Fear the Lord

Authors:
Themes:
Book Number:
  • 1007

Fear the Lord: your awesome God
commands you by his law
to walk his ways with all your heart
and make your calling sure.

2. Heaven and earth belong to God,
the sea and every land,
yet he has loved and chosen you,
fed by his mighty hand.

3. Stifle pride and arrogance
for God is King of kings;
his justice favours poor and weak
to whom he gives good things.

4. Bring to mind that you were poor:
the way of death you trod.
Remember all his awesome works,
and fear the Lord your God.

Words and music © 1997 Richard Simpkin
Richard Simpkin

Approaching God - Creator and Sustainer

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Tune

  • Chiesi Paes
    Metre:
    • 7 6 8 6
    Composer:
    • Simpkin, Richard Benjamin

The story behind the hymn

Chapter 10 of the book of Deuteronomy forms the basis of this hymn, which seeks to instil in the singer a right reverence and humility in the light of a holy yet compassionate Creator. It was written in 1997 in response to a request by David Jackman who was giving a series of talks at the Tuesday lunchtime City congregations at St Helen’s, Bishopsgate.

A look at the author

Simpkin, Richard Benjamin

b Bloxwich, Staffs 1969. Eton College (music scholar); Gonville and Caius Coll Cambridge (organ scholar, BA/MA). His musical life began in the choir of Lichfield Cathedral, where as a violinist he also led the orchestra for two years, and was later its organ scholar. But it was at Eton that he came to understand the grace of God through Jesus’ death on the cross for him. After graduation he taught at Felstead School (Essex) for two years, and became a pastoral assistant at St Anne’s Limehouse. Since 1995 he has been Music Director of St Helen’s, Bishopsgate in the City of London. His work was first published in So Hear His Voice (Songbook and CD) by St Helen’s in May 2000; some 15 items are so far in print. He has supplied a monthly column ‘The Music Exchange’ in Evangelicals Now from 2003 to the present (2011), and from 2001 he has worked creatively with a group of Christian writer/composers, for the exchange of information, mutual criticism and encouragement in their Christian faith. Nos.2B*, 707, 1007, 1218*, 1313*