Spiritually Speaking

"The Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou… and shalt be turned into another man" (1 Samuel 10:6).  "I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress" (Psalm 17:3).  "Open thy mouth for… the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction… She openeth her mouth with wisdom" (Proverbs 31:8,26).  "The angel of the Lord… opened the prison doors… and said, Go, stand and speak… all the words of this life… We are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost" (Acts 5:19,20,32). 

The day that we received our Savior,

Our life was new and in Him centered.

He changed our nature and behavior

Forever when His Spirit entered. 

The Gospel message which we heard

That rescued us from condemnation

Has made us stewards of God's Word

And messengers of His salvation.

Our prison doors were opened wide,

And by God's Spirit we were sent

To show Christ lives, who for us died,

To save all those who will repent. 

As we are by Your Spirit led,

O Lord, to those You know are seeking,

We echo what Your Word has said

On Your behalf, as we are speaking.  

Standing Still

"Stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the Word of God" (1 Samuel 9:27).  "I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons… Thou wilt show me the path of life" (Psalm 16:7,11).  "Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him" (Proverbs 30:5).  "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John… they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). 

There is no substitute we find

For standing still to hear God's Word. 

In busyness we may be blind

When counsel from the Lord is blurred. 

The Lord instructs us in the night

Before the day dawns with its strife,

That we may follow in His light,

Directed on the path of life. 

In stillness we are taught to yield

And find the sweetness of surrender

To Jesus Christ who is our Shield,

Our Captain, and our soul's Defender. 

Lord, in Your presence standing still, 

We find, as John and Peter did,

The strength we need to do Your will

With boldness that cannot be hid.  

Rejecting and Receiving

"The LORD said… they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them… they have forsaken Me, and served other gods… show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them" (1 Samuel 8:7-9).  "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead… Unto you first, God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:14,15,26).

The Lord explained to Samuel

Why there would be a king selected: 

Because the hearts of Israel

Had turned from God whom they rejected. 

The consequence this choice shall bring,

That follows with its harsh reward, 

Is found when hearts receive a king

Who isn't like our gracious Lord. 

When Christ our Savior was denied,

A killer was received instead. 

They killed our Lord who for us died,

Whom God then raised up from the dead. 

There is no choice that is so strange,

O Lord, as hearts that are rejecting

Your grace for wrath that they exchange,

Receiving what they weren't expecting. 

Ebenezer and the Enemies

"Samuel cried…the LORD heard… the Philistines drew near… but the LORD thundered… and they were smitten… Then Samuel took a stone… and called the name of it Ebenezer (אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר, Stone of Help), saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us" (1 Samuel 7:9-12). "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Psalm 14:1).  "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand until I make Thy foes Thy footstool… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:33,36).

There was a stone that Samuel named 

As "Ebenezer" to recall

The help of God that he proclaimed

When God caused all their foes to fall.  

Let us acknowledge now as well,

Our help is in the Lord alone,

Who died to rescue us from hell

And lives now as our Corner Stone. 

Prophetic Scripture gives the  vision:

When Christ ascended to His seat,

His foes would soon be in derision

And made a footstool for His feet. 

O Lord, our "Ebenezer" here

Is raised to also warn the fool

That prophecy is very clear:

Your enemies shall be Your stool.  

Egypt's Example

"Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians… hardened their hearts?  When He had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go?" (1 Samuel 6:6).  "How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?... But I have trusted in Thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation" (Psalm 13:1,5).  "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished" (Proverbs 27:12).  "Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place" (Acts 1:25). 

Examples surely do exist

Of rebel hearts that had been hardened,

As Egypt, choosing to resist

Instead of turning to be pardoned. 

We hear the psalmist cry to God

"How long?" immersed in tribulation,

But when God saved him with His rod,

His heart rejoiced in His salvation. 

A prudent man foresees the wrath

And finds in Christ his Hiding Place,

But many choose rebellion's path,

As Judas, who refused God's grace.

Examples that have been revealed,

As Egypt plagued with judgment's sword,

Declare how sinners can be healed

If they will hide in You, O Lord.