Words in the Wilderness

“The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom” (Proverbs 10:21).  “The word of God came unto John… in the wilderness.  And he came… as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight… He will thoroughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable” (Luke 3:2-17).

A lack of wisdom in our day

Has brought a famine the land.
Thank God for what the righteous say
And for a heart to understand. 

The words that John the Baptist preached

Were heard by those whom God would feed,
And like a mighty river reached
To souls prepared to see their need.

We’ve heard Isaiah prophesy

That such a messenger would come
And in the wilderness would cry,
Received by many, scorned by some. 

Behold this messenger God sent

Is now a model for us all. 
John called on sinners to repent,
And this is still the Gospel’s call.

We’re dwelling in a wilderness

Where God is calling on His own
To boldly preach as John, no less,
And make His great salvation known. 

Prepare the way of Christ the Lord!

Those words have not gone out of date.
The Gospel is the Spirit’s sword
By which He makes the crooked straight.

The Lord distinguishes between

His own and those who will not turn.
His people as the wheat are seen,
But all His foes like chaff shall burn. 

Lord, You have satisfied our thirst;

In fact, our cup now overflows,
For You have freely loved us first
As every soul who loves You knows!

Receive our thanks, Lord Jesus Christ,

For words declaring that You gave
Your body to be sacrificed
For thirsty souls that You will save.