“We must never forget that the first part of the gospel is not ‘Accept Christ as Savior,’ but ‘God is there.’” Francis Schaeffer, The God Who Is There

This post is the first in a series entitled [sound doctrine]. [sound doctrine] is a sequence of musical reflections on ‘redemptive history,’ the story of why God created the universe and what He has done to accomplish that purpose throughout time. It grows out of the conviction that the Bible is not just a collection of isolated books, but that it is driven by a unified plot of a God who speaks and acts in history for His Name’s sake.

The story begins with God’s existence. He is there; He has always been there and will always be there. His character doesn’t change. As long as He has been, He has been holy, just, loving, glorious, infinite and personal.

Some of these songs are old, some are new. Some are original, some will be familiar. Because God’s character and purpose in history don’t change, the reflections of godly men from the past on His mighty acts and person are just as valid today as the day they were written.

The first song is an old hymn penned by Isaac Watts. If you’ve ever been to a church with hymnals, you’ll find his name all over it.

For your joy in the God Who is there,

Jonathan

You can download the file here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?91dx1mwxxzd

‘Great God, How Infinite Art Thou!’

Great God, how infinite art Thou!
What worthless worms are we!
Let the whole race of creatures bow,
And pay their praise to Thee.

Thy throne eternal ages stood,
Ere seas or stars were made:
Thou art the ever living God,
Were all the nations dead.

Nature and time quite naked lie
To Thine immense survey,
From the formation of the sky
To the great burning day.

Eternity, with all its years,
Stands present in Thy view;
To Thee there’s nothing old appears;
Great God! There’s nothing new.

Our lives through various scenes are drawn,
And vexed with trifling cares;
While Thine eternal thought moves on
Thine undisturbed affairs.

Great God, how infinite art Thou!
What worthless worms are we!
Let the whole race of creatures bow,
And pay their praise to Thee.

by Isaac Watts