I WILL CALL UPON THE LORD written in 1981
The Story
Michael O’Shields (1948 – ) was a traveling Bible teacher in West Texas and Oklahoma. That is a lot of territory to cover, but the need to make a living and the meager offerings from his ministry required him to travel a lot.
His Bible studies were often conducted in homes, quite often in farmhouses in rural areas. People seemed to be hungry for good Bible teaching, and Michael was thrilled to be used by the Lord in this way, but he was newly married and he needed to bring home some money for groceries. He remembers one time driving from Oklahoma to Abilene, Texas, for a Saturday night meeting… and returning with an offering of $12.
The long trips, though, gave Michael time to write some songs, which he sometimes introduced to those attending Bible studies. This song was one of those songs.
Michael did plenty of calling on the Lord during those days of barely getting by, so it was certainly his honest, heartfelt cry.
But this song served another purpose. It was intended to be sung with the men singing a line, and the women echoing that line. Some of the farmers to whom Michael introduced this song didn’t great singing voices, but Michael didn’t care. By having the men begin the song, they were taking leadership in worship. Soon this song became a favorite.
The Song
Read this praise song, and – today – call upon the Lord with your biggest need.
I will call upon the Lord
(I will call upon the Lord)
Who is worthy to be praised
(Who is worthy to be praised).
So shall I be saved from my enemies
(So shall I be saved from my enemies)
The Lord liveth and blessed be the Rock
and let the God of my salvation be exalted!
The Lord liveth and blessed be the Rock
and let the God of my salvation be exalted! (repeat)
TheScottSpot 