Stirred as the Streams

"When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dreamed.... Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams of the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" (Psalm 126:1-5). "We all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee" (Isaiah 64:6,7).

By Christ alone we are redeemed:
When we discovered this,
We surely were like those who dreamed,
And laughed with heaven's bliss!

How quickly is our first love faded
And shriveled as a leaf,
Becoming like this world jaded,
So cold in unbelief!

Lord, turn us as the streams again,
And stir our hearts anew!
Revive us, Lord, for only then,
Shall we take hold of You!

Then stir us, Lord, with love to weep
And sow Your precious Word,
To win the souls that we may reap,
As streams of life are stirred.

Mountains of Mercies

"As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even forever" (Psalm 125:2). "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD... which He hath bestowed on them according to His mercies.... the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old" (Isaiah 63:7-9).

As mountains of Jerusalem
Are round about that city,
So likewise God encircles them
Whom He will save with pity.

Your presence, Lord, has surely seemed
Like mountains that surround
The people whom You have redeemed
With mercies that abound!

Beautiful Beulah

"Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.... thou shalt be called Hephzibah [My Delight], and thy land, Beulah [My wife]: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married..... As a bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee" (Isaiah 62:2-5).

Behold, as a bridegroom has joy in his bride,
Our God shall rejoice over those who are His.
The land He calls Beulah is where we'll abide,
Where we shall behold Him and be where He is.

Beulah (My wife) and Hephzibah (Delight):
What beautiful names, O Lord, that You give
Your land and Your people, for which You will fight,
That we in Your presence forever may live.

Garments of Grace

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels" (Isaiah 61:10).

Behold the garments of salvation!
Behold the robes of righteousness!
God has clothed His new creation
As a bride in spotless dress!

How greatly, Lord, will we rejoice
Forever in Your wondrous love
To see Your face, to hear Your voice,
With joy unspeakable above!

Gladness and Glory

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD" (Psalm 122:1). "Arise, shine; for Thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:1).

There's gladness and glory in God's house today
Where hearts are united in love for the Lord.
We see there the love of our Lord on display
With Christ in the midst and His Spirit outpoured.

Arise and shine forth with the glorious light
That's risen upon us through God's tender love!
So may we be pleasing, O Lord, in Your sight,
Reflecting Your gladness and glory above.

Bitter Belly

"And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.... And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, nations, and tongues, and kings" (Revelation 10:8-11).

The Gospel of Christ is God's little book
As sweet as the honey, yet bitter as well:
It surely is sweet when to Jesus we look,
Yet bitter to think of those marching to hell.

The Gospel of Christ is sweet to our taste,
And yet it is bitter to ponder the lost.
How can we be silent as sinners make haste
To endless despair, never counting the cost?

O Lord, we give thanks for the Gospel that saves
And keeps us so sweetly in Your boundless love.
In view of the bitterness of Christless graves,
We'd be Your ambassadors sent from above.

Wasted Wait

"He... keepeth thy soul.... Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not His resting place: for a just man... riseth up again" (Proverbs 24:12-16).

Lay not wait, O wicked man,
Against the soul the Lord will keep;
God shall overturn your plan
And will defend His precious sheep.

The guards once waited at the grave,
Supposing Christ would never rise:
This promise that our Savior gave
Was then performed before their eyes.

O Lord, our Resting Place sublime,
Our Refuge, and our dearest Friend,
The wicked only waste their time
Against the souls that You defend!

Humble Habitation

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15).

Come, enlarge Your dwelling place,
O Lord of our salvation!
Let our hearts be, by Your grace,
Your humble habitation.

O Lord, we marvel at Your love,
That You with us would dwell
To lift us to Your heights above
And rescue us from hell!

Inhabiting eternity,
The high and lofty One,
You left Your throne for Calvary,
To save a world undone.

And though it's hard to take it in,
O Lord, we know it's true
That we who once were lost in sin
Are now indwelt by You!

Princes in Perspective

"Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of Thy Word. I rejoice at Thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil.... Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them" (Psalm 119:161-165).

The princes now may have their say:
Their mockery the Lord has heard,
Yet they can never take away
A single treasure from God's Word.

So from this point of view we see
Our wealth through what the Lord has done.
How great the spoil of victory!
How great the peace that He has won!

Thank You, Lord! We stand in awe
At all the blessings You afford
To those who love Your perfect Law
And find their treasure in You, Lord!

Season to Seek

"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6).

