Ceaseless Celebration

"Praise ye the LORD… from this time forth and for evermore… From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the LORD'S name is to be praised… He raiseth up the poor out of the dust" (Psalm 113:1-7).  " He… keepeth thy soul…  Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: for a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again" (Proverbs 24:12,15,16).  "We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved" (Acts 15:11). 

The Lord is worthy of our praise

From this time forth and evermore. 

He changes not through all our days;

His love continues as before. 

There should be ceaseless celebration

As day and night we learn to trust

And praise the Lord of our salvation

Who lifts the poor out of the dust. 

Though we are still inclined to stumble,

We rise again by His command,

For He restores us when we're humble,

And we are lifted by His hand. 

What ceaseless celebration, Lord,

Belongs to all You save by grace,

For by Your love we are restored,

And You are still our Hiding Place. 

Rehearsing the Reversal

"Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness… The wicked shall see it, and be grieved… the desire of the wicked shall perish" (Psalm 112:4,10).  "Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.  For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off" (Proverbs 23:17,18).  "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!" (Isaiah 14:12).  "They rehearsed all that God had done… and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27). 

The light in darkness shall arise

For all who trust in Christ our Lord,

But everyone who trusts in lies

Shall forfeit heaven's sure reward. 

It's time for us to comprehend

The plight of those without salvation,

For God has shown to us the end

That contradicts their expectation.

When Lucifer from heaven fell,

Deceived at last by his own pride,

His great reversal led to hell

For him and all who take his side. 

We thank You, Lord, as we rehearse

The price You paid to save the lost:  

You gave Your life to thus reverse

Our destiny at such a cost!  

Prophetic Proof

"The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein" (Psalm 111:2).  "Train up a child… Have not I written to thee excellent things… that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" (Proverbs 22:6,20,21).  "They that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him" (Acts 13:27). 

The works of God are great indeed

Which prophets said that He would do,

Providing all the proof we need

That every word of God is true. 

We should be training up our youth

That they may know the excellence

Of God's prophetic words of truth

That they may give a bold defense.

When Paul was called to make his case

Within the Jewish congregation,

He showed prophetic proof with grace

Which was fulfilled by their own nation! 

O Lord, though many stand aloof,

Indifferent to eternity,

We show the great prophetic proof

Which You provide in prophecy.  

Power Pondered

"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool… Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power" (Psalm 110:1,3).  "The LORD pondereth the hearts…  As for the upright, He directeth his way" (Proverbs 21:2,29).  "And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted" (Isaiah 12:4).  "[Herod] gave not God the glory… and gave up the ghost.  But the Word of God grew and multiplied" (Acts 12:23,24). 

Our Lord is seated on His throne,

Exalted at the Father's side. 

His people gladly make this known 

As Christ our Lord is glorified.

Let us be willing in this day,

As God now ponders every heart,

To be directed in His way

With power that He will impart. 

The Word of God and urgent prayer

Shall manifest His saving power

As with His Gospel we declare

That this is His salvation's hour. 

O Lord, when Herod's boasting halted,

Your power then was surely pondered. 

So may Your Word be now exalted

And precious time be no more squandered. 

Ensign Enlarged

"I will greatly praise the LORD… among the multitude.  For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul" (Psalm 109:30,31).  "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin" (Proverbs 20:9).   "In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious" (Isaiah 11:10).  "They… glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life" (Acts 11:18). 

Praise God among the multitudes

For grace beyond the Jewish nation

To Gentiles whom the Lord includes,

For whom He has enlarged salvation. 

For who can say, apart from grace,

That I am pure from all my sin? 

Praise God!  For all who seek His face

Are cleansed when Jesus enters in! 

For Christ came forth as Jesse's root

To be an Ensign all may seek,

So Jew and Gentile may bear fruit,

To whom we're called to go and speak. 

Lord, may Your Ensign be enlarged  

That beckons every one of us  

As with Your Gospel we are charged

To show Your rest is glorious!