For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt.
In reading classmates’ responses to Week One’s discussion question concerning the themes of justice, spiritual hunger and thirst, the desire for relationship, and the beauty of God in songs for worship, the prayer from Habakkuk 3 came to mind. An awesome, all powerful God is portrayed at the center of everything in this prayer.
We see His beauty referenced in the created things surrendering to Him, trembling before Him, lifting its hands to Him. His justice shows forth as he put things to right and “in wrath remember mercy.” In verses 17 – 19, the prophet longs for relationship “though the fig tree fails to blossom.” He will rejoice in the God of his salvation for He is the prophet’s strength and takes care of his steps. The prophet expresses that spiritual hunger as he proclaims, “LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known;”
Reading through the whole prayer, it seems that Habakkuk understood each of the themes but wrote with a focus of God bringing His justice. Is it difficult, then, to isolate a theme in writing a worship song? Does a theologically sound worship song, or better yet, one the worshiping congregation resounds with, touch on more than one of these themes?
Curiously enough, this passage ends with these words, “To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.” It would seem that the Holy Spirit, Who breathed these words, thought it very appropriate to use all 4 themes in this worship song.
