Joyful Sound: Jesus Saves!

"Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before Thy face.  Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance.  In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted" (Psalm 89:14-16).  "He [Caiaphas] prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad" (John 11:51,52).   

We hear the joyful sound of grace

Where justice has been satisfied,

For Jesus went before the face

Of judgment, when for us He died! 

This is the joyful sound above:

The theme that Jesus saves alone,

Rejoicing in His wondrous love

With His redeemed around the throne. 

Though Caiaphas also had foretold

That Christ would die for Israel's nation,

His heart was hardened, blind, and cold;

He saw no cause for celebration. 

O Lord, we hear the joyful sound

That "Jesus Saves!" the souls abroad,

For grace and truth will yet abound

To all the world so loved by God!  

Shepherd and Shield

"Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?... Who hath established all the ends of the earth?  What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if thou canst tell?  Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:4,5).  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep" (John 10:10,11). 

Consider our Lord's reputation:  

God's Son, who descended to earth,

Has purchased so great a salvation,

So we may obtain a new birth! 

Rejoice, for the Lord has ascended,

And He is a Shield to those

Who trust Him, for He has defended  

Our souls when He died and then rose! 

The thief brought destruction and strife,

Desiring to kill and to steal.

Our Shepherd laid down His own life

To thereby abundantly heal! 

Lord, You are our Shepherd and Shield,

Our Hero who died in our place! 

You suffered that we might be healed;

You rescued our souls by Your grace! 

Victorious Vision

"Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God… all my springs are in thee" (Psalm 87:3,7).  "Where there is no vision, the people perish… every man's judgment cometh from the LORD" (Proverbs 29:18,26).  "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work… in the grave, whither thou goest" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).  "The night cometh, when no man can work… And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not, might see" (John 9:4,39). 

The Lord has drawn aside the veil

Of things above so glorious

That make the things on earth to pale;

The contrast is victorious!

Without such vision, people perish,

And we forget that God now ponders

The useless things we tend to cherish

That entertain an eye that wanders. 

Let's use the mind our Maker gave  

With hands to work with all our might! 

There is no work within the grave,

When daylight shall give way to night. 

Lord, lead us with victorious vision

To show the reason that You came:   

Salvation waits for the decision

Of those who call upon Your name.  

Mercy and Might

"Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee… I will walk in Thy truth" (Psalm 86:5,11). "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).  "Jesus said… Go, and sin no more.  Then spake Jesus… I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life… If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:11,12,36). 

The Lord is good and He forgives

The sinners who upon Him call. 

As our High Priest, He ever lives

To lift and lead us when we fall. 

Though we may be inclined to cover

Our sins with labels like "mistaken",

When we confess them, we discover

His mercy when they are forsaken. 

The Lord said "Go and sin no more"

To that poor woman caught in sin. 

Her freedom (never known before)  

To walk in truth would then begin. 

In darkness, Lord, You are the light

With truth that makes us free indeed.

We're saved by mercy and by might

To gladly follow where You lead. 

Ready for Revival

"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?... Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him" (Psalm 85:6,9).  "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1).  "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart" (Ecclesiastes 7:2).  "Your time is always ready… If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink... This spake He of the Spirit" (John 7:6,37,39). 

The Lord is ready to revive

The people who will seek His face. 

Christ died, He rose, and is alive

To readily impart this grace. 

Since God is not procrastinating,

The question therefore to us speaks: 

What is the reason we are waiting

For this revival that God seeks?

Procrastination says "Tomorrow!" 

But this is not what God commands,  

For God foresees the time of sorrow

When death shall interrupt our plans. 

O Lord, we're ready for revival,

As we are by Your Spirit stirred.

Before another day's arrival,

Revive us to obey Your Word!