Rahab's Refuge

“Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive… because she hid the messengers” (Joshua 6:25).  “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished” (Proverbs 27:12).  “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep… My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:  and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:11-28). 

Did Jericho look down with scorn  

At Israel’s army in their path? 

Did not the Jordan River warn

Her citizens to flee from wrath? 

             

Was Rahab’s household all alone

Prepared to flee from wrath that came? 

The wrath of God to her was shown;

Was not the city shown the same? 

Is this a time to look around

And wait to see how others act,

When prophecies fulfilled abound

To show that judgment is a fact? 

A prudent person will foresee

The evil coming and will hide,

But fools ignore eternity

And mock God’s judgment in their pride. 

How foolishly they trust their walls,

Like Jericho so vainly did! 

They care not that the Savior calls

To turn to Him and thus be hid. 

There is a Refuge, only One,

We find alone in Jesus Christ,

For God sent His beloved Son

To be our Savior sacrificed.

His sheep have heard their Shepherd’s voice,

And in His Refuge they find rest. 

They know He lives and they rejoice

To see His empty tomb attest! 

O Lord, we thank You that we find

The Refuge Rahab found in You! 

We rest our heart, our soul, and mind

On Your salvation proven true. 

We take the Gospel that You gave

To plead with other souls as well

To show, like Rahab, You will save

And be their Refuge where You dwell.  

The Warrior We Worship

“Joshua… looked, and, behold… a Man over against him with His sword drawn in His hand… said… As Captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.  And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did WORSHIP, and said unto Him, What saith my Lord unto His servant?  And the Captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.  And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:13-15).  “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?... Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.  And he said, Lord, I believe.  And he WORSHIPPED Him” (John 9:35-38). 

When Joshua stood by Jericho,

He saw a Man who drew a sword. 

This Captain caused him then to know,

He stood before his mighty Lord. 

So Joshua fell upon his face

And worshipped Him with holy fear. 

He loosed his shoe then in that place

Before the Lord he would revere. 

So Joshua in the promised land

Was ready in each circumstance

To hear and do his Lord’s command

Before the battle would advance.

And yet the greatest war on earth

Awaited Christ’s humiliation,

Who came to us by humble birth

To be the Captain of Salvation!

How clearly was our Lord revealed!

His signs and wonders were not hid:

The lame, oppressed, and blind were healed;

He did what no one ever did.   

This Warrior endured the cross

Until He shouted, “It is finished!” 

He purged our sins away a dross! 

Should now His worship be diminished?  

May God forbid it evermore!

May Jesus Christ our Lord be praised

By those who rightly should adore

Their Captain on the third day raised! 

O Lord, our Captain of Salvation,

Receive our worship in surrender!

You rescued us from condemnation;

You died to be our soul’s Defender! 

O mighty Warrior from above

We bow in worship at Your feet

To thank You for Your matchless love

And for salvation so complete!  

Light of Life vs. Darkness of Death

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life… If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:12,24). 

We walk in the darkness or light;

There’s no other option God gives. 

There’s only one path that is right;

There’s only one Savior who lives. 

The choice we should make now is plain: 

We walk in the light of our Savior. 

There’s no other choice that is sane, 

For darkness denies us His favor! 

How strangely is falsehood believed

By all who have turned from the Lord,

Who hold to the lie they’ve received,

To forfeit the truth they’ve ignored!

The people embracing a lie,

Thus walk on a dangerous path:  

They’ll exit this earth when they die,

And then they’ll discover God’s wrath!

Yet this is where wisdom begins: 

As God and His judgment are feared,   

His light thus exposes our sins,  

But then by His grace they are cleared!   

O Lord, by Your wondrous salvation,

The light of Your life will expel

The darkness of death’s expectation

Which would have consigned us to hell.

Lord, thank You for marvelous grace;

The darkness of death cannot stand!

The light of Your life in its place

Is leading us home by Your hand. 

Drawn to Drink

“I am continually with Thee… God is the Strength of my heart, and my Portion forever… It is good for me to draw near to God:  I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Thy works” (Psalm 73:23-28).  “Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.  He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive” (John 7:37-39). 

The Lord is the Strength of my heart,

And He is my Portion forever. 

I know He will never depart;

His presence no power can sever. 

It’s good for me now to draw near,

Declaring the works of His love. 

His love casts away all my fear

And sets my affections above. 

My Savior now draws me to drink

To satisfy all of my thirst. 

My heart is amazed as I think

That He set His love on me first!

I draw from the well of salvation;

I drink from the fountain in Christ,

Astonished by this declaration: 

FOR ME was my Lord sacrificed!

He gave to me also His Spirit

As rivers of water which flow,

With Good News for those who will hear it,

Declaring the truth that I know. 

O Lord, by Your Spirit I’m drawn

To drink from Your thirst-quenching well. 

The sins that condemned me are gone;

You died to redeem me from hell. 

Lord, send me to tell others too

Who thirst for the truth You have shown

As You draw their hearts now to You

To drink as You make Yourself known.