Salvation's Sword

"Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire… sin offering hast Thou not required… Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me" (Psalm 40:6,7).  "O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet?...  How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge?" (Jeremiah 47:6,7).  "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My Fellow, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 13:7).  "Our Savior Jesus Christ… gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity" (Titus 2:13,14). 

The many offerings sacrificed 

Were former portraits of our Lord,

Which had foreshadowed Jesus Christ,

Who bore the judgment of God's sword. 

The sword of justice, charged by God,

Could not be silenced then with less

Than all the fury of His rod

That satisfied His righteousness. 

That sword awakened for our sake

Against the Lamb of God, our Savior. 

He knew how much there was at stake

And gave Himself to grant us favor. 

O Lord, it was for us You died;  

You knew how great the cost would be! 

Salvation's sword is satisfied

By which You purged iniquity.  

Musing in Silence, Moved to Speak

"I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue… while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue" (Psalm 39:1,3).  "Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:5).  "Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed" (Jeremiah 46:17).  "Holding fast the faithful Word… convince the gainsayers.  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers… whose mouths must be stopped" (Titus 1:9-11).   

There is a time I ought to speak;

There is a time when I should muse. 

The Lord will move me as I seek

To do whatever He will choose. 

I am reminded of the treasure

Of every word of God I hold. 

Should I hold back in any measure

The truth I know that should be told? 

As Pharaoh's boasting was but noise,

The same is true of the deceivers  

Whose message nonetheless destroys

The confidence of weak believers. 

Move me to speak, O Lord, today

While musing in the silence first,

That You may teach me what to say

To those who for the truth will thirst. 

The Remedy They Refuse

"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy… If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest" (Proverbs 29:1,9).  "Preach the Word… for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables… Do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (2 Timothy 4:2-5). 

The one who often is reproved

And still refuses God's correction

Shall find the remedy removed

Which would have brought the Lord's protection.

Refusing wheat is choosing chaff;

Rejecting truth shall garner lies. 

Though wisdom rages or will laugh,

The hardened heart will not be wise. 

We preach the Word, for we know well

That hearts grow harder every day

As fools declare there is no hell,

And many trust in what they say. 

How gracious is Your remedy,

O Lord, which many still refuse! 

Evangelism's ministry

Now pleads with souls to rightly choose. 

Perilous Season of Perishing Sinners

"Fret not thyself because of evildoers… For they shall soon be cut down like the grass" (Psalm 37:1,2).  "Thus saith the LORD… Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls?... [They] shall know whose words shall stand, Mine, or theirs" (Jeremiah 44:7,28).  "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be… ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth… All scripture is given by inspiration of God, that the man of God may be… thoroughly furnished" (2 Timothy 3:1-7,16,17). 

This season very soon shall pass

In which the scorners still increase,

For they shall be cut down as grass,

And all their mocking then shall cease. 

Though sinners think that they control

The final word on education,

Their arrogance betrays their soul,

Resulting in their condemnation. 

These are the days God said would come;

They should not take us by surprise. 

Yet God may use us to save some,

For he that wins a soul is wise. 

This season, Lord, is perilous,

Of sinners perishing today!  

We need Your Word instructing us,

That we may reach them as we pray.  

Fountain and Foundation

"The children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings… for with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:7,9).  "My son, be wise, and make My heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth Me.  A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself" (Proverbs 27:11,12).  "Study to show thyself approved unto God… The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His.  And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:15,19). 

Within this dry and darkened land,

A living fountain freely springs,  

And in God's light we understand

That there is rest beneath His wings. 

We live this life in heaven's light

As God equips us with His grace

To do what's pleasing in His sight

And find in Him our hiding place. 

We study that we may be found

Approved by God (the perfect measure). 

The blessings of our Lord abound

To those who will pursue His pleasure. 

O Lord, Your fountain and foundation

Of life and light that You reveal

Delight us in Your great salvation

And mark us with Your Spirit's seal.  

Supreme Solace

"Say unto my soul, I am thy Salvation… and my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long" (Psalm 35:3,28).  "The curse causeless shall not come" (Proverbs 26:2).  "Be not afraid… for I am with you to save you… and I will show mercies unto you" (Jeremiah 42:11,12).  "God… hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling… I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:8,9,12). 

There is no solace so supreme

As that which Christ our Savior gives. 

He died for souls He would redeem;  

We know that our Redeemer lives!   

We were condemned by righteous laws,

For which our Lord and Savior died. 

The curse no longer has a cause;

His righteousness is satisfied! 

"For I am with you," He has said,

To give you life abundantly. 

Our Lord is risen from the dead,

Whom, face to face, we soon shall see! 

Your solace, Lord, that we've received

Supremely satisfies our ear!

We know You, whom we have believed,

And You have promised to be near.