Extol the Lord, Our God - A New Hymn From Psalm 99

I wouldn't want to compare myself to Charles Wesley or Fanny Crosby just yet, but I have been challenging myself to write new hymns (or at least new words for old hymn tunes) this year.

This week I am working with a hymn tune composed by a Salvation Army composer, Eric Ball.  The tune is entitled Pilgrim Song and was originally part of his larger suite The Pilgrim Way.  This new hymn is based upon Psalm 99

Extol the Lord our God, (Holy Is His Name)

Extol the Lord, our God;
holy is his name.
He sits enthroned upon
the cherubim.
The Lord is great in Zion,
exalted over all,
and we shall praise him there;
holy is his name.

Yahweh, our king, is strong,
holy is his name.
He has established justice
and equity.
Among his people he
established justice fair
bow low at his footstool;
holy is his name.

Moses and Aaron were
among his chosen,
the prophet, Samuel,
called upon his name.
They called upon the Lord
and he answered them from
the cloud of his presence;
holy is his name.

O God, you answered them,
you were forgiving
and yet you avenged sin;
holy is your name.
Exalt the Lord our God,
come to his holy hill
where we will worship him;
holy is his name.

You can listen to a wonderful recording of The Pilgrim Way here.  Just scroll down to MF 281 in the music player.  Actually that page has quite few of Eric Ball's recordings - music he composed, arranged, and/ or conducted.  If you are in the mood for Salvation Army / Brass Band music, you might just like to linger there for a while.