A Martyr in Pakistan Today

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 02, 2011

Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's only Christian government minister, assassinated for opposing Islamic blasphemy law

"As a Christian, I believe Jesus is my strength. He has given me a power and wisdom and motivation to serve suffering humanity. I follow the principles of my conscience, and I am ready to die and sacrifice my life for the principles I believe,” said Shahbaz Bhatti, on a recent visit to Canada.

Let us sing the last verse of Psalm 48.

The one true God, he is our God,

and evermore he is the same;

he surely will us safely keep

and he will guide us on through death.  

 (Shahbaz Bhatti is far better off now than ever. We mourn for our loss...)

Psalm 49

Ps.49

1 Hear this, all you peoples hear;

Earth's inhabitants, give ear;

2 All of high and low degree,

Rich and poor, give ear to me.

3 For my mouth shall wisdom speak:

Knowledge with my heart I'll seek,

4 Lend to parables my ear,

With the harp make dark things clear.

5 Why should I to fear give way

When I see the evil day,

When with wickedness my foes

Shall surround me and oppose?

6 They that trust in treasured gold,

Though they boast of wealth untold,

7 None can bid his brother live,

None to God a ransom give;

8 Life's redemption--high it's price!

Nothing can for it suffice,

9 That from death one should be free

And corruption never see.

10 For alike before their eyes

Die the foolish and the wise,

Then their riches' hoarded heap,

Other hands in turn shall keep.

11 Yet within their heart they say

That their houses are for aye,

That their dwelling places grand

Shall for generations stand.

To their lands they give their name,

In the hope of lasting fame;

12 But man's honor quickly flies.

He, like beasts that perish, dies.

13 Though this folly marks their ways,

Though the world their sayings praise,

14 In the grave like sheep they're laid;

Death their shepherd there is made.

O'er them soon shall rule the just,

All their beauty turn to dust;

15 But from death God will retrieve,

To Himself my soul receive.

16 Let no fear disturb your peace;

Though one's house and wealth increase,

17 Death shall all his glory end;

Naughty shall after him descend.

18 Though the world his praise will tell--

When he to himself does well,

And though while of life possessed,

He his soul had always blest--

19 With his fathers he shall lie,

Where no light shall meet their eye.

20 Man in honor when not wise,

Like the beasts that perish, dies.

A Psalm of the Songs of Korah

Tune: Mercy 77.77 (Cast your Burdens on the LORD)

Psalm 48

A song. A psalm of the sons of Korah   

Tune: Truro (LM)

1 The LORD is great! Much to be praised

in our God's city, and where stands

2 most fair upon his holy hill

Mount Zion, joy of all the earth!

She is the place where God resides,

the city of the Mighty King.

3 God in her fortresses is known

to be a refuge safe and sure.

4 For lo the kings their forces joined,

advancing, marched, with confidence,

5 but, seeing her, they were amazed;

in terror they were put to flight.

6 There trembling seized its hold on them,

pangs like a woman giving birth.

7 For you with wind out of the east

The mighty Tarshish ships destroy.

8 As we have heard, so we have seen

within the Mighty LORD's abode,

within the city of our God:

God keeps her safe for evermore.

9 O God, your cov'nant love to us

we've thought on in your temple's courts.

10 O God, your praise, just like your name,

extends to earth's remotest bounds.

11 Your right hand's full of righteousness.

O let Mount Zion now rejoice;

let Judah's villages be glad,

for all your judgments are most just.

12 Encircle Zion, walk about;

her towers count, her ramparts note;

13 go through her fortresses with care,

and to your sons their story tell.

The one true God, he is our God,

14 and evermore he is the same;

he surely will us safely keep

and he will guide us on through death.

Psalm 40 sung by Free Scots

God is my refuge and strength

Psalm 47

Ps. 47

A psalm of the sons of Korah.

Tune: God Rest You Merry 14.14.14.14. with refrain

1   All na-tions clap your hands and un-to God in tri-umph shout!

2   How awe-some is the LORD Most High, great King the earth through-out!

3   Be-neath our feet he has subdued the nations all a-bout!

Refrain:

6   Prais-es sing!  Sing your prais-es un-to God!  His praise!

    Lift your voic-es and sing prais-es to our King!

4   He chose us our in-her-i-tance  --- Our home-land there is found ----

     He gave us this in Ja-cob, un-to whom his love a-bounds.

5a God has as-cend-ed in the midst of shouts and joy-ful sounds!

Refrain:

6   Prais-es sing!  Sing your prais-es un-to God!  His praise!

    Lift your voic-es and sing prais-es to our King!

