Worthy of Worship

Returning to the four-stanza Quiet Time Poem structure.

"Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?  Who hath gathered the wind in His fists?  Who hath bound the waters in a garment?  Who hath established all the ends of the earth?...  He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:4,5).  "We will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up" (Daniel 3:18).  "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10). 

The Lord has ascended on high,

Who also descended to earth

To save us, and thus He would die

So we might obtain a new birth.

The Lord holds the wind in His fists;

He gave to the earth its foundation. 

By Him all creation consists;

From Him we receive our salvation. 

The furnace of Babylon flamed

To threaten all those who would dare

To trust in the Lord unashamed

And cast on Him all of their care. 

O Lord, Your reply was so true

To Satan, the father of pride,

For no one is worthy but You

Of worship, as You testified.    

Voice and Vision

"The LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations" (Psalm 100:5).  "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18).  "The great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure" (Daniel 2:45).  "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight… And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:3,17).

The voice of God has surely spoken;

His vision and interpretation

In prophecy shall not be broken: 

In Christ alone shall be salvation. 

Wise to Worship

"Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy" (Psalm 99:9).  "They that seek the LORD understand all things" (Proverbs 28:5).  "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself… In all matters of wisdom and understanding… Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus " (Daniel 1:8,20,21).  "There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews?  For we… are come to worship Him" (Matthew 2:1,2). 

Exalt the LORD, for He is holy,

With all who truly seek His face. 

It's wise to worship with the lowly

And praise Him for His saving grace.  

Proclaiming His Presence

"The LORD hath made known His salvation… He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God" (Psalm 98:2,3).  "The name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there" (Ezekiel 48:35).  "Behold, a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matthew 1:23). 

The city's name, "The Lord is There",

Foretold then by Ezekiel,

Proclaims the presence we declare

In "God with Us", "Emmanuel"!  

Waiting for the Waters

"By the river… shall grow all trees for meat… because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine" (Ezekiel 47:12).  "He shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb… and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life… and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations… He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.  Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:1,2,20). 

We're waiting till our Lord returns

For healing waters that will flow

As all creation greatly yearns:

Yes!  Come, Lord Jesus, even so!  

Daily Declaration

"Sing unto the LORD, bless His name; show forth His salvation from day to day.  Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people" (Psalm 96:2,3). 

Declare the Gospel's true report;

Sing joyfully salvation's song! 

For time on earth is very short;

Eternity is very long.  

(A shorter version of the QTP begins today) 

Tremble Today

"Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart… as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My work.  Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart… unto whom I sware in My wrath that they should not enter into My rest" (Psalm 95:7-11).  "I saw a great white throne… and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God… And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).  

Today we hear the mockers scorning

God's gracious offer to be pardoned,

While heaven gives the solemn warning

To hear His voice and not be hardened. 

As in the desert's provocation  

When rebels would not heed His voice,

The Lord today extends salvation,

But hearts are hardened still by choice. 

We hear the voice of God attest,

Since they refused to know His ways,

That rebels wouldn't find His rest

Prepared for those who give Him praise. 

We pray that sinners yet may tremble,

O Lord, TODAY to find Your favor

Before the time that souls assemble

At judgment's throne without a Savior.  

Contrast of His Comfort

"The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity... In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul" (Psalm 94:11,19).  "My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My ways" (Proverbs 23:26).  "Teach My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean" (Ezekiel 44:23).  "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.  And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God" (Revelation 19:9). 

The thoughts of man are surely known

By God who calls them vanity. 

The comforts of the Lord have shown

His refuge from insanity. 

"Give Me thine heart," He says to me,

"And let thine eyes observe My ways." 

His truth has thereby made me free

To give my heart to Him with praise. 

The contrast now is very plain

Between the unclean and the clean,

Between the holy and profane,

Between the troubled and serene.

The contrast of Your comfort, Lord,

Is shown in those who shall attend  

The marriage feast that You afford

And those excluded in the end.