God of Harmony: A Song for David (Spicer)

A song for David, the choirmaster. To “Dives and Lazarus.”*

Sing praises to the Three in One, the God of harmony,

Who makes the universe ring out in varied unity

Join with the music of the stars, the earth, the sea, the air,

For everywhere that beauty shines, His handiwork is there.

Sing praises to our saving Lord who led us through the sea

When waves of sin and hatred raged in dark cacophony.

We sing to Him who split the waves and led us on dry land,

And feeds us in this wilderness with manna from His hand.

Sing praises to the God of love who died our lives to save,

Who tasted all death’s bitterness, lay cold within the grave.

Who shattered death, burst from the tomb. No pow’r could hold him there.

We shout with joy, “He is alive!” The glad news we declare.

Sing praises to the Lamb who rules the universe in might.

Who will return, restore His world, set all creation right.

Though flesh may fail and life may flee and death may close our eyes,

He will breathe life into dead bones; our song again shall rise.

* David Spicer, the choir director at the church I grew up in, passed away last week. He was a genius, the musical equivalent of the architect of a Gothic cathedral in Europe. He crafted the accompaniments of every hymn he played to convey the message of the lyrics. On many Sundays he improvised incredible, intricate medleys of every hymn and anthem we sang during the service, often using these as an introduction to the Doxology. He conducted choirs with professionally trained singers but also children’s choirs. In addition to teaching me music theory and singing techniques, he encouraged me in my faith profoundly. He was also the first person to ask me to write a hymn. He asked for words that could be sung to a tune called “Dives and Lazarus.” I wrote a hymn to that tune then, and he praised the result so much that I just kept writing hymns. Even after I had moved away, he often asked me if I was still writing them. I can think of no better way to honor Mr. Spicer than to write a hymn in his memory to the first and only specific tune he requested lyrics for.