5b The LORD as-cend-ed while the trum-pets rang with hap-py tone,

7   For God is King of all the earth; Sing praise to him a-lone.

8   God rules the na-tions; God is seat-ed on his holy throne.

Refrain:

6   Prais-es sing!  Sing your prais-es un-to God!  His praise!

    Lift your voic-es and sing prais-es to our King!

9  The princ-es and the no-bles of the na-tions now draw nigh;

    As peo-ple of the God of A-bra-ham, they u-ni-fy;

    for this world's shields be-long to God, he is ex-alt-ed high!

Refrain:

6   Prais-es sing!  Sing your prais-es un-to God!  His praise!

    Lift your voic-es and sing prais-es to our King!

Psalm 46 our favorite translation

PS.46

 Tune: A Mighty Fortress is Our God  

1.	1 God is our refuge and our strength, A present help in our distress. 2 We will not therefore be afraid Tho' all the earth should be removed, Tho' mountains great be hurled Into the ocean's depths, 3 Tho' seas may roar and foam And billows shake the shore, Tho' mountains tremble at their power.
2.	4 A river brings refreshing streams To cheer the city of our God, The Most High's holy dwelling place. 5 God is in her; she won't be moved; At dawn will God help her. 6 The heathen rage; realms quake; He lifts His voice; earth melts. 7 The LORD of hosts with us! Our fortress strong is Jacob's God.
3.	8 O come, see what the LORD has done; He desolations brought on earth; 9 On earth He puts an end to wars, Breaks bow and spear, and chariots burns. 10 Be still! Know I am God. Exalted o'er all men, Exalted o'er all earth. 11 The LORD of host with us! Our fortress strong is Jacob's God.

Psalm 45

Ps.45 
For the director of music; on shoshannim.

A maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song.   

Tune: Diademata SMD

1  My heart has overflowed,

    a noble theme I sing;

    my tongue's a skilful writer's pen

    to speak about the King.

2  More fair than sons of men;

    grace in your lips is poured,

    because his blessing evermore

    has God bestowed on you.

3  O Mighty!  Gird your sword,

    in splendour, majesty;

4  ride on victorious for the cause

     of meekness, truth and right.

     Your right hand will bring dread.

5  Sharp arrows pierce the heart;

    so nations under you will fall

    who fight against the King.

6  Endless your throne, O God,

    eternal and always;

    the sceptre of your kingdom is

    a sceptre that is right.

7  You have loved right, loathed wrong;

    therefore has God, your God,

    anointed you with oil of joy

    above your fellows all.

8  With cassia, aloes, myrrh,

    your robes have been perfumed;

    from palaces of ivory

    stringed music makes you glad.

9  Kings' daughters are among

    those who in honour stand.

    Your queen arrayed in Ophir gold

    there stands at your right hand.

10 O daughter, hear and heed;

     incline to me your ear:

     Forget those who your people are,

     your father's household dear.

11 Your beauty to the King

      shall then delightful be;

      because he is your sovereign Lord,

      bow to him rev'rently.

12  Now Tyre's daughter comes

      and brings a costly gift;

      yes, all the richest people will

      seek favours from your hand.

13  The royal princess waits

      all glor-i-ous within;

      her wedding gown with threads of gold

      has interwoven been.

14  She to the King is led

      in fine embroidery;

     the maidens in her train, her friends,

     to you are introduced.

15  They are led in with joy

      and mirth on ev'ry side;

      they go in happiness into

      the palace of the King.

16  And in your fathers' place,

     instead will be your sons,

      you'll ev'rywhere in all the earth'

     them noble princes make.

17  So I'll make known your name

      to generations all,

      and peoples ever more will give

      to you their heartfelt praise.

Psalm 44 paraphrase from 1912

Tune: Magnus 11s

  God the Giver of Victory.  

O God, we have heard, and our fathers have told

What wonders Thou didst in the great days of old;

The nations were crushed and expelled by Thy hand,

Cast out that Thy people might dwell in their land.

They gained not the land by the edge of the sword,

Their own arm to them could no safety afford,

But Thy right hand saved, and the light of Thy face,

Because of Thy favor and wonderful grace.

Command, and Thy word shall deliverance bring,

O God, to Thy chosen, for Thou art our King;

Through Thee we will surely defeat all our foes,

Through Thy Name will triumph o'er those that oppose.

No trust will I place in my strength to defend,

Nor yet on my sword as a safeguard depend;

In Thee, Who hast saved us and put them to shame,

We boast all the day, ever praising Thy Name.

   The Martyr Church.   

Thou, Lord, hast forsaken, to shame brought our boasts;

No more to the field dost Thou go with our hosts;

Thou turnest us back from the foe in dismay,

And spoilers who hate us have made us their prey.

