Sensible Singing

"God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding… for the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted" (Psalm 47:7,9).  "Keep My commandments, and live; and My law as the apple of thine eye" (Proverbs 7:2).  "Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity" (Lamentations 2:14).  "Ye ought to be teachers… even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12,14).    

Let God now be heartily praised: 

The shields of the earth are all His!

Let sensible songs now be raised

As we understand who He is. 

Let sensible singing commence

That's based on the Lord's point of view. 

For why should we sing without sense,

When God has revealed what's true? 

The foolish false prophets have spoken,

In contrast to what God has said. 

God's promises never were broken;

How senselessly, then, they were led! 

O Lord, You have graciously taught

With counsel You daily are bringing,

That we might obey as we ought

And praise You with sensible singing.  

Stillness in the Strife

"God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present Help in trouble… Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:1,10).  "My son, keep thy Father's commandment… for the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life" (Proverbs 6:20,23).  "The Word of God is quick, and powerful… and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart… Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:12,16). 

In times of trouble and of strife,

We have a refuge in our God.

In every season of our life,

He guides us with His staff and rod. 

The Lord commands us to be still

Amid the strife and the commotion

To hear His voice and do His will,

Though mountains fall into the ocean. 

The Word of God is powerful,

A sharp discerner of intentions,

A sword dividing heart and soul,

A light reproving false inventions.

With stillness, Lord, we seek Your face 

Above the strife and confrontation.

We draw near to Your throne of grace

And find Your mercy's consolation.  

Jehoiachin's Joy

"[The] king… lifted up the head of Jehoiachin (Heb., Jehovah will establish)… and brought him forth out of prison, and spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him… and changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life… every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life" (Jeremiah 52:31-34).  "Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7,8). 

As we behold Jehoiachin,

Who from his prison gained release,

Like those who are set free from sin,

We see a portrait of our peace. 

The king, who once had been estranged,   

Now spoke with kindness to him then.

His prison garments which were changed

Portray the grace of God to men. 

Jehoiachin would eat his bread

While seated with the king each day.

We also have a table spread

By Christ our Shepherd in this way! 

Jehoiachin portrays our joy,

O Lord, since we have heard Your voice,

That circumstances can't destroy

As in Your presence we rejoice.  

Boast in our Beloved

"In God we boast all the day long, and praise Thy name forever" (Psalm 44:8).  "The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God" (Jeremiah 51:10).  "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.  For it became Him… in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews 2:9,10). 

We boast in Jesus all day long

And praise His name forevermore. 

We glorify Him with our song,

Exalting Him whom we adore. 

We had no goodness of our own,

But Christ gave us His righteousness. 

Come, let us make our Savior known,

Who rescued us from our distress! 

We boast in our beloved Lord

Who tasted death for every man. 

This One, whom many have ignored,

Extends God's ONLY saving plan. 

Beloved Lord, we boast in You,

The Captain of our soul's salvation,

As all Your beauty is in view

And we draw near in adoration. 

Light and Love

"O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me… Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy" (Psalm 43:3,4).  "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee… Trust in the LORD... He giveth grace unto the lowly" (Proverbs 3:3,5,34).  "The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve" (Jeremiah 50:20).  "When He had by Himself purged our sins, [He] sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). 

The light and truth of God are sent

To draw us to our Savior's cross

With grace that leads us to repent

And find our sins are purged as dross. 

His grace and truth shall save the lowly

And keep us trusting in our Savior. 

His light and love shall make us holy

In thought, in word, and in behavior. 

The days shall come when Christ will look

And find no sins in Israel,

For as the Lamb of God He took

The sins of those He saved from hell. 

Lord, thank You for Your light and love

Which lead us onward as we're urged

To set our hearts on things above,

Rejoicing that our sins are purged.  

Discerning the Dryness

"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God… while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?" (Psalm 42:2,3).  "If thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding… Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:3,5).  "Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys… O backsliding daughter?" (Jeremiah 49:4).  "Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ… thou owest unto Me even thine own self besides" (Philemon 3,19). 

There is a thirst within our hearts

That mockers cannot understand. 

The living water God imparts

Has satisfied us in this land. 

"Where is thy God?" the scorners say, 

In spite of all the evidence

Throughout creation on display;

Their hearts are void of common sense! 

They glory in a well that's dry  

That cannot help them to discern

Their need that Christ would satisfy

If only they would to Him turn. 

O Lord, as we have been discerning

This valley's dryness here below,

Your grace and peace that we are learning

Teach us how much to You we owe!  

Flee to His Favor

"By this I know that Thou favorest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.  And as for me, Thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before Thy face forever" (Psalm 41:11,12).  "Turn you at My reproof… Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:23,33).  "Flee, save your lives" (Jeremiah 48:6).  "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us… abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior" (Titus 3:5,6). 

My enemy has been put down,

As my accuser surely knows. 

My Savior wears the Victor's crown,

Who triumphed over all my foes. 

Though many choose to stand aloof

As they refuse God's saving grace,  

The Lord is calling with reproof

To find in Him a hiding place. 

It is through Christ the soul survives

The final battle with the grave. 

All those who trust Him save their lives,

For Jesus Christ alone can save.

It's not by works that I have done;  

I flee instead to You, my Savior!

It was the battle that You won 

That gave me refuge in Your favor.