Come Into His Presence – Anonymous

This song had one author whom we now know, but at least one other author whose identity we know not. The original author preceded the 20^th Century one by probably at least 2,000-3,000 years, if not many more (perhaps as far back as Moses). So, what must these poets-composers have been thinking when they encapsulated their thoughts in “Come Into His Presence”, a brief but meaningful chorus? Lynn Baird is the 20^th Century author, who might have remained anonymous except for a chance encounter some 10 years after he walked through a wilderness in Oak Creek, Arizona (see an overhead picture of it here), where the song popped into his head in the summer of 1976. The sum of the intentions and emotions of a worshipper who approaches Him is one of gladness, according to Lynn and his ancient psalmist-songwriting brother, an unusual attitude compared to how we often see mere humans who enter His presence in Biblical history. So, is this a mature or instead an unrealistic thought?  And, were Lynn and the ancient psalmist on the ‘same sheet of music’, as the old phrase goes; were they actually thinking of the same thing? Think it over before you mouth these words the next time.

The ancient psalmist was a Jew, and Lynn Baird was obviously a Christian, separated by many centuries. The original words of the psalmist, minus the last line that lifts the name of Jesus, may have come from any of the Levites, tabernacle or temple worship musicians, or even Moses, or perhaps David, spanning an approximate 1,000-year period – from as far back as 1,500 B.C (Moses’ time) to 300 B.C. (when the Psalms were collected as a set by temple worshippers, in the post-Exilic era). Perhaps its contemporary form is closest to Psalm 100, which is thought to be the conclusion of one group, Psalms 93-100, most of which are called “orphan” Psalms – no author identified. So, perhaps the entire group was composed by the same anonymous source? His purpose?: to call fellow believers to the corporate worship. This writer must have had several encounters with God in life and in worship, perhaps to include awe and fear at first, mingled with delight and gratitude as he grew in his experience with Him. The second author-composer – Lynn Baird – was taking a hike through a desolate Arizona desert-like area, some two to three millennia later, when he says the God He worships just gave him the song in a moment of solitude. Lynn wrote the song on whatever he could find in that remote area, and then played with it soon thereafter for just his own ears to hear. He admits that he wasn’t exactly convinced it would work, so he filed it away until about a year later when he played it for the musical group with whom he ministered. Their optimistic feedback persuaded the whole group to offer it to the church, and in fact they sang it for the next several years there. Imagine Lynn’s surprise in 1986 when a friend happened to mention that a new song tape by the music publisher Integrity had been recently introduced, which included the song Lynn wrote! Like the ancient psalmist, Lynn Baird too must have had his own encounters with God, including probably at some point reading Psalm 100 and thinking how great it was that the God the psalmist lauded was now a Savior who had ascended and who awaits His people in heaven. Lynn didn’t re-write the original song, but built upon it – a theme that Christ himself delivered. Perhaps one could say that Lynn had captured this example by his Lord, as he thought about his own song-writing effort here.

He said, ‘Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ (Luke 4:21) He didn’t throw Isaiah aside, did He? He read it with an understanding and passion those people had not observed before. That’s what we do today – and what Lynn Baird did in 1976. They have a light that shines further than the original worshippers could see. Do you have a glimpse of what David, or Moses, or Asaph, or one of Korah’s sons saw, when you read their words? One might think a second composer is hijacking the prose when he adds words to what was initially penned centuries before. Plagiarism, you say? Jesus did it too, when he recalled one at his own death (Psalm 22), giving it new meaning. Think of what a Psalmist was saying, and what he would say if he knew what we, 21 centuries after He ascended, now know. You cannot avoid Him. And, as He’s shown, I can still use words from long ago, even as I think of Him. He makes it all new. More Psalms await! Make like Lynn Baird, and see if you can contemporize one!

The song story is known only through the book “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever”, by Lindsay Terry, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008.

The Biblical background used in the above is obtained in the New International Version Study Bible, general editor Kenneth Barker, 1985, copyright The Zondervan Corporation.