Expectation of His Exaltation

"Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:2).  "So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul… there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off " (Proverbs 24:14).  "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else… Unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear... Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness" (Isaiah 45:22-24).  "That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31).   

Jerusalem, be sure of this: 

Our feet shall stand within thy gates,

Though mockers in our day dismiss

Our Savior's coming that awaits.   

This is the promise of the Lord.  

His expectation never fails,

And saving faith has its reward,

For every word of God prevails. 

We know that every knee shall bow

And every tongue shall then confess

That Christ is Lord, who shall endow

His people with His righteousness. 

How sweet, Lord, is the expectation

Of Your fulfillment of the story

Concluding with Your exaltation! 

To You alone be all the glory!   

Lifting my Looking

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1,2).  "My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:17,26).  "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty… Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer… I am the LORD that maketh all things" (Isaiah 44:3,24).  "Now to Him that is of power to stablish you… be glory through Jesus Christ forever" (Romans 16:25-27).  "Looking unto Jesus the… Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). 

My help is coming from the Lord,

Who made the earth, the sea, and skies. 

How wondrous are His works explored

Wherever I have turned my eyes!

My eyes are lifted up above

As I observe my Savior's ways:

I marvel at redeeming love

And give my heart to Him with praise!

Now to the Lord who has the power

To strengthen me in each endeavor,

Who is my Fortress and High Tower,

Be glory daily and forever! 

Lord Jesus, as I run this race,

I'm lifting up my eyes to You,

And as I'm looking for Your grace,

You pour it out on me anew!  

Why they were Written

"In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and He heard me. Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue" (Psalm 120:1,2).  "That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have… written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth" (Proverbs 22:19-21).  "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no Savior" (Isaiah 43:11).  "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written… that we… might have hope" (Romans 15:4).

The Lord has heard our humble cry

To rescue us from lies we heard. 

Praise God!  We know that this is why

We have our Lord's prophetic Word!

We know that Christ for us was smitten

And brought into death's dreadful dust,

As prophets of the Lord had written,

That we might place in Him our trust. 

Apart from Christ there is no Savior;

We know this is a certainty. 

We plead with souls to seek His favor

Which was foretold in prophecy. 

O Lord, we surely see the reason

For Your prophetic declaration: 

Your written Word fulfilled in season

Confirms the truth of Your salvation!  

Wonder why we Wander

"I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments" (Psalm 119:176).  "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts… The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead… but as for the upright, He directeth his way" (Proverbs 21:2,16,29).  "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee" (Isaiah 42:6).  "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12). 

We all have wandered from God's will

Like wayward sheep becoming lost,

And we are prone to wander still

When we forget to count the cost.

The Lord is pondering the hearts

Of all who choose to go astray,

But by His counsel He imparts

His truth that will direct our way. 

The Lord Himself will hold our hand

And thereby keep our feet from falling

To carry on with His command

And thus fulfill His righteous calling. 

O Lord, we wonder why we wander

From You, the Lover of our soul! 

O keep our hearts, which now You ponder,

Each day to You accountable.  

Honor the Honesty

"I rejoice at Thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil… Great peace have they which love Thy law" (Psalm 119:162,165).  "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?" (Proverbs 20:9 ).  "Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons… Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come" (Isaiah 41:21,22).  "Let us walk honestly" (Romans 13:13).  

The spoils of the battle wait,

And empty boasts of foes must cease

As prophecies foretold their fate,

Which Christ fulfilled to give us peace. 

We're called to visit Calvary's scene

Where Satan's host are in retreat. 

The blood of Christ has made us clean,

And our salvation is complete! 

The Lord has said, "Produce your cause!"

To enemies with empty boasts. 

The Psalms, the Prophets, and God's Laws

Foresaw our King, the Lord of Hosts!   

We honor, Lord, the honesty

Of all who humbly seek to know

Your truth that makes Your people free

And conquers every lying foe.  

Conformed to His Counsel

"Thy Word is true from the beginning: and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth for ever" (Psalm 119:160).  "Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end…. The counsel of the LORD, that shall stand" (Proverbs 19:20,21).  "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand for ever" (Isaiah 40:8).  "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). 

God's Word is true from the beginning,

And all His truth endures forever. 

His counsel keeps our heart from sinning,

Instructing us in each endeavor.

The counsel of the Lord shall stand

When every other plan shall fail. 

As we obey our Lord's command,

We shall be strengthened to prevail. 

The grass shall wither; flowers fade.

The Word of God is our foundation

Which has by Jesus Christ been laid,

The Architect of our salvation.

Your counsel, Lord, is all we need

To be conformed to what is true

As You have made us free indeed,

Transforming us to be like You.