Learning from a Songwriter

In 1679, Joachim Neander became a pastor of St Martin’s church in Bremen Germany. As a young man, he was popular with the common people but had problems with the church administration. He was my kind of rebel. He penned about 60 hymns before he died at age 30 including — “Praise the Lord oh my soul”. He wrote – Praise the lord O my soul; let thy song upward soaring.  Join with song of the angels in heaven adoring.  Brothers rejoice, wake up the lute, lift the voice, loudly his praises outpouring.  Joachim Neander was a rebel who spent his short life preaching. He called us to get out the lute, open your mouth, and give God your praise.  Do it now, be loud about it. Today the letter to David helps us learn about the Teacher.  The one who has taught us to maintain an attitude of praise and how to live. The four essays provide a few details you can build on as you learn how to learn about the things of God.

Proverbs 1:5-7 says — Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance — for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but foolsdespise wisdom and instruction. [NIV]