This page is provided so that you can hear the tunes of items which we use in church. Mostly they are written by the vicar. Please note that they are copyright - we are very happy to give permission to you to use them, but we would like to hear about it. Please include any use on your Christian Copyright Licence returns.
Down this page:
- the words,
- the story,
- the sheet music,
- media player.
He who dwells in the shelter
He who dwells in the shelter
He who dwells in the shelter of God Most High
will rest secure and calm:
he will find God's protection and wings close by
to keep him safe from harm.
"For he loves me, and he calls me,"
says the Lord: "he is my friend!
So I'll save him and I'll help him,
I'll be with him to the end."
Truly she will be rescued from fowler's snares
and plagues that fly by day,
and no evil will come near the tents she shares
with those who seek God's way.
"For she loves me, and she calls me,"
says the Lord: "she is my friend!
So I'll save her and I'll help her,
I'll be with her to the end."
You will not fear the terror of darkest night,
nor arrows in the field:
you will not be afraid when the people fight,
for God will be your shield.
"For you love me, and you call me,"
says the Lord: "you are my friend!
So I'll save you and I'll help you,
I'll be with you to the end."
If you make the Almighty your dwelling place,
then he will guard your soul:
if you live in his presence and seek his face,
then he will keep you whole.
"For you love me, and you call me,"
says the Lord: "you are my friend!
So I'll save you and I'll help you,
I'll be with you to the end."
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2007.
Based Psalm 91.
Story behind the song
Psalm 91, a traditional compline psalm, speaks of the security of living under God's shelter, and I wanted to put the words into a brief song. In a way it is childlike, and yet the psalm is childlike too. The verses come from v1&4, v5&7, and v9; and the chorus from v14-16 which explains that the relationship of love and trust is a two-way thing which motivates both God and man.
I was a bit puzzled at first how to gender-inclusivize the language of this song without losing the directness of it, for it is obviously aimed at the individual rather than the community: so putting all the pronouns in the plural wouldn't work. I'm not sure the device of changing sex in verse 2 works, and I could do with comments on that.
John Hartley.
Windows Media Player. When you click the left-hand "play" button your computer should have started to play the tune. If it didn't, you might be able to get the tune by clicking here, or by right-clicking the link, choosing "save target as", saving it onto your computer, and then opening it with a music-playing program.
Please remember that a midi file of a tune isn't supposed to be a state-of-the-art musical arrangement - it is only supposed to give a basic idea of how the tune goes. Any reasonable organist / keyboard player / music group could make it sound far better.