Like sheep to the slaughter Thy people are given,

Dispersed through the nations afar we are driven;

Thou sellest Thy people to strangers for naught,

Their price to Thy treasure no increase has brought.

Thou makest our neighbors reproach us in pride,

And those that are near us to scoff and deride;

A byword the nations have made of our name,

With scorn and derision they put us to shame.

Yea, all the day long I behold my disgrace,

And covered am I with confusion of face;

The voice of blasphemers and scoffers I hear,

The foe and avenger against me appear.

All this have we suffered, and never forgot

To serve Thee, Jehovah, nor falsely have wrought;

Our heart is not turned and our steps have not strayed,

Though crushed amid ruins and under death's shade.

CHORUS:

Rise, help and redeem us, Thy mercy we trust.

 If we have forgotten the Name of our God,
Or unto an idol our hand spread abroad,
Shall not the Almighty uncover this sin?
He knows all our hearts and the secrets within.
CHORUS:
Rise, help and redeem us, Thy mercy we trust.

We all the day long for Thy sake are consumed,
Defeated and helpless, to death we are doomed;
Then why dost Thou tarry? Jehovah, awake,
Nor spurn us forever; arise for our sake.

O why art Thou hiding the light of Thy face,
Forgetting our burden of grief and disgrace?
Our soul is bowed down, yea, we cleave to the dust;
Rise, help, and redeem us, Thy mercy we trust.

Psalm 43 paraphrase

Tune and words: Send out thy light

Psalm 43

This is probably the second half of Psalm 42 as it has the same refrain. We use the same tune St. Agnes "Jesus the very thought of thee"

Psalm 43

1 O God, judge me and try my case

   against the faithless land;

   deliver me from those who are

   perverse and fraudulent.

2 You are my God, my stronghold safe;

   why then do you deny? 

   why must my enemy oppress?

   why must I always sigh?

3 O send your light forth and your truth;

   let them be guides to me.

   to bring me to your holy hill,

   ev'n where your dwellings be.

4 Then will I to God's altar go,

   to God my greatest joy;

   Yes, God, my God your name to praise

   my harp I will employ.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?

   Why in me so dismayed?

   O trust In God, you'll praise him yet:

   my God who is my aid.

Psalm 42

1 As pants the deer for water-brooks,

   my soul pants God, for you

2 for God, the living God, I thirst:

   when shall God's face I view?

3 Both day and night, I weep, can't eat

  "Where is your God?" men cry.

4 These things I have upon my heart

   in mind keep constantly.

   For to God's house with multitudes

   I'd gladly march along,

   with shouts of joy and giving thanks

   among the festive throng.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
  Why in me so dismayed?
  O trust in God, you'll praise him yet
  to you he'll send his aid.

6 My God, I will remember you

  though I am cast down still,

  while near the Jordan, Hermon's range

  close by to Little Hill.

7 As plunging waters constantly

  resound in pitch-black caves,

  so o'er my head have now come up

  your breakers and your waves.

8 Each day the Lord maintains his love,

  I'll sing his song each night:

  my prayer to God by whom I live.

9 To God my Rock I'll speak:

    "Why have you so forgotten me,

    why must I always sigh?"

10 Pressed down and crushed by jeering foes,

    "Where is your God?" they cry.

11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
    Why in me so dismayed?
    O trust in God, you'll praise him yet:
    my God who is my aid.

Psalm 42

We use the tune St. Agnes C M "Jesus the very thought of thee"

1 As pants the deer for water-brooks,
   my soul pants God, for you
2 for God, the living God, I thirst:
   when shall God's face I view?

3 Both day and night, I weep, can't eat
  "Where is your God?" men cry.
4 These things I have upon my heart
   in mind keep constantly.

   For to God's house with multitudes
   I'd gladly march along,
   with shouts of joy and giving thanks
   among the festive throng.

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
  Why in me so dismayed?
  O trust in God, you'll praise him yet
  to you he'll send his aid.

6 My God, I will remember you
  though I am cast down still,
  while near the Jordan, Hermon's range
  close by to Little Hill.

7 As plunging waters constantly
  resound in pitch-black caves,
  so o'er my head have now come up
  your breakers and your waves.

8 Each day the Lord maintains his love,
  I'll sing his song each night:
  my prayer to God by whom I live.
9 To God my Rock I'll speak:

    "Why have you so forgotten me,
    why must I always sigh?"
10 Pressed down and crushed by jeering foes,
    "Where is your God?" they cry.

11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
    Why in me so dismayed?
    O trust in God, you'll praise him yet:
    my God who is my aid.

