A Dream for the New Year

Rarely do I remember dreams. And rarely does New Years Day happen. (Ok, maybe once a year isn't all that rare!) But when the two things happen in concert, it seems like it might be significant. And since the words of the song that appeared in that dream are still circulating in my head two days later, it is probably something that is worth documenting.

In my dream, I was sitting in the rear pew of a large church, crowded with church-goers. The song leader had us turn to the very first page of the hymn book. It turned out to be a song that had only the title and the words; no music scores. But I realized that I knew the song, the melody, the lyrics, even the bass score. So when the chorister started the song I sang right out. Much to my chagrin, I was one of the only people in the place that seemed to know the song. My valiant efforts were rewarded by the lady in front of me turning around and staring at me! Oh well! But soon others joined in and then my short interval of embarrassment was quickly relieved by my awakening from the dream to the start of New Year's day. But I awoke with a song on my heart and joy in my heart for the start of another year of adventure in following God's watercourse. He has indeed been an ever guiding presence during the year gone by and I trust I can be part of one of those categories noted in the last verse of the hymn, most likely the "aged men" one, who will continue to praise Him through the coming year!

The song, if you are unable to find it on the first page of my dreamt-up hymnal, has the lyrics as follows:

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
From the heavens praise His name;
Praise Jehovah in the highest,
All His angels praise proclaim.
All His hosts together praise Him,
Sun, and moon, and stars on high;
Praise Him, O ye heav’n of heavens,
And ye floods above the sky.

Refrain:
Let them praises give Jehovah,
For His name alone is high,
And His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted,
Far above the earth and sky.

Let them praises give Jehovah,
They were made at His command,
Them forever He established;
His decree shall ever stand.
From the earth, oh, praise Jehovah,
All ye floods, ye dragons all;
Fire, and hail, and snow, and vapors,
Stormy winds that hear His call.

All ye fruitful trees and cedars,
All ye hills and mountains high,
Creeping things, and beasts, and cattle,
Birds that in the heavens fly.
Kings of earth, and all ye people,
Princes great, earth’s judges all,
Praise His name, young men and maidens,
Aged men and children small.