Seek the Lord while yet you may;
Call upon Him while He's near!
While it still is called Today,
Seize the moment; be sincere!

How awful is the apathy
In souls who do not see the need
To seek the Lord with urgency
Or even give Him any heed!

O Lord, we thank You for Your love
That makes us see our need of grace
And for Your Spirit from above
Who calls us now to seek Your face.

Lamb and Lion

"Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne... stood a Lamb as it had been slain.... Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (Revelation 5:5,6,12).

Behold, the Lion has prevailed:
There is no cause to weep,
For not one promise has He failed
In all His Word to keep!

Behold, the Lion and the Lamb
Are, after all, the same:
He is the Lord, the great "I Am",
Who for redemption came!

Worthy is the Lamb once slain
Of heaven's highest praise
And as the Lion now to reign
For everlasting days!

O Lord, as we behold this sight
In Revelation's Book,
We see the Lion shining bright
As on the Lamb we look.

All glory, Lord, to You belongs
As worship waits in Zion,
And there we'll sing the glorious songs
To Christ, the Lamb and Lion!

Blessing out of Bruising

"He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.... Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand" (Isaiah 53:5,10).

The bruising of our precious Lord
For our iniquities
With all the wrath upon Him poured
Was surely for our peace!

It pleased the Lord to bruise the Christ,
His own beloved Son,
That He might thus be sacrificed
For souls that would be won.

O Lord, we cannot comprehend
The depths of love it took
For You to bruise the sinner's Friend
And on His grief to look.

O Savior, You were bruised for love,
And so for endless days
We'll join the multitudes above
To sing our grateful praise!

Beautiful to Behold

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth!.... Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently, He shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high" (Isaiah 52:7,13). "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.... Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:8,20).

How beautiful when feet are shod
To publish tidings of salvation!
Behold the beauty of our God,
Exalted high in adoration!

How beautiful to see the door
That God has opened by His power
To preach the Gospel even more
And thus by grace redeem each hour!

How beautiful to see You, Lord,
At every heart's door as You knock,
And when they open, You record
The prison doors that You unlock!

Time and Terms

"It is time for Thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void Thy law.... Therefore I esteem all Thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:126-128). "Hearken unto Me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their revilings.... I am the LORD thy God.... And I have put My words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of Mine hand" (Isaiah 51:7-16).

The time is now. The terms are set.
Though many set aside God's Word,
Be sure that God will not forget
And shall fulfill what we have heard.

The time is shortened everyday
That draws us to eternity.
There is no other saving way
Apart from Christ who makes us free.

The terms have surely never changed:
There is no other name that saves.
Apart from Christ we are estranged
And thus assigned to hopeless graves.

And now, O Lord, Your words sublime
Are in our lips, that may be preached
In Gospel terms; this is the time
While precious souls may yet be reached!

Now send us, Lord, by Your command
To show Your terms of truth and grace
As we are covered by Your hand
And led by You in every place.

Morning Mercies

"The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned" (Isaiah 50:4). "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 2:7).

Morning by morning the Lord makes me hear
His comfort, instruction, reproof, and correction.
Morning by morning He wakens my ear
To hear as the learned and to heed His direction.

Morning by morning the Lord speaks with grace
That I may know how I may strengthen in season
The one who is weary and faints in the race,
And give those an answer who ask for a reason.

Morning by morning, how faithful God is,
As daily He greets me and calls me to dine!
Day after day He reminds me I'm His,
Assuring my heart that He also is mine.

We thank You, O Lord, that You opened our eyes
And wakened our ears now to hear as the learned,
Teaching us daily to walk with the wise
As morning by morning to You we have turned.

Comparing Compassion

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands" (Isaiah 49:15,16). "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood... be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:5,6).

To what shall we liken the love of our LORD?
With whom could He ever compare?
Examples must fail, for none will afford
A likeness of His loving care!

Yes, even a woman with her sucking child,
A marvelous portrait of love,
With all her compassion, so tender and mild,
Falls short of God's mercy above.

Behold, we are graven upon His own hands:
We see there the wounds of the nails!
Yes, this is the place where the soul understands
That every comparison fails!

O Lord, we are speechless as we contemplate
The searching that only begins
To view Your compassion, so matchlessly great
That washed us from all of our sins!

Truth Teacher

"I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation.... I have not departed from Thy judgments: for Thou hast taught me.... Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:99,102,104).

