Merciful Mouth

"Be strong and courageous… with us is the LORD our God to help us… And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah" (2 Chronicles 32:7,8 ).  "The LORD taketh pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation… Let the high praises of God be in their mouth" (Psalm 149:4,6).  "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction" (Proverbs 31:8).  "Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues" (Revelation 10:11). 

The people rested as they heard

The counsel Hezekiah gave

To trust the promise in God's Word

That He is with those He will save. 

We bring the joyful declaration

That Christ descended from His throne

To beautify us with salvation

And make His tender mercies known. 

Declare it to the north and south! 

Proclaim it to the east and west! 

Let joyful praises fill our mouth

To Christ by whom we have been blessed! 

As prophets came to prophesy

To show Your ways so merciful,

Lord, may our mouth now testify

That You alone can save the soul.  

Prepared to Praise

"Thus did Hezekiah… that which was good and right and truth before the LORD… And in every work that he began… to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered" (2 Chronicles 31:20,21).  "Praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven… the praise of all His saints… a people near unto Him" (Psalm 148:13,14).  "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?... He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:4,5). 

King Hezekiah had a plan

To seek his God right from the start. 

In every work that He began,

He did it thus with all his heart. 

How careful we should also be

To praise the name of Christ our Savior

And make this our priority

In every aspect of behavior! 

We praise Him who ascended up,

Who had descended to the earth

To drink that bitter, wrath-filled cup,

So we might have a second birth. 

How good it is, O Lord, to yield

A heart prepared to praise Your name!   

You came to earth to be our Shield 

To save us when You bore our shame! 

Mockers of Mercy

"So the posts went with the letters from the king… according to the commandment of the king, saying… The LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away His face from you, if ye return unto Him… but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them" (2 Chronicles 30:6,9,10).  "The LORD… gathereth together the outcasts… He healeth the broken in heart" (Psalm 147:2,3).  "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Proverbs 29:1).

When Hezekiah sent the warning

That it was time to seek God's face,

His messengers were met with scorning,

As mockers spurned God's love and grace. 

The message still goes forth today

Of mercy God will now impart,

As His ambassadors convey

That Christ will heal the broken heart. 

The Gospel that extends God's pardon

Is mocked today, but not by all,

For there are some who do not harden

Their hearts, to heed His gracious call.

Let mockers of Your mercy, Lord,

Be cautioned by eternity

To find the healing You afford

Before there is no remedy.  

So Suddenly!

"Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God…  And Hezekiah rejoiced… for the thing was done suddenly" (2 Chronicles 29:10,36).  "Happy is he… whose hope is in the LORD his God… which keepeth truth forever" (Psalm 146:5,6).  "Whoso confesseth and forsaketh them [sins] shall have mercy.  Happy is the man that feareth [the Lord] always" (Proverbs 28:13,14).  "These are they which… have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14). 

The Lord will hear those who prepare

To seek Him with a godly fear.

I sought Him with a humble prayer,

And God inclined to me His ear.

The joy of Hezekiah's heart

So suddenly was mine as well,

For God was ready to impart

His grace that saved my soul from hell.

The Lord who keeps His Word forever

Has by His promise made me free. 

I know that Jesus Christ will never

Forsake me, as He promised me. 

O Lord, You heard me when I cried:  

So suddenly You saved my soul! 

Your grace and truth were then applied; 

Your blood has washed and made me whole.  

(Celebrating my 45th Born-Again Birthday today) 

Day of Declaration

"I will extol Thee, my God, O King… Every day will I bless Thee; and I will praise Thy name forever and ever.  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts" (Psalm 145:1-4).  "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1).  "A little season, until… the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:11,17).    

We do not speak of mere tradition

To those who need to hear the facts

Of Christ, who saves us from perdition,

As we declare His mighty acts. 

The day is here, the time is short

To preach of Christ, the King of kings. 

Today we give the Lord's report;

We know not what tomorrow brings. 

It's right to preach with urgency

And evidence for faith and reason  

As we approach eternity,

For life is but a little season. 

O Lord, the day of declaration

Is now, when judgment is at hand.

We show the grace of Your salvation,

For by Your grace alone we stand.