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)

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

Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #435

Church Family Worship #168

Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #596

Complete Mission Praise #590

Hymns Old and New #442

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

One and All Rejoice #274

One in Faith #754

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

Sing 'N' Praise Hymnal Vol. 2 #30

The Brethren Songbook #45

Page Scan

The Children's Hymnal #6

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #568

Voices United #356

Worship His Majesty #544

Text InfoAudio

Glory to God #175

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #209

Moravian Book of Worship #605

Ancient and Modern #775

Christian Science Hymnal #572

Audio

Lift Up Your Hearts #899

Lutheran Service Book #712

Songs for Life #155

Audio

With Heart and Voice #35

Worship in Song #100

With One Voice #783

Hymns of Faith #447

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #478

Chalice Hymnal #354

CPWI Hymnal #851

Fiesta Jubilosa #86

Sing and Rejoice! #98

Sing Joyfully #615

Baptist Hymnal 2008 #524

Celebrating Grace Hymnal #436

Gather Comprehensive, Second Edition #600

Hymnal #324

Hymns of Promise #65

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #883

Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #438

Rejoice Hymns #411

RitualSong (2nd ed.) #800

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #237

The Celebration Hymnal #713

The Hymnal 1982 #711

The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #42

The Presbyterian Hymnal #333

Audio

The United Methodist Hymnal #405

This Far By Faith #149

Worship (4th ed.) #663

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

Gather (3rd ed.) #658

Gather Comprehensive #615

Oramos Cantando = We Pray In Song #576

RitualSong #728

Worship (3rd ed.) #580

The Worshiping Church #447

Worship and Rejoice #349

Voices Together #417

The New Church Hymnal #343

Common Praise (1998) #458

Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #720

Together in Song #745

Singing the Faith #254

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #641

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #641

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #590

Santo, Santo, Santo #126

The Book of Praise #625

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

Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #685

Hymns for a Pilgrim People #370

Exclude 5 pre-1979 instances
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