Psalm 41

Ps. 41
For the director of music. A psalm of David.

 Tune: Materna CMD "America the Beautiful" 

1   Blest he who gives his careful thought 

    to weak and helpless ones:

    the LORD will surely save him when

    the time of trouble comes.

2  The LORD will guard, keep him alive:

    he'll prosper in the land;

    and he will not deliver him

    into his en'mies hand.

3  When sick the LORD will strengthen him,

    and carefully make his bed.

4  "Heal me; against you I have sinned;

    LORD, mercy show," I said.

5  "When will he die; his line die out?"

    is what my foes all pray;

6  so when they come to visit me

    they don't mean what they say.

    They gather gossip, then go out

    and spread it all about.

7  They whisper quietly on the side;

    discuss a dreadful fate:

8  "He'll never leave his bed again;

    his is a hopeless case."

9  My friend with whom I often ate,

    his heel puts in my face.

10 But mercy show, LORD, me restore;

     thus I'll repay their sin.

11 And so I'll know you're pleased with me,

     and that my foes won't win.

12 Because of my integrity

     you keep firm hold of me;

    and ever in your presence you

    assign my place to be.

13 The LORD, the God of Israel,

     be blest and blest again,

     from age to age eternally.

     Amen! I say, Amen!

    

Psalm 40

I need thee every hour

1.	1 I waited for the LORD; He stooped and heard my cry. 2 He brought me from the pit, Out of the dungeon mire, My feet set on a rock, My footsteps made secure. 3 My lips He gave a song, A song to praise our God.
2.	Many will see with awe, And so will trust the LORD. 4 Blest he who trusts in GOD, And turns not to false men. 5 You have worked wonders, LORD; No one compares to You! Should I declare each one, Their number is too great.
3.	6 You want no offering, Nor ask a sacrifice, But You have given me A ready ear to hear. You ask no off'rings burnt Nor sacrifice for sin. 7 So I say, "Here I come, As in the scroll inscribed.
4.	8 "To do Your will, O God, To me is my delight. Your law is part of me, Deep in my heart, O God." 9 In congregation great I told Your righteousness. You know, LORD, I spoke out; I did not close my lips. 5. 10 I hid not in my heart Your truth and saving help; Your faithfulness I preached In the assembly great. 11 You'll not withhold from me Your tender mercies , LORD, And Your unfailing love Will ever keep me safe. 6. 12 Misfortunes beyond count Have taken hold of me. My sins close in on me So that I cannot see. In greater sum are they Than hairs upon my head. So my heart fails in me; My courage fades away. 7. 13 Come to my rescue, LORD; O LORD, make haste to help. Let all who seek my life Be shamed and be confused. 14 Let them fall back in shame Who want to see my hurt; 15 Let them be dumb who jeer. "A-ha, A-ha" to me. 8. 16 Let all men who seek You Be glad and in You joy; Who Your salvation love Say, "Glory to the LORD!" 17 Though I'm in want and poor, The Lord takes thought of me. My Help, my Savior, come! O God, do not delay!

Psalm 39

A psalm of David       tune: Old 134th [St Michael] S.M.

1 I said, “I'll watch my tongue,

lest in my words I sin;

when wicked men are in my sight

a muzzle I'll put on.”

2 I said no words at all,

not even words of truth,

3 but my restraint increased my pain;

my thoughts burned in my heart.

And while lost in my thoughts,

the fire burned openly:

4 LORD, let me know my end, I said,

the number of my days.

Show me my frailty.

5 You've made my days so short,

their span is nothing in your sight;

man's life is but a breath.                [Selah]

6 A shadow is each one;

he toils but all in vain;

he heaps up wealth but does not know

to whom it will belong.

7 What then, LORD is my hope?

My hope is fixed in you.

8 Free me from all my trespasses;

don't make me butt of fools.

9 I'm stilled, will moan no more;

from you came this distress;

10 remove from me your chast'ning hand,

lest from your blows I fall.

11 Our sin brings your rebuke

that we may learn your way;

what we would want your moth destroys

to show mankind is vain.                             [Selah]

12 My prayer hear, LORD, my plea;

do not ignore my tears;

your guest I am, I stay with you

just as my fathers did.

13 Avert your angry look

that I may smile again,

before I go away from here,

before I am no more.

Psalm 38

Psalm 38

A psalm of David for remembrance

1 LORD, do not in hot displeasure speak in stern reproof to me;
  let your chast'ning be in measure and from burning anger free.

2 For your hand most sorely presses; fast your arrows stick within;
3 wrath my weary flesh distresses, gives my bones no rest for sin.

