Merciful Mouth

"Moses… heard the voice of One speaking unto him from off the mercy seat" (Numbers 7:89).  "Come and see the works of God…  Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul" (Psalm 66:5,16).  "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction… A virtuous woman… openeth her mouth with wisdom" (Proverbs 31:8,10,26).  "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you… that your joy may be full" (1 John 1:3,4).    

When Moses listened to the Savior

From where the mercy seat was placed,

Jehovah's mouth declared His favor,

Which tabernacle shadows traced. 

Yet now we hear our Savior say

To take His Word to every nation 

And bid them come and see today

The works of God in His salvation. 

Let every mouth of mercy warn

Of the destruction yet that looms

For those who are content to scorn

Until they enter hopeless tombs. 

We thank You, Lord, that by Your Word

Our mouth may thus be merciful,

Declaring what we've seen and heard

With joy to every precious soul.  

Blissful Blessing

"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:  the LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:  the LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace" (Numbers 6:24-26).  "Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, Thou shalt purge them away.  Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts" (Psalm 65:3,4).  "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

How blissfully the blessing flows

From God to those who seek His face,

Extending peace that He bestows

Upon the souls He saves by grace. 

The Lord has found a way to bless,

Though our iniquities abound,

Imputing His own righteousness

And purging sins no longer found. 

How blest we are that Christ would choose

For our sakes to be sacrificed! 

How blindly does a soul refuse

The gift of  God through Jesus Christ!

Your blissful blessing, Lord, exceeds

The limits of our contemplation,

Yet as Your gracious Spirit leads,

We grow in grace and adoration. 

Answered with an Arrow

"Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy… They commune of laying snares… But God shall shoot at them with an arrow… The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in Him" (Psalm 64:1,7,10).  "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25).  "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2:9). 

The Lord has heard the enemy;

He sees the snares that he has laid,

But God shall speak and he shall flee,

And Satan's hosts shall be afraid. 

Our God shall answer with an arrow;

He will not need a second one,

As in the day He dealt with Pharaoh

And all his armies were undone.   

The fear of man shall bring a snare,

So let us trust the Lord instead

And cast on Him our every care,

For He shall do what He has said. 

Your arrow, Lord, shall soon be felt;

You'll speak, and Satan shall be halted. 

With just a word, the earth shall melt

And You shall greatly be exalted.    

Waterless Wilderness

"O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is" (Psalm 63:1).  "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness… whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises… We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:3,4,19). 

We journey through a wilderness

Where every well we find is dry,

Where all the land is waterless,

And thirsty souls are left to die. 

Yet in this dry and barren land

By sin and by corruption cursed,

Our Lord has made us understand

That He will satisfy our thirst.

His precious promises we find 

Are fountains of sustaining grace,

And prophecies fulfilled have shined

With light in every darkened place. 

Lord, in this wilderness we know

Where we can find Your wells of love. 

This land is waterless below;

We drink from living springs above.  

Experience the Expectation

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.  He only is my Rock and my salvation: He is my Defense; I shall not be moved.  In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.  Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a Refuge for us" (Psalm 62:5-8).  "When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away… Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:4,7). 

The resurrection of our Lord

Fulfilled the promise that He made. 

Let expectations be restored! 

His faithfulness has been displayed! 

What confidence our Shepherd gives

To those who gather as His flock. 

Because our Lord forever lives

He is our Refuge and our Rock! 

Experience the expectation: 

Behold the tomb!  He is not there! 

And now we hear His invitation

To cast upon Him all our care! 

O Lord, we rest with confidence

That You will surely come again. 

Expecting that experience,

We pray, Lord Jesus, come!  Amen!