Messiah's Might

“Eleazar [Heb. אֶלְעָזָר 'El`azar, God is Helper]… arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil” (2 Samuel 23:9,10).  “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might… And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:10,17). 

Among the mighty men of old

Who fought the battles of the Lord,

Was Eleazar who was bold

And would not let go of the sword. 

He fought until His hand was weary,

Yet to the sword his hand would cling.

The battle was the Lord’s so clearly;

The victory came from Christ the King. 

The foes of God had all been slain

With strength that did not come from man. 

The enemy would fight in vain

When God advanced His battle plan. 

And thus we’re called to stand and fight,

But not with strength that is our own.

Be strong in Christ, for in His might

The Lord will make His power known. 

We take the sword up of the Spirit,

Which is the Word of God He gave. 

The hearts of those who humbly hear it

And trust in Christ, the Lord will save.

We thank You, Lord, in this late hour

The gates of hell shall not prevail

Against the Gospel’s saving power;  

Your promises shall never fail.

O Lord, the darkness cannot foil

The work upon the cross You finished. 

As You divide the battle spoil

We see Your grace is not diminished. 

Lord, in Your power be exalted! 

Messiah’s might is marvelous! 

Let hearts decide, which once had halted,

To live for You who died for us. 

Shield of Salvation

“Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation: and Thy gentleness hath made me great” (2 Samuel 22:36).  “Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him” (Proverbs 30:5).  “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). 

The Lord has given me the shield

That covers me with His salvation. 

What gentleness He has revealed

That lifts me from humiliation!

I trust in Him, for He alone

Could rescue me from sin and shame. 

The Word of God has made this known;

It was for this my Savior came. 

Christ Jesus loved me on the cross;

He saw my hopeless, lost estate. 

He purged away my sin as dross;

His gentleness has made me great. 

For me my Lord was sacrificed;

For me He His spotless life He gave!

I praise my Savior, Jesus Christ,

Who lives forevermore to save! 

O Lord, my great and gentle Savior,

You’ve placed me in the joyful ranks

Of those You shield with Your favor,

Who worship with eternal thanks!  

O Lord, the Shield of my soul,

I thank You for Your saving grace!

In Your salvation, rich and full,

You have become my Hiding Place.  

Vision of our Vocation

“The LORD… will beautify the meek with salvation.  Let the saints be joyful in glory… Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand” (Psalm 149:4-6).  “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).  “Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ephesians 4:1). 

Behold the sinners saved by grace,

Now beautified with God’s salvation,

Who here assemble in their place

 As saints pursuing their vocation! 

Let praises from their mouth ascend,

Who bear the Spirit’s two-edge sword,

As they go forth where God shall send

To do the bidding of their Lord. 

The sword of grace and truth shall call

On every soul for a decision. 

Our Savior tasted death for all,

Yet they will perish without vision! 

May God direct us in the path

That glorifies Him by our walk. 

May souls be thereby saved from wrath

As we with vision to them talk. 

Lord, let the Gospel in our hand,

The Spirit’s sword which we now wield,

Fulfill the vision You command

In our vocation in Your field. 

Receive the praise that You deserve,

O Lord, by vision that You give,  

In each vocation where we serve

To glorify You as we live. 

Comprehending Christ

“Be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man… that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think… be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:16-21). 

The Holy Spirit will extend

The inner strength which has sufficed

To follow and to comprehend

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Thus rooted in the ground of love,

We comprehend each deep dimension

Of breadth, and length, and height above

In Christ who gives us comprehension. 

What wondrous love now saves the soul! 

It far surpasses finite thought! 

Christ gave Himself to pay in full

The price by which our souls were bought. 

Now unto Jesus Christ our Lord

Who calls our thirsty souls to drink,

We praise our God in one accord

For love exceeding all we think!  

O Lord, Your love is marvelous,

And thereby we are now constrained

To love You, for You first loved us,

And by Your death, our life obtained! 

This comprehension of Your grace,

O Christ, now draws us to adore!

Yet when we see You face to face,

Our hearts shall worship evermore!  

Infinite Intervention

“All of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table” (2 Samuel 19:28).  “He healeth the broken in heart... His understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:3,5).  “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself” (Proverbs 27:12).  “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), and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6). 

How hopeless was my lost condition

Before my Savior intervened! 

My soul was destined for perdition

Until upon the Lord I leaned. 

There was no other place to hide;

My soul was brought to desperation. 

I turned at last to God and cried

Who lifted me with His salvation!

How great His understanding is;

Its fullness cannot be explored!

It thrills my soul to know I’m His

And that He also is my Lord. 

My Lord the King alone was able

To intervene with healing love.

He set me at His banquet table

To sit with Jesus Christ above. 

O Lord, it seemed impossible,

But that, of course, did not stop You! 

You intervened to save my soul;

You did what no one else could do! 

Lord, You have drawn me to this place

To see how infinitely priced 

Your intervention was by grace

When for me You were sacrificed! 

How infinite Your intervention!   

O Lord, help me to take it in

As You enlarge my comprehension

To see the cost purge my sin!