Of Rivers Within
Commissioned by the Greenville Chorale for its 45th
anniversary
I. (chorus)
Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down
righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and
let it cause righteousness to sprout. Strengthen the weak hands,
make firm the feeble knees. Say to those of a fearful heart, "Be
strong, do not fear!" Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped; the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. (Isaiah 45:8a,
35:3-4a, 35:5-6a)
II. (soprano)
I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I
will pour my spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your
offspring. (Isaiah 44:3)
III. (chorus)
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue
is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them, I the God of
Israel will not forsake them. I will open the rivers on the bare
heights, and [the] fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make
the wilderness a pool, and the dry land springs of water. (Isaiah
41:17-18)
IV. (soprano/chorus)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the
rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you
shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. I am
the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
(Isaiah 43:2-3a)
Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the
earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you. For the
mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love
shall not depart from you. (Isaiah 54:9b-10a)
V. (chorus)
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return
there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and
sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my
word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for
which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy and be led back in
peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isaiah
55:10-12)
VI. (chorus)
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched
places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered
garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. (Isaiah
58:11)
VII. (chorus/Soprano)
Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down
righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and
let it cause righteousness to sprout. Strengthen the weak hands,
make firm the feeble knees. Say to those of a fearful heart, "Be
strong, do not fear!" Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped; the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. (Isaiah 45:8a,
35:3-4a, 35:5-6a)
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