Responding to Reproach

"The reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon Me" (Psalm 69:9).   "My son, be wise, and make My heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth Me" (Proverbs 27:11).  "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read" (Isaiah 34:16).  "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men... changed... from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:2,18). 

Reproach upon our Lord was hurled

By those who mocked Him to His face. 

The Lord is answering the world

By those whom He has saved by grace. 

"Be wise," we hear our Father say,

So we make His heart be glad,

As He responds to foes today

By showing mercy He has had. 

We search the Book of God and read

That there is truth which we may know,

And by that truth our souls are freed,

And thus God answers every foe. 

We are epistles God will use,

Which now by men are read and known,

To show the grace they too may choose

As His salvation thus is shown. 

Lord, manifest the Gospel story

By mercies we display from You,

Thus changed from glory unto glory

As we confirm Your Word is true. 

Lord, purge us by Your Holy Spirit,

Responding to reproach thereby

With truth to those who yet will hear it,

As by Your grace we testify.