Heaviness Healed

"Praise the name of the LORD… He raiseth up the poor out of the dust , and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill" (Psalm 113:1,7).  "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad" (Proverbs 12:25).  "For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king… Afterward shall the children of Israel return… and shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days" (Hosea 3:4,5).  "Jesus answered… I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:17,18). 

How good it is to praise the name

Of Jesus Christ, in whom we trust,

Who cleansed us from our sin and shame

To lift us from its dung and dust!

We need God's Word when spirits droop,

When trouble tends to make us sad.

Though heaviness can make us stoop,

A word in season makes us glad.  

Hosea prophesied of days

When Israel shall return again

To lift their hearts to Christ in praise,

Acknowledging His goodness then.    

O Lord, our heaviness is healed

As we recall You never fail. 

You'll build Your Church as You revealed;

The gates of hell shall not prevail.  

Heaven's Light vs. Hypocrite's Lies

"Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness" (Psalm 112:4).  "An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered" (Proverbs 11:9).  "I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God" (Hosea 2:23).  "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me… They be blind leaders of the blind" (Matthew 15:7,8,14). 

The upright walks before the Lord,

Thus guided by integrity,

But lying lips shall be abhorred

By God, who hates hypocrisy. 

The Lord commands us to beware

Of what the hypocrite will say. 

Let heaven's light expose the snare

Of lying lips that lead astray. 

We're sure of this:  God surely knows

All those who trust Him and are His. 

The hypocrites He shall expose    

Shall see Him as He truly is.

With heaven's light, Lord, we persuade,

Though lies obscure the hypocrite.

The souls that trust in their charade

Shall fall with them into the pit.  

Rightly Recalling

"The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein… He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered" (Psalm 111:2,4).  "The memory of the Just is blessed" (Proverbs 10:7).  "I will have mercy upon the house of Judah… and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen" (Hosea 1:7).  "The men of that place… besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment:  and as many as touched were made perfectly whole" (Matthew 14:35,36). 

How great are the works of our Savior

Who came to redeem us from sin. 

We rightly remember His favor

And gladly have pleasure therein. 

Christ Jesus, exalted and holy,

Beheld us when we were distressed

And came as a Lamb, meek and lowly: 

How rightly His memory is blest!

He saved us, but neither by sword,

Nor battle with horses and strife:

His soul unto death was outpoured;

Our ransom was paid by His life. 

O Lord, we are rightly astonished

As we see Your love for our soul! 

Let memories that fade be admonished,

Recalling how You made us whole.  

Willfully Wise

"Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power" (Psalm 110:3).  "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding… If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself" (Proverbs 9:10,12).  "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3).  "Blessed are your eyes… many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them" (Matthew 13:16,17). 

The day of Christ's power arrived

When He gave His people His Spirit. 

Let wisdom today be revived

In us as we willingly hear it. 

The wisdom that God shall impart

Is found in the fear of the Lord.

The knowledge of Christ in our heart

Exceeds every other reward. 

The wise, as the bright stars above,

Shall shine as the Gospel is told,

Unveiling God's wonderful love

Which we in our Savior behold. 

O Lord, make us willfully wise  

To show forth Your marvelous grace

That opens the sin-blinded eyes

Of those who are seeking Your face.  

Against or Aligned

"The LORD… shall stand at the right hand of the poor to save him" (Psalm 109:30,31).  "Whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD.  But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate Me love death" (Proverbs 8:35,36).  "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many" (Daniel 11:32,33).  "He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad" (Matthew 12:30). 

The Lord shall stand up to defend

The people who know Him as Savior. 

The sinner has no better Friend

Than Christ who extends to us favor. 

In Christ there is no middle ground: 

The wise make with Him an alliance,

Yet fools who reject Him abound

Who wrong their own souls by defiance. 

Let all those who know Him be strong,

Instructing all those who will hear,   

For time on this earth is not long,

And God's ultimatum is clear. 

How many against You we find,

O Lord, in these dark latter days!   

Embolden us who are aligned

To glorify You with our praise.