There's not a teacher like the Lord
Who gives His people understanding,
Whose Word is like a two-edge sword
With grace and truth He is commanding.

Although professors may abound
With reputations men applaud,
There are no teachers that are found
Who teach as does the Lord our God.

We thank You, Lord, for Your instruction
As You continue what You started,
To keep us from a false seduction
And never from Your truth departed.

Deity Doxology

"Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; for the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and His Spirit, hath sent Me. Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go" (Isaiah 48:16,17). Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever" (Jude 24,25).

Listen to our Lord and Savior
Calling us to come and hear.
Praise Him for His wondrous favor
Saving all who will draw near.

Christ alone extends the reach
Of heaven's love to sinful man.
He will lead us and will teach
The blessings of redemption's plan.

Praise the Lord who now is calling
Every sinner who repents
Able now to keep from falling,
All He faultlessly presents!

O Lord, with joy we contemplate
The glory of Your majesty!
Forever we shall celebrate
Your grace in our doxology!

Surely In Pen and Shortly In Person

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.... I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: but I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face" (3 John 4,13,14).

The words of our Lord that are written with grace
Preserved through the ages with ink and with pen
Shall shortly give way to our Lord face to face,
Since He has assured us He's coming again.

Surely there's more that our Lord has to say
Than that which He's written in His precious Word,
Yet He has joy when His children obey
And walk in the truth of the Scriptures they've heard.

O Lord, we give thanks for the prospect ahead
To see You in Person and then hear You speak!
Until that day comes, Lord, we'll read what You've said,
And live for the joy in Your children You seek.

Remember the Reason

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from the ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure" (Isaiah 46:9,10). "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).

Remember the reason we know what is true:
Our God has provided our faith a foundation,
Declaring the things that He formerly knew,
The things not yet done with regard to salvation.

Remember the things that the prophets foretold,
To whom God revealed the end from the start.
Now come and examine their writings of old,
Which God, by His Spirit, could only impart.

Remember the coming of Christ to this earth,
Fulfilling those things that the prophets had said:
The place and the kindred of His humble birth,
His life, death, and rising again from the dead!

O Lord, we give thanks for the clear understanding,
That we may know Christ and receive Him as Lord!
We know You're the true God with proof so demanding,
There's no valid reason Your truth is ignored!

Man vs. Maker

"Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!.... Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker.... There is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside Me. Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:21,22). "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:11,12).

What kind of man with his Maker would strive?
To do so, it certainly seems, would be odd!
Alas! There are many who think they'll survive,
Opposing themselves as they fight against God!

Woe to that one who refuses God's love,
And thereby will choose to receive condemnation!
The place for repentance is HERE, not above,
And NOW is the time to receive His salvation!

"Look unto Me," says the Lord, "and be saved,"
Extending His offer to all of the earth!
What kind of madness is this, so depraved,
That strives against God and refuses new birth?

Lord, we behold with amazement the choice
That many are making to fight against You!
Yet in this madness we'd lift up our voice,
Declaring the Gospel that's nonetheless true.

Help us, O Lord, in this spiritual strife
To preach with more boldness that souls may be won,
To show that the singular way to have life
And peace with You, Lord, is by having Your Son.

Certainty of Cyrus

"Thus saith the LORD, Thy Redeemer... that confirmeth the word of His servant, and performeth the counsel of His messengers.... that saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built, and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.... Thus saith the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him.... I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me.... that they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west that there is none beside Me. I am the LORD, and there is none else" (Isaiah 44:24-45:5).

How could the prophet Isaiah forewarn
And speak of King Cyrus by name,
Declaring his triumph (before he was born!)
And all of his splendor proclaim?

How could the prophet Isaiah have known
That Cyrus would one day command
To rebuild the temple (not yet overthrown!)
As God would then hold his right hand?

You, Lord, alone can declare what will be;
There's no other God beside You!
Isaiah could speak with such certainty
Because You are faithful and true!

Haven from Horror

"I remembered Thy judgments of old, and have comforted myself. Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake Thy law" (Psalm 119:52,53).

There is a haven from God's wrath
That grace alone affords
That comforts us along our path
Because we are the Lord's.

This comfort, with its guarantee
That gives such confidence,
Is ours for all eternity,
For God is our Defense.

We see the horrible mistake
Of those who disregard
The law of God that they forsake
Because their hearts are hard.

We thank You that You paid the cost
O Lord, for full salvation.
So moved with horror for the lost,
We pray for their persuasion.

