Cease Now and Cease Not

“Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that dwellest in the heavens… Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud” (Psalm 123:1-4).  “The counsel of the LORD, that shall stand… Cease, My son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge” (Proverbs 19:21,27).  “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven… and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:1,8).

The things today we hear and see

May now disturb our peace.

Contempt for God exceedingly  

Is heard and does not cease.

Yet God in mercy lifts our eyes

To see Him on the throne

And hear the ceaseless worship rise

To Him and Him alone.

And so, by grace, we have the choice

To lift our eyes above,

As heaven’s choir lifts their voice

Unceasingly with love.

The scorner’s voice is not ignored,

Yet surely it is drowned

By those who magnify the Lord

Where Christ is rightly crowned.

And thus we cease to hear the word

By which the proud will stumble,

And choose instead the counsel heard

From God that makes us humble.

O Lord, we lift our eyes to You

And cease not to attend

To counsel that we know is true,

Both now and in the end.