I have written just a handful of songs, and half of those have lyrics drawn straight from the Word of God. These are particularly meaningful to me because each one was “given” to me by the inspiration of Holy Spirit. It is impossible for me to be objective about these songs, just as we cannot really be objective about our own children. However, the one that invariably brings a smile to my face is “My Refuge,” whose lyrics come from Psalm 73.

The music for this song has kind of a calypso beat which is not typical for me. It does not seem to go along with the words of Psalm 73: “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, senseless and ignorant, I was a brute beast before you…” (Ps.73: 21 & 22) However, the music seems to be connected to the Lord’s perspective. No matter what is happening — pestilence, war, draught, death — God remains the same and His Word stands. After my human heart and my weakness is addressed, then comes that lovely word: “Nevertheless (But)…” —“But still I am always with You: You hold me by my right hand. By Your counsel You guide me; one day You’ll take me to Glory!” (v. 23 & 24)

So, yesterday as I lay on my bed, heartbroken from current events–“senseless” (almost void of feeling) and “ignorant” (not pressing into the Presence of God for comfort and strength), I began to hear that Calypso beat and the words of the Psalm. These did for this weary wayfarer what the bagpipes do for the Scottish highlanders: calling the dead dry bones to come back to life:

“Whom have I in heaven but You, and — being with You — I desire nothing on earth. My heart and my flesh may fail; God, You are the strength of my heart! It is good to be near You: I have made You my Refuge!” (Ps. 73: 25, 26, & 28)

(You can hear this song by selecting it in the column on the right or — on a phone –by scrolling down to the bottom )