fifteen "Songs of Ascents" (120-134) the Israelites sang as they went up to worship at the temple in Jerusalem. A brief parting exchange between the worshipers and the temple personnel, this psalm is a fitting conclusion to that collection. Originally this little liturgy may have functioned as the closure to the daily evening sacrifices. As they are ready to depart, the people exhort the Levites to carry on God's praise (even into the night, v. 1; st. 1), and they receive a priestly benediction (st. 2). Calvin Seerveld (PHH 22) versified this psalm in 1981 for the Psalter Hymnal. Because verse 3 echoes the beginning of the Aaronic benediction (Num. 6:24), Seerveld incorporated part of that benediction in stanza 2.

Liturgical Use:
Close of worship (with st. 2 as a sung benediction); for festive occasions such as ordination and wedding services.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

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Tune

OLD HUNDREDTH

This tune is likely the work of the composer named here, but has also been attributed to others as shown in the instances list below. According to the Handbook to the Baptist Hymnal (1992), Old 100th first appeared in the Genevan Psalter, and "the first half of the tune contains phrases which may ha…

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All tunes published with 'You Servants of the LORD Our God'^ top

Timeline

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Media

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #134
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
With Heart and Voice: songs for all God's children #24
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
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Instances

Instances (1 - 2 of 2)
Text InfoTune InfoScoreAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #134

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #134
ScoreAudio

With Heart and Voice #24

With Heart and Voice #24
All instances^ top
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