Sunday, April 4, 2010

A Martyr's Hymn -- Psalm 79 -- sung in Gaelic

I was going to post no more this Easter day, but my son sent me an email from Iraq of some Easter egg hunt pics of Gabriel (I'll post them tomorrow).

I thought you might enjoy these. Also, I caught your recent entry regarding the hymn. You might enjoy this.

It is a martyr's hymn in Gaelic.


The notes to the video indicate that it was recorded on the Isle of Lewis in the Back Free Church and the lyrics are those of Psalm 79, verses 3 and 4.

Here is the entire Psalm. It seems strangely appropriate this Easter.

Mike
III

Psalm 79

1 O god, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.

10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.

11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.


And here are some more from the Back Free Church.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What an encouraegment brothers !

Another gem of a battle hymn of thanksgiving taken from Historical Literature - and Scripture,is the hymn 'Non Nobus Dominae'.

Beatifully & movingly sung in the film 'King Henry V' (1989 w/ Kenneth Branaugh):

Latin:

Non nobis, non nobis, Domine
Sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

English:

Not to us, not to us, o Lord,
But to your name give glory.

Movie clip here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1GDRx-F1C0

To Him alone, is the battle.

This movie finds a slot on our shelves, between Braveheard / Gods & Generals.

Under-appreciated, but grandly produced, this film inspires in a
spiritual & culturally uplifting way.

Famous also for the St. Crispin's Day's Speech sequence - no finer patriotic moments on celluloid exist - for vision, inspiration & self-sacrifice.

The LORD honors their honorable sacrifice, as they defeat the French forces of 6x times theirs, with 10,000 French lost to 50 English lost....which news inspires them sing praises of thanksgiving to Him.....Non Nobus Dominae.....

He MUST win the battle, brothers...

Chaplain Dave
III to get ready.....

Anonymous said...

.....Aforementioned St. Crispins Day speech, from 'King Henry V':

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechhenryV.html

Shouldn't fail to inspire ...

Chaplain Dave
III - everywhere

Coconut Country Living said...

That's beautiful. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Psalm 79, beautiful, Mike. I had not read this Psalm for a long time before this morning. I reread all the verses this morning.

Thank you.

patrickhenry3

III