4 For my manifold transgressions have gone up above my head;
  like a burden their oppressions weigh me down with constant dread.

5 Loathsome are my wounds neglected; my own folly makes it so;
6 bowed with pain, with grief dejected, all day long I mourning go.

7 For my loins are filled with burning, all my flesh with sore distress;
8 faint and bruised, I'm ever mourning in my heart's disquietness.

9   My desire and ceaseless wailing, Lord, unveiled before you lie;
10 throbs my heart, my strength is failing; all the light has left my eye.

11 Friends and lovers whom I cherish, from my plague now stand aloof;
    my own kinsmen, though I perish, come no more beneath my roof .

12 They that for my life are seeking, snares for me in secret lay,
    hurtful things against me speaking, plots devising all the day.

13 As one deaf and dumb appearing, naught I hear nor silence break;

14 I’m as one their words not hearing, and whose lips no answer make.

15 LORD my God in you I’m trusting; you O Lord, will answer me;
16 lest they joy against me boasting, when my slipping feet they see.

17 Since I ready am to stumble, ever with me grief has been;

18 guilt I’ll own with spirit humble, and be sorry for my sin.

19 Full of life and great in number, strong the foes who me withstood;

20 evil they for kindness render, hating me for doing good.

21 O my God, do not forsake me; God of grace, O, do be near;

22 to my helper I betake me; as my Savior, Lord, appear.

Adapted from The Psalms in Meter

Tune: St. Sylvester 8.7.8.7 or " What a Friend we have in Jesus"

Psalm 37 is the song to sing to strengthen us in the LORD.

Tune: Guidance (He Leadeth Me) LMD

1 Don't fret because of evil men,

nor envy those who practice wrong;

2 for like the grass they'll be cut down;

they'll wither like the fresh green herbs.

3 Trust in the LORD, and do what's right;

live in the land promote the truth.

4 Your happiness find in the LORD;

he'll give to you your heart's desire.

5 Commit your life's way to the LORD;

trust him and he will act for you.

6 That you are righteous he'll make known,

your just deeds show in brightest light.

7 In quietness wait before the LORD,

and do not fret yourself at all

because of those who gain great wealth,

because their wicked plans go well.

8 From anger cease, and wrath forsake;

fret not yourself; it leads to sin.

9 For wicked men cut of shall be;

those trusting GOD receive the land,

10 For soon the wicked shall not be;

you'll look for them, they'll not be found.

11 The meek the land inherit shall,

and they shall joy in wealth untold.

12 The wicked plot against the just,

they gnash at him with all their teeth.

13 But at them laughs the LORD in scorn,

for he knows what will come to them.

14 They draw their swords and bend their bows

to slay the poor and kill the just;

15 yet their swords will their own hearts pierce,

and their strong bows will soon be smashed.

16 The little that the righteous have

exceeds the wealth of wicked men;

17 the wicked power shall broken be,

whereas the LORD upholds the just.

18 GOD knows the way of upright men;

their heritage will never fail;

19 when times are hard they will survive;

they'll have enough when famine comes.

20 The wicked ones shall perish soon;

like fading glory of the field

shall all the foes of GOD become;

they'll vanish – disappear like smoke.

21 The wicked beg, cannot repay;

the just are gen'rous and they lend;

22 for those GOD blesses gain the land;

those cursed by him will be cut off.

23 GOD guides the steps of his own man;

his way of life is his delight;

24 for though he fall he's not cast off

because the LORD's hands holds him fast.

25 Young once, now old, I've never seen

the just bereft, his children beg.

26 All day he's merciful and lends ;

a blessing is his family.

27 Depart from evil and do good,

so ever stay within the land;

28 for justice is much loved by GOD;

he will not leave his godly ones.

For ever they are kept secure;

but cut off is the wicked's race.

29 The just inherit shall the land;

for ever they will dwell in it.

30 The just man always wisdom speaks,

his tongue speaks forth that which is right.

31 His GOD's law is within his heart,

and so his footsteps do not slip.

32 The wicked spies upon the just,

and seeks to take his life from him;

33 but GOD will not forsake the just,

nor in the judgment such condemn.

34 Wait for the LORD, and keep his way;

he'll lift you up, give you the land;

your heritage you'll surely see

when all the wicked are cut off.

35 For I've seen one of mighty power

spread like a leafy native tree;

36 again I passed, to my surprise,

he was no more, could not be found.

37 Behold the true and upright man!

The future of that man is peace.

38 But sinners all will be destroyed;

the future of that race is death.

39 The just's salvation comes from GOD;

he is their strength when trouble comes.

40 The LORD will help and save them all

Because they trust in him alone.