My Heart Overflows With A Pleasing Theme (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

May 22-27, 2013

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song. My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty! In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; Psalm 45: 1-7

But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” 

Hebrews 1:8-12

The vocabulary of the English Standard Version of the Bible is better fitted for the way in which we think and understand words by definition at the time of this writing and is far more often than not actually translated more accurately than the King James Version of the Bible. Having been a staunch KJV only man for over thirty years one of the greatest benefits that I have found is the way that I am forced to study more intently to find the original meanings of words which at times seem to contradict each other. With the King James language so ingrained in my mind the difference in wording jumps out almost immediately and I have found those who have far better knowledge than myself concur with the ESV, even though they were not alive when this translation was written.

Some people hold to the tradition of using the KJV for its more poetic language, but on the occasion of writing this particular song, the first three lines of Psalm 45 struck me as very poetic and thus led in the rendering of this love song to our King which begins in Psalm 45 and culminates in Hebrews 1. The sound of the music which came to mind while writing is Celtic and would befit a marriage feast.

My heart overflows with a pleasing theme

I address my verses to the King.

My tongue like the pen of ready scribe

Will laud Your praise with every tribe.

Most handsome of the sons of men

Upon Your lips is poured the grace

Of God who’s blessed forevermore,

And I will ever seek Your face.

Oh gird on Your sword upon Your thigh

Oh mighty One who reigns on high

In all Your splendor and majesty

Ride out Oh Lord victoriously!

For truth and meekness, righteousness,

Go forth and teach by awesome deeds

With arrows sharp to pierce the hearts

Of all Your kingdoms enemies.

Forever and ever, Oh Christ, Your throne

Endures by righteousness You own,

For You have loved all that is right

And hate all wrong with all Your might

And therefore God, Your God with oil

Of gladness has anointed You

Beyond all those who follow close

And keep Your honor thus in view.

Oh, listen, Oh church and take then to heart

Those things of beauty He did impart.

Forget all your peoples and your lands,

Take up then your cross where glory stands.

By faith put on your royal robes

Which stand the test amidst the fire

With joyful shouts proceed till when

We are complete in Him entire!

The heavens and earth shall pass away

As we know them now, at end of day.

For they like a garment shall be changed

But You, our Lord God remain the same.

And then You will be surely found

To be in awesome majesty

So far beyond what we conceive

And shall be all eternity!