Scottish Psalter 147:1-11
Tune: Thanksgiving
The book of Psalms provides God's people throughout the ages with the most magnificent sonnets of praise and thanksgiving befitting the God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. On the other hand, as a balm for the weary, it plumbs the depths of human emotion and provides the truly penitent with some of the deepest expressions of sorrow and grief.
The lyrics of this psalms was written by a Mr. Francis Rouse. This was presented to the Westminster Assembly and, after careful study and amendments by the three committees over a period of two months, was approved by the Assembly for use in public worship on 14 November 1645 (see Minutes, pp. 131, 163).
After this, it was subjected to six years of scrutiny and revision by two different groups of highly learned and devout leaders of the Scottish Presbyterian Church. Literally, every word and phrase was carefully weighed for faithfulness to the original Hebrew texts.
"... that which St. Augustine has said is true, that no one is able to sing things worthy of God except that which he has received from him. Therefore, when we have looked thoroughly, and search here and there, we shall not find better songs nor more fitting for the purpose, than the Psalms of David, which the Holy Spirit spoke and made through him. And moreover, when we sing them, we are certain that God puts in our mouths these, as if himself were singing in us to exalt his glory" - John Calvin
