Could You Repeat That?

Repetitive songs bore me.  If a Sunday morning’s music set includes a song that has stanzas that repeat multiple times, I simply will not sing.  Contemporary praise music is rife with repetitive lyrics, especially in the bridge, where lyricists are notorious for inserting text that has no connection with the main thought of the piece—a melodic break serving no function in regards to meaning.  Popular composers use this technique to allow for changes in dynamics ranging from piano to forte (or vice versa) to elicit an emotional response anticipating the finale.

Of course, when any of us “old fogies” object to the prevalence of repetition in modern praise music, the oft-used retort is, “What about Psalm 136?  That repeats every other line.”  What about it?  Here is the entire psalm next to a popular praise song written by Matt Maher.

Psalm 136

Your Grace Is Enough

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,         for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods,         for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords,         for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders,       for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens,         for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who spread out the earth above the waters,         for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who made the great lights,         for his steadfast love endures forever; the sun to rule over the day,         for his steadfast love endures forever; the moon and stars to rule over the night,         for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,         for his steadfast love endures forever; and brought Israel out from among them,         for his steadfast love endures forever; with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,         for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea in two,         for his steadfast love endures forever; and made Israel pass through the midst of it,         for his steadfast love endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,         for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who led his people through the wilderness,         for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who struck down great kings,         for his steadfast love endures forever; and killed mighty kings,       for his steadfast love endures forever; Sihon, king of the Amorites,         for his steadfast love endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan,         for his steadfast love endures forever; and gave their land as a heritage,         for his steadfast love endures forever; a heritage to Israel his servant,         for his steadfast love endures forever. It is he who remembered us in our low estate,         for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes,         for his steadfast love endures forever; he who gives food to all flesh,         for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven,         for his steadfast love endures forever.

Great is Your faithfulness, oh God You wrestle with the sinner’s heart You lead us by still waters and to mercy And nothing can keep us apart So remember Your people Remember Your children Remember Your promise, Oh God Your grace is enough Your grace is enough Your grace is enough for me Great is Your love and justice, God of Jacob You use the weak to lead the strong You lead us in the song of Your salvation And all Your people sing along So remember Your people Remember Your children Remember Your promise, Oh God Your grace is enough Your grace is enough Your grace is enough for me [x2] So remember Your people Remember Your children Remember Your promise, Oh God Your grace is enough Your grace is enough Your grace is enough for me Your grace is enough Heaven reaching down to us Your grace is enough for me God I see your grace is enough I’m covered in your love Your grace is enough for me For me

Both of these works tell of God’s work for his people.  The psalmist begins with a call to thank the Lord himself, then recounts specific events that demonstrate his ongoing care for his people.  Notice how the repetition is used to reinforce that every facet and act of God is worthy of attention, each should be praised and adored, and that in a united voice.

The praise song has similarities with the psalm in that the verses draw our attention to God’s faithfulness in how he deals with men, but commonality ends there.  Each verse is followed by a repetitive call for God to remember his people and promise, ending with an affirmation that God’s grace is sufficient.  This format leaves questions: Remember us for what purpose?  What is the grace sufficient to do?  The purpose of the repetition is to invoke a feeling that I am deprived of something that only the Lord can provide, but that is where the song leaves us.  We have a continual call for the Lord to do something he is able and willing to accomplish, so that a felt need can be quelled, and I can feel good about myself again.

But the praise song feels good to sing, and the psalm is so boring when I read it to myself.

First, fix your theology.  Music is to teach us of God, Christ, etc. (Col 3:16), not draw us inward.  When we sing, the doctrine should be sound and drawing us to the throne of grace, not artificially foment desires and emotions.

Next, try reading the psalm carefully out loud.  Read it in a group with half doing the opening and half the response.  See if that does not help your appreciation.

Last, sing the psalm instead.  They are intended to be sung.  Buy a metrical psalter in modern language.  Learn some chant tones.

Repetition for its own sake is boring and dangerous.  The praise song did not use unbiblical phrases or ideas, but left the singer with an unbiblical end.  If worship music does not lead to the Savior, we have the wrong object of worship.