Shadows from Sheba

"The queen of Sheba… came to prove him [Solomon] with hard questions… And she said to the king… Behold, the half was not told me… and she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold" (1 Kings 10:1-10).  "The kings of Sheba… shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before Him… And He shall live, and to Him shall be given of the gold of Sheba… and daily shall He be praised" (Psalm 72:10-15).  "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith… Maranatha (the Lord cometh)" (1 Corinthians 16:13,22).

The queen of Sheba came and proved

King Solomon and gave him gold,

For by his answers she was moved

To say, "the half" had not been "told." 

Her visit was a shadow cast

Of the prophetic truth foreseen

Of Christ enthroned on earth at last

And praised by every king and queen. 

A little while, now, yet remains

Until these shadows are eclipsed

By Christ exalted when He reigns

As He is dwelling in our midst. 

O Lord, the watchword "Maranatha"

Confirms what prophets have foreshown

(Along with shadows cast from Sheba): 

You'll come and reign upon Your throne.  

Extended Expectation

"Thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: Thou art my trust from my youth… But I will hope continually, and will yet praise Thee more and more" (Psalm 71:5,14).  "Be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.  For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off" (Proverbs 23:17,18).  "The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised… and we shall be changed. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast… forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:52,58).

We know that we're on solid ground

When we are trusting in our Savior. 

Let hope still more and more abound

With praise to Him for all His favor. 

Give thanks and praise with godly fear

To God throughout the day and night.

The coming of the Lord draws near

When faith shall be exchanged for sight.

The trumpet of the Lord shall blast,

The born-again shall then be raised,

The promised day shall come at last,

And Christ shall evermore be praised. 

Lord, thank You for the expectation

Through promises that You extend

With benefits from Your salvation

Both now and also in the end.  

Edifying Education

"Blessed be the LORD… there hath not failed one word of all His good promise… that all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else" (1 Kings 8:56,60).  "Let such as love Thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified" (Psalm 70:4).  "Train up a child in the way he should go… that thy trust may be in the LORD…  answer the words of truth to them" (Proverbs 22:6,19,21).  "Let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Corinthians 14:26). 

There is a way to edify

And rightly educate our youth

That demonstrates God cannot lie,

By showing His prophetic truth. 

Our education system now

Promotes an atheistic pride

That filters and will not allow

Our children to be edified. 

Let all who love our Lord's salvation

Bring forth the evidence ignored,

Establishing the firm foundation

Of truth that magnifies our Lord.

O Lord, the truth is obvious

Which many people are denying. 

As education falls to us,

Let all we do be edifying.  

Enduring to the End

"So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD" (1 Kings 7:51).  "The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon Me… Reproach hath broken My heart… They gave Me also gall for My meat; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink" (Psalm 69:4-21).  "Charity (ἀγάπη; agápē; unfailing love) suffereth long… beareth all things… endureth all things… Charity never faileth" (1 Corinthians 13:4,7,8). 

The work of Solomon was done:  

He built the house that God desired.  

The temple which he had begun

Was finished as the Lord required. 

A greater house was yet assured,

Which Christ our Savior would complete.

His zealous love for us endured:

Behold His hands, His side, His feet! 

Our Savior for our sakes prevailed;

His zeal never was diminished. 

His lovingkindness never failed,

Enduring till His work was finished. 

O Lord, You are the dearest Friend

That anyone has ever known!

With love enduring to the end,

You've drawn our hearts to You alone. 

Benefits in His Body

"God setteth the solitary in families… Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.… Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits" (Psalm 68:6,18,19).  "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body… Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers" (1 Corinthians 12:13,27,28). 

The solitary need not roam;

God sets them in His families.

In Christ they find their happy home

With captives that He also frees. 

How many are the gifts He gives! 

His benefits are wonderful

Because forevermore He lives

To save and satisfy our soul! 

Now we are baptized by His Spirit

Into His body by His grace. 

His Word is sweet to those who hear it

As we together see His face. 

How great the benefits You gave,

And great their cost was, Lord, to You!

You gave Your life that You might save

And place us in Your body too.