Biography:
Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry.
Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label).
Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn.
Reading the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to begin studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis. He became a Roman Catholic and joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He started a house of prayer, The Little Portion.
Talbot moved The Little Portion to Eureka Springs, Arkansas on land he had purchased during his Mason Proffit days. He founded his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, at Little Portion Hermitage as an "integrated monastic community" with celibate brothers and sisters, singles, and families. By 1989, Talbot had married Viola Pratka (with the permission of the Catholic Church). Pratka was a former Incarnate Word Sister who had come to the community in 1986.
Per the community's General Constitutions, Talbot's title is "General Minister and Spiritual Father". For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.
The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the chapel, library and many common areas were destroyed.
On April 10, 2010 the Bishop of Little Rock, Anthony Taylor, dedicated the new buildings. On October 2, 2010 the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage celebrated the opening of the new monastery church and common center.
Psalm
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For we are his people
The flock that he shepherds
Alleluia
Come, worship the Lord
For we are his people
The flock that he shepherds
Alleluia
And come, let us sing to the Lord
And shout with joy to the rock who saves us
Let us come with thanksgiving
And sing joyful songs to the Lord
Come, worship the Lord
For we are his people
The flock that he shepherds
Alleluia
Come, worship the Lord
For we are his people
The flock that he shepherds
Alleluia
The Lord is God, the mighty God
The great King o'er all other gods
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
And the highest mountains as well
He made the sea, it belongs to him
The dry land too, was formed by his hand
Come, worship the Lord
For we are his people
The flock that he shepherds
Alleluia
Come, worship the Lord
For we are his people
The flock that he shepherds
Alleluia
Come, let us bow down and worship
Bending the knee for the Lord our maker
For we are his people
We are the flock that he shepherds
The lyrics of John Michael Talbot's song "Psalm 95" call on worshippers to come and praise God, acknowledging that they are part of his flock and he is their shepherd. The repeated phrase "Come, worship the Lord, for we are his people, the flock that he shepherds, Alleluia" emphasizes the unity and belonging of God's people. They are invited to sing to the Lord and shout with joy, expressing gratitude and offering joyful songs to God. The song also acknowledges God's greatness as the mighty God, ruler over all other gods, the creator and controller of the earth, sea and sky. The song ends with a call to bow down with reverence and worship the Lord who made them and whom they belong to.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, worship the Lord
Let us gather to give reverence to the Lord
For we are his people
We are a part of his goodness
The flock that he shepherds
He guides and protects us just like a shepherd does for his flock
Alleluia
Let us praise the Lord with gladness
And come, let us sing to the Lord
Let us give him melodious praise
And shout with joy to the rock who saves us
Let us enthusiastically sing to the Lord who rescues us
Let us come with thanksgiving
Let us give thanks to him with grateful hearts
And sing joyful songs to the Lord
Let us sing with joyous hearts to the Lord
The Lord is God, the mighty God
The Lord is the divine, omnipotent being
The great King o'er all other gods
He is the ruler of all other gods
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
He has control over the deepest parts of the earth
And the highest mountains as well
He has control over the highest mountains
He made the sea, it belongs to him
The sea was created by the Lord and it belongs to him
The dry land too, was formed by his hand
He created the dry land as well with his hand
Come, let us bow down and worship
Let us kneel down in admiration and give reverence to the Lord
Bending the knee for the Lord our maker
Kneeling down in reverence for the Lord who has made us
We are his people
We are all a part of God's creation
We are the flock that he shepherds
We belong to the Lord and he guides and protects us
Alleluia
Let us praise the Lord with gladness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: John Michael Talbot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind