Divine Doer

"The LORD was with Joseph... And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it... because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper" (Genesis 39:2,22,23).  "LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me" (Psalm 131:1). 

The Lord was with Joseph in prison

And taught him to trust as he should.

Enduring both pain and derision,

God prospered His servant for good. 

God plans for our good in each trial;

We know now it couldn't be truer.

Though troubles endure for awhile,

Our God is the Planner and Doer. 

The Lord is removing our pride

That's traded for humility. 

By fire our hearts may be tried,

Yet thereby the Lord makes us free.

We're lifting to You, Lord, our eyes

To do what You only can do,   

Removing the pride You despise,

As humbly we're trusting in You. 

Break Forth! Be Forgiven!

"How hast thou broken forth?" (Genesis 38:29).  "O Lord... there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared... with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption" (Psalm 130:3-7).  "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He pondereth all his goings.  His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins" (Proverbs 5:21,22).  "But let a man examine himself" (1 Corinthians 11:28). 

Now break forth from sin and be cleared,

For God by His grace will forgive,

So Christ may be followed and feared,

That we may abundantly live. 

The Lord is beholding our ways,

And all of our goings He's pondered. 

He knows when our heart from Him strays

As we from His mercy have wandered. 

The cords of their sins multiply,

Which captivate sinners today,

But God hears the broken heart cry

Of those who will yet humbly pray. 

O Lord, we give thanks as we trace 

Your mercy extending the call: 

Break forth!  Be forgiven through grace

With plenteous redemption for all! 

Cut the Cords

"Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more... And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying" (Genesis 37:5,11).  "The LORD is righteous: He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked" (Psalm 129:4).  "I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths" (Proverbs 4:11).  "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

Our God knows how to cut the cords

Of envy, wickedness, and pride

That threaten those who are the Lord's,

As Joseph surely testified. 

The Lord has led us in the path

That separates us by His light 

From those who neither flee from wrath

Nor walk in pathways that are right. 

With bands of love by Christ we're led;

The cords of sin our Lord will sever. 

Let everything that's done and said

Now glorify our God forever! 

Lord, cut the cords that You can see

Still cause our hearts to go astray,

And let the truth now make us free

And lead us in Your perfect way.  

End of Edom

"These be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites" (Genesis 36:43).  "Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in His ways... it shall be well with thee" (Psalm 128:1,2).  "The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools" (Proverbs 3:35).  "By all means save some... Every man... striveth... to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (1 Corinthians 9:22,25). 

The end of Edom was in sight

With Esau as their nation's head,

Who had despised his own birthright,

Preferring pottage that was red. 

But blest are those who fear the Lord;

We know for them it shall be well,

For Christ is their supreme Reward,

Who rescued them from death and hell. 

There is an end to Edom's story,

A sad example of the lost,

Who thus rejected heaven's glory

And never stopped to count the cost. 

O Lord, like Esau, many spurn

Their birthright to be born again! 

We pray for those who yet may turn

While You are saving sinful men.   

Beauty of Benoni

"It came to pass, as [Rachel's] soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni [Heb. Son of my Sorrow]: but his father called him Benjamin [Son of my Right Hand]" (Genesis 35:18).  "Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it" (Psalm 127:1).  "He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints" (Proverbs 2:8).  "If any man love God, the same is known of Him" (1 Corinthians 8:3). 

The beauty of Benoni's name

Foreshadowed Jesus Christ our Savior: 

Behold, the Man of Sorrows came

And died to grant us saving favor. 

Behold "the Son of My Right Hand,"

Foreshadowed thus by Benjamin,

Fulfilled in Christ, as God had planned,

Victorious over death and sin! 

Except the Lord Himself had willed

To champion the sinner's cause,

We would have vainly hoped to build

A house condemned by heaven's laws. 

O Lord, because You loved us first,

Benoni's beauty illustrated

That You, for sinners, would be cursed,

A Man of Sorrows, scorned, and hated.  

Time to Turn

"When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream... Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south" (Psalm 126:1,4).  "Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you" (Proverbs 1:23).  "But this I say, brethren, the time is short... for the fashion of this world passeth away" (1 Corinthians 7:29,31). 

When I first turned to Christ my Savior,

It seemed as if it was a dream  

That God extended thus His favor

To sinners whom He would redeem! 

Now as this world stands aloof,

Indifferent to the price He paid,

So many still despise reproof,

Though judgment shall not be delayed. 

The time to turn is very short;

Eternity is very long! 

The Lord has proven His report;

His Word is tried and never wrong. 

Lord, on this first day of the year,

As there is time to turn today,

Renew my heart with godly fear

To follow You without delay.