Unafraid and Unashamed

"I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed" (Psalm 119:46). "The anointing which ye have received of Him adideth in you... as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie.... And now, little children, abide in Him; that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming" (1 John 2:27,28).

The testimonies of the Lord
Are altogether true.
What confidence they will afford!
What courage they renew!

So let us then be unafraid
And also unashamed.
We have the Holy Spirit's aid
That Christ may be proclaimed.

Uphold us, Lord, in every season
To walk in holy fear,
So that there will not be a reason
For shame when You appear.

Lost by Lust

"Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken Thou me in Thy way" (Psalm 119:36,37). "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever" (1 John 2:15-17).

Coveting shall our rob mind
Of virtues we should gain
And cause our hearts to be inclined
To lust for what is vain.

There is a joy that may be lost,
A peace that may depart,
As lust demands a dreadful cost
Exacted from our heart.

Turn away our eyes, O Lord,
From things that pass away,
And so incline our hearts toward
Your perfect will today.

Growth in Grace

"Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me Thy law graciously.... I will run the way of Thy commandments when Thou shalt enlarge my heart" (Psalm 119:29,32). "The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his goings" (Proverbs 5:21). "Beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:17,18).

The Lord has pondered things within
The heart He has reproved.
The way of lying and of sin
Should daily be removed.

A heart that's cluttered with these ways
Is narrowed, not enlarged.
Should not we be enlarged for praise
And grow in grace as charged?

O Lord, You are the King of kings:
Enlarge in us Your place!
Remove the error of those things
That hinder growth in grace.

Produce your Prophets

"Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter.... I beheld, and there was no man... that, when I asked of them, could answer a word" (Isaiah 41:21-28). "Be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets... knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.... They willingly are ignorant" (2 Peter 3:2-5).

Produce your cause! Present your case!
If you can tell the future, speak!
Foretell events that shall take place;
Instruct us where we ought to seek.

We hear no answer, not a word,
Though prophets falsely do abound.
Isaiah's challenge they have heard,
But not a challenger is found!

The rules, we know, are surely plain:
Should not this world count it odd
That mockers mock as they disdain
The proof that comes alone from God?

O Lord, we know that You have spoken;
Your prophets validate Your voice.
The Scripture never shall be broken,
And knowing this, our hearts rejoice!

Truest Treasures

"I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies as much as in all riches" (Psalm 119:14). "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her" (Proverbs 3:13-15).

Not all of the riches now treasured in earth
Or all of the things that may yet be desired,
Could ever begin to compare with the worth
That's found in the wisdom that God has inspired.

How great is the wealth that we have in God's Word!
How vast is the storehouse of blessings therein!
With all we perceive, yet the half is not heard,
As now we see darkly, still hindered by sin.

O Lord, we are debtors who never could pay
For riches transcending our grandest of dreams!
As temporal treasures on earth pass away,
True wealth is in Christ and the souls He redeems!

Wonderful Witnesses

"Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power, not one faileth" (Isaiah 40:26). "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.... We have also more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place" (2 Peter 1:16-19).

Wonderful witnesses shining their light:
Lift up your eyes and behold them on high!
God calls them all by their names by His might,
As stars tell His glory that fill the night sky.

Wonderful witnesses telling their story:
Peter describes what they saw with their eyes!
The Lord Jesus Christ manifested His glory,
As all of the evidence shown testifies.

Wonderful witnesses greatly abound:
Hundreds of prophecies surely foretold
The suffering and glory of Christ that was found,
As in their fulfillment we clearly behold!

Lord, we give thanks for Your witnesses heard:
The stars in the firmament all by their names,
The eyewitness statements, and prophetic Word,
All in their places Your glory proclaims!

Fearlessness of Foolishness

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction... Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you... They hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.... therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way.... The turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them" (Proverbs 1:7-32).

The fear of the Lord is the very beginning
Of knowledge preserving the soul,
But fools will despise it and go right on sinning,
Refusing to give God control.

The fear of the Lord is a right understanding
Of God who will make Himself known,
But fools turn away from His mercy, demanding
That they may be left on their own.

O Lord, we give thanks for Your merciful way
You keep us from harm by Your fear,
For once we like sheep had been going astray,
So careless, though judgment was near!

So help us, O Lord, by Your grace to expound
And model Your fear to our youth,
That wisdom and knowledge may in them abound
With freedom through knowing the truth.