Privilege of our Proclamation

Read:  Psalm 117 / Proverbs 31 / Ezekiel 4 / 1 Thes. 2

 

Psalm 117:1,2 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people… His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth forever. Praise ye the LORD.

Proverbs 31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

Ezekiel 4:7 Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

 

The privilege of our proclamation

Can surely not be overstated:

The Gospel that proclaims salvation

Is greater than we’ve contemplated. 

 

As prophets ordered by our God

Would speak by their appointed measure,

We do not speak so men applaud,

But for God’s glory and His pleasure.  

 

 

Supplication for Salvation

Read:  Psalm 116 / Proverbs 30 / Ezekiel 3 / 1 Thes. 1

 

Psalm 116:1,11 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and…supplications…I believed, therefore have I spoken.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Ezekiel 3:27 When I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear. 

1 Thessalonians 1:8 From you sounded out the word of the Lord… your faith to God-ward is spread abroad.

 

I love the Lord because He heard

My supplications and my voice. 

Because He has confirmed His Word

My heart shall trust Him and rejoice. 

 

Because He heard my supplication

When I cried out to Him with fear,

I’ll spread the word of His salvation

To everyone inclined to hear.  

 

Reason with the Rebels

Read:  Psalm 115 / Proverbs 29 / Ezekiel 2 / Col. 4

 

Psalm 115:2,11 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?... Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Ezekiel 2:7 Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or… forbear: for they are most rebellious.

Colossians 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom… redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

 

We reason with the rebels now

Who say “Where is your God?” to us. 

The time will come when they shall bow

When Christ returns victorious. 

 

The Lord shall be our Help and Shield,

And He will teach us what to say

To rebels who may yet be healed

As we redeem each precious day. 

 

 

Affecting our Affection

Read:  Psalm 114 / Proverbs 28 / Ezekiel 1 / Col. 3 

 

Psalm 114:2,7 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion… Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord.

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Ezekiel 1:28 This was… the glory of the LORD…  When I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

 

The presence of the Lord’s dominion

Led Israel forth in days of old.

They had no fear of man’s opinion,

And as a lion, they were bold.

 

God’s Word came to Ezekiel,

Affecting boldly his behavior. 

May we be likewise bold as well

In our affection for our Savior.  

 

Every Morning Ever More

Read:  Psalm 113 / Proverbs 27 / Lamentations 5 / Col. 2 

 

Psalm 113:3,7 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised…He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and… the needy out of the dunghill.

Proverbs 27:1,11 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth… Be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.

Lamentations 5:16-17 Woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.

Colossians 2:13-15 And you, being dead in your sins… hath he quickened… having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

 

Let God be praised throughout the day

And with the dawn of each tomorrow.

Since God is glad when we obey,

Be done with sin that gives Him sorrow.

 

Yes, every morning ever more,

Let those He raised up from the dust

Arise to joyfully adore

And thank the Lord in whom we trust. 

 

Dreadful the Darkness

Read:  Psalm 112 / Proverbs 26 / Lamentations 4 / Col. 1 

 

Psalm 112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious… full of compassion, and righteous.

Proverbs 26:2 The curse causeless shall not come.

Lamentations 4:1 How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed!

Colossians 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

How dreadful the darkness is made

Without heaven’s light from above! 

How dim is the gold that will fade

In contrast to God’s faithful love!

 

How brightly the light of our Savior

Shined forth in His sorrowful hour,

Replacing our curse with His favor

And saving our souls with His power! 

 

Thinking on These Things

Read:  Psalm 111 / Proverbs 25 / Lamentations 3 / Php. 4 

 

Psalm 111:2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.

Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  

 

How great the works are of the Lord,

Sought out with joyful, endless pleasure

By those who wisely have explored

His wisdom far beyond all measure. 

 

As we are thinking on these things,

We contemplate God’s faithfulness

In daily mercies that He brings 

Far greater than we can express. 

 

Lifted and Looking

Read:  Psalm 110 / Proverbs 24 / Lamentations 2 / Php. 3

 

Psalm 110:3,7 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power… therefore shall he lift up the head.

Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Lamentations 2:14 Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee… false burdens and causes of banishment.

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

The Lord has lifted up my head, 

Upholding me with His salvation.

I’ll trust and do what He has said

To build upon His sure foundation.

 

I’m done with vain and foolish things.

I’m looking upward to my Savior.

I’m pressing on to where He brings

The joy and calling of His favor. 

Praise for His Passion

Read:  Psalm 109 / Proverbs 23 / Lamentations 1 / Php. 2

 

Psalm 109:3-5 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

Lamentations 1:12 Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.

Philippians 2:8 Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto… the death of the cross.

 

I hear the words of bitter hate

Against my Lord who came in love.

The gulf my Savior bridged was great

That brought salvation from above.

 

As I observe my Savior’s ways

And listen to His prayer of passion,

My heart is filled with grateful praise

For love that saved me in this fashion!  

 

 

Fixed Faith

Read:  Psalm 108 / Proverbs 22 / Jeremiah 52 / Php. 1

 

Psalm 108:1 O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.

Proverbs 22:19-21 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee… excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer.

Jeremiah 52:33 [He] changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life.

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

Unstable faith is surely vain

With doubt and indecision mixed. 

To live is Christ!  To die is gain! 

Let now my heart on God be fixed! 

 

Let prison garments now be changed,

And daily let me hear His voice.

This is the privilege Christ arranged,

For at His table I rejoice!  

 

Saying So

Read:  Psalm 107 / Proverbs 21 / Jeremiah 51 / Eph. 6

 

Psalm 107:1,2 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Jeremiah 51:5 Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God… though their land was filled with sin. 

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

 

The Lord redeemed us from our sin

And saved us from our enemy.

When Christ our Savior entered in,

He rescued us eternally. 

 

We surely should be saying so,

Declaring that our God is good,

Since He has strengthened us to go

To make His Gospel understood.  

 

 

So Soon

Read:  Psalm 106 / Proverbs 20 / Jeremiah 50 / Eph. 5

 

Psalm 106:12-13 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel.

Proverbs 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Jeremiah 50:6 My people hath been lost sheep… they have forgotten their resting place.

Ephesians 5:15-16 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

With Pharaoh’s army close behind,

The Red Sea parted by God’s Word. 

And yet His people were inclined

To soon forget what had occurred.

 

Shall we so soon forget His grace

And not remember what He did

To grant to us a resting place?

O may the Lord our God forbid!  

 

 

Talk about the Truth

Read:  Psalm 105 / Proverbs 19 / Jeremiah 49 / Eph. 4

 

Psalm 105:1,2 O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

Proverbs 19:21,29 There are many devices in a man's heart… the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand… Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

Jeremiah 49:5,6 Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts… And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.

Ephesians 4:11 He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers… That we henceforth be no more… carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men… they lie in wait to deceive. 

 

We ought to talk about the truth,

Exhibiting our Savior’s deeds

As we are showing to our youth

The evidence and where it leads. 

 

Deceivers are in every land,

And with devices they deceive;

But counsel from the Lord shall stand

With solid reasons to believe.  

 

Sing to my Savior

Read:  Psalm 104 / Proverbs 18 / Jeremiah 48 / Eph. 3

 

Psalm 104:33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Jeremiah 48:43 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.

Ephesians 3:19 Know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

As long as God shall give me breath,

I’ll sing to Him through all my days.

Indeed, beyond the doors of death,

Forever I will sing His praise. 

 

I’ll sing with all the grateful throng

To Jesus Christ enthroned above

To praise my Savior with our song

And thank Him for His boundless love.  

 

He is our Hero

Read:  Psalm 103 / Proverbs 17 / Jeremiah 47 / Eph. 2

 

Psalm 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Jeremiah 47:6,7 O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet?... How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge?...  There hath he appointed it.

Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).

 

Forget not why our Savior came

And left His majesty above:

He came to bear our sin and shame

Because His heart was moved with love. 

 

Our best Friend also is our Lord;

He is our Hero whom we craved.

He bore the wrath-appointed sword

So that we thereby could be saved!