Great Work of God's Workmanship

"Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD... And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did... and the people feared the LORD" (Exodus 14:13,31).  "A woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised... let her own works praise her in the gates" (Proverbs 31:30,31).  "For by grace are ye saved through faith... For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10). 

Stand still and see the work of God

In those whom He has saved by grace. 

Behold His mercy and applaud

His faithfulness we clearly trace!

The fear of God perfects His beauty

In women, men, and children too,

As worship beautifies our duty

In everything we say and do. 

Consider well His great salvation

In those whom He has saved forever,

In whom there is no condemnation

By grace (and not by our endeavor). 

O Lord, as we are standing still

To view Your work so marvelous,

We are astonished at Your will

And at Your workmanship in us!  

Pillars on our Path

"The LORD went before them... He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people" (Exodus 13:21,22).  "Lead me, O LORD... make Thy way straight before my face" (Psalm 5:8).  "Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:5).  "Ye heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation... that ye may know what is the hope of His calling" (Ephesians 1:13,18). 

The Lord led with shade and with light:

The pillar of cloud every day,

The pillar of fire each night; 

He took not these pillars away. 

The Lord leads us on by His grace

With faithfulness that is assured

In all of the things that we face,

Directing our way by His Word. 

The people of God have a calling

As each of us follow our Lord.  

He's able to keep us from falling; 

Our diligence He will reward. 

Your words, Lord, by which we are led,

Are pillars directing our path,

By which we are called and have fled

To You as our Shield from wrath.  

 

Passover Peace

"I will execute judgment: I am the LORD... and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you" (Exodus 12:12,13).  "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8).  "Whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25).  "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ... And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them" (Galatians 6:14,16). 

The judgment promised by the Lord

In Egypt was approaching fast,  

Yet by the blood He would afford

A hiding place where judgment passed. 

There is a place that offers peace

Beneath the blood of Christ today,

Where captives find their sweet release

And all our sins are washed away. 

We hear our Savior's invitation

To find our refuge in His blood

And thereby hide from condemnation

As in the ark throughout the flood. 

O Lord, Passover peace is found

In You alone, our Hiding Place,

As mercies from Your cross abound

Where we are rescued by Your grace.  

Warning by His Wonders

"The LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 11:9).  "Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: Thy blessing is upon Thy people" (Psalm 3:8).  "Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things... Whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" (Proverbs 28:5,26).  "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). 

We ponder Pharaoh's awful error,

Who saw the plagues and heard the thunders. 

How could he thus dismiss the terror

Of wrath, as God displayed His wonders? 

Alas!  It is the same today

As many still have closed their eyes

To God's salvation on display,

Refusing thereby to be wise. 

The Lord has made His judgment plain,

Yet many will not seek His face

And hurry on to endless pain,  

But those who seek Him, find His grace!

The warning by Your wonders, Lord,

Is clear to those who heed Your Spirit,

But sadly it is still ignored

By those who yet refuse to hear it!  

Time and Tomorrow

"Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more... And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more" (Exodus 10:28,29).  "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings... Kiss the Son, lest... ye perish from the way" (Psalm 2:10,12).  "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1).  "When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son... to redeem them that were under the law" (Galatians 4:4,5). 

What Pharaoh rashly said before 

Would rise to taunt him with tomorrow: 

"Take heed to... see my face no more"

Would be fulfilled with death and sorrow. 

God's Spirit bids us to be wise

And "kiss the Son" whom we should cherish,

While yet His Gospel testifies

That those who trust Him shall not perish. 

How foolishly the rebel boasts

Of future things, yet does not bow

To Jesus Christ, the Lord of hosts,

Who calls the sinner to come NOW. 

Lord, right on time, You were sent here 

As our Redeemer and our King.

Now all who trust You need not fear

The things tomorrow yet may bring.  

Congregation of the Cursed

"Gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field, for...  the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die... And he that regarded not the Word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field" (Exodus 9:19-21).  "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous" (Psalm 1:5).  "The curse causeless shall not come" (Proverbs 26:2).  "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Galatians 3:13). 

The congregation of the cursed

Still mocks God's Word without regard

To fearful warnings of the worst

That judgment holds for hearts so hard. 

How fearful is this introduction

To those who yet continue scorning

Without concern for the destruction

 Of those will dismiss God's warning! 

By all means, God is saving some

Who from His wrath will turn and flee. 

The curse that's causeless shall not come

To those in Christ eternally! 

O Lord, we've seen this congregation,

For this is where we all begin, 

But You were cursed for our salvation

To be our Hiding Place from sin!