Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

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Paraphraser: Karen Lafferty

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Text Information

First Line: Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness
Title: Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
Paraphraser: Karen Lafferty (1972)
Meter: Irregular
Language: English; Spanish
Notes: Spanish translation: See "Buscad primero el reino de Dios"
Copyright: © 1972, Maranatha! Music (admin by Capital CMG Publishing)
Article: "Seek Ye First" by Eileen M. Johnson (from The Hymn)

Notes

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Matt. 6:33
st. 2 = Matt. 7:7
st. 3 = Matt. 4:4

Karen Lafferty (b. Alamogordo, NM, 1948) wrote this song one night after attending a Bible study on Matthew 6:33 in 1971 at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, California. Struggling with financial difficulties after recently starting a full-time music ministry, she returned home that night with new encouragement. Others appreciated its beauty and simplicity, and the song soon gained popularity, eventually providing the support that permitted her to continue and develop her ministry.

Other stanzas, also based on well-known quotations of Jesus, were written anonymously. Stanza 2 is based on Matthew 7:7, and stanza 3 on Matthew 4:4 (quoting Deut. 8:3). The first two quotations are from the Sermon on the Mount, and the third is Jesus' response to his first temptation in the desert. The addition of anonymous stanzas is a phenomenon related to the oral tradition in which many Scripture songs have developed. The three stanzas together persistently and fervently direct our attention to the things of God in the context of living praise ("alleluia"), indicating that such a manner of life is necessary before God. Maranatha! Music published the composite and recorded it on their initial Praise album (1972).

A musical missionary, Lafferty has been based in Amsterdam since 1981, when she became founder and director of Musicians for Missions, an international ministry of Youth with a Mission. She received a degree in music education at Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico. From 1971 to 1981 she was a member of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, where she served as a worship leader and became part of a fellowship of musicians, Maranatha! Music (which later became a Christian music company). Lafferty has recorded several solo albums and a music video. Her musical style is reminiscent of the folk music of such singers and groups as Joni Mitchell, the Kingston Trio, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. She and Musicians for Missions travel worldwide with their music ministry.

Liturgical Use:
Before the reading of Scripture; appropriate in many kinds of services and at various points in the liturgy.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune

SEEK YE FIRST

Named after its composer, LAFFERTY is a "simple is beautiful" tune consisting of one repeated musical line accompanied by a descant that encourages even the smallest congregation to sing in two-part harmony. A popular Scripture chorus published in many informal collections, it was one of the first t…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 73 of 73)

Ancient and Modern #775

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #652

Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #435

Christian Science Hymnal #572

Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #596

Complete Mission Praise #590

Fiesta Jubilosa #86

Glory and Praise (3rd. ed.) #613

Hymnal #324

Hymns of Faith #447

Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #720

Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #685

Let's just Praise the Lord (Music Edition) #31

One in Faith #754

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #883

Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #438

Rejoice and Sing to the Lord (Vol. 1) #38

Sing 'N' Praise Hymnal Vol. 2 #30

Sing and Rejoice! #98

Sing Joyfully #615

Singing the Faith #254

Songs for Life #155

The Brethren Songbook #45

Page Scan

The Children's Hymnal #6

The New Church Hymnal #343

This Far By Faith #149

Together in Song #745

Worship and Rejoice #349

Worship His Majesty #544

Worship in Song #100

The Hymnal 1982 #711

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #641

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #641

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #568

Church Family Worship #168

Hymns Old and New #442

Chalice Hymnal #354

Audio

The United Methodist Hymnal #405

찬송과 예배 = Chansong gwa yebae = Come, Let Us Worship #136

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #478

Celebrating Grace Hymnal #436

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #590

CPWI Hymnal #851

Gather (3rd ed.) #658

Gather Comprehensive #615

Gather Comprehensive, Second Edition #600

Text InfoAudio

Glory to God #175

Hymns for a Pilgrim People #370

Hymns of Promise #65

Audio

Lift Up Your Hearts #899

Moravian Book of Worship #605

One and All Rejoice #274

Oramos Cantando = We Pray In Song #576

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #209

Rejoice Hymns #411

RitualSong (2nd ed.) #800

RitualSong #728

Santo, Santo, Santo #126

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #237

The Book of Praise #625

The Presbyterian Hymnal #333

The Worshiping Church #447

Voices Together #417

Voices United #356

Audio

With Heart and Voice #35

With One Voice #783

Worship (3rd ed.) #580

Worship (4th ed.) #663

Baptist Hymnal 2008 #524

Lutheran Service Book #712

The Celebration Hymnal #713

The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #42

Common Praise (1998) #458

Exclude 5 pre-1979 instances
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