Victorious Voice

"The floods have lifted up their voice… The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters... Thy testimonies are very sure" (Psalm 93:3-5).  "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?" (Proverbs 22:20,21).  "His voice was like a noise of many waters… speaking unto me" (Ezekiel 43:2,6).   "I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins" (Revelation 18:4).    

The floods lift up their voice again:

In proud rebellion, they rejoice. 

It is noise of mortal men,

But we have heard our Savior's voice. 

Above the noise of restless waves, 

There is a voice of certainty:   

It is the voice of Christ who saves;

His truth alone has made us free.   

His voice like many waters speaks,

As every other voice is drowned. 

Yet to the one who humbly seeks,

He promises He will be found. 

O Lord, Your voice victorious

Has called Your people to come out. 

The joyful sound is glorious

That leads with Your triumphant shout!  

Good Thing to Give Thanks

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD… A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this" (Psalm 92:1,6).  "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD… He turneth it whithersoever He will…  A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, He directeth his way" (Proverbs 21:1,29).  "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings… God hath put in their hearts to fulfill His will… until the words of God shall be fulfilled" (Revelation 17:14,17). 

It is a good thing to give thanks

To God who gave us life and breath,

But hardened hearts will join the ranks

Of the unthankful till their death. 

The hearts of kings are in the hand

Of God, who shall restrain their wrath,

But those who seek Him understand

That God, with grace, directs their path. 

When thankless nations shall make war

At last against the coming Lamb,

They'll fall, as was foretold before,

Because He is the great I AM. 

It is a good thing, after all,

To leave the ranks of those yet hardened,

To seek You, Lord, and on You call,

And give You thanks with those You've pardoned!  

Man and Mediator

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty… under His wings" (Psalm 91:1,4).  "Mercy and truth preserve the King" (Proverbs 20:28).  "The inner temple… was made with cherubim… every cherub had two faces; so that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side… through all the house" (Ezekiel 41:15-19).  " Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgments" (Revelation 16:7). 

The secret place of our salvation

Beneath the wings of Jesus Christ

Removes the threat of condemnation

Because our Lord was sacrificed. 

As we behold this secret place,

We see God's shining face of love,

And yet there is a second face

Demanding judgment from above. 

His mercy and His truth are seen

In faces of the cherubim: 

A Man, a Lion, and between

A palm tree; these all speak of Him. 

O Lord, the Lion in Your plan

Portrays Your judgment as Creator,

Yet You endured it as a Man

To be our saving Mediator!   

Looking Early at the Latter End

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom… O satisfy us early with Thy mercy… and let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us" (Psalm 90:12,14,17).  "Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end" (Proverbs 19:20).  "Behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee" (Ezekiel 40:4).  "O Lord… all nations shall come and worship before Thee" (Revelation 15:4). 

The reason that we need to number

Our fleeting days the Lord shall give

Is so they won't be lost in slumber

Or slothfulness in how we live. 

It's good to know the latter end 

Through God's prophetic counsel heard

On which we surely can depend,

For God shall yet fulfill His Word. 

The Word of God shall make us wise

If we attentively will hear

The truth that Scripture prophesies 

As Christ's return is drawing near. 

We're looking early as we view

The latter end of Your salvation

When every knee shall bow to You,

O Lord, in every tribe and nation.  

Mandate of Judgment and Mercy of Jesus

"Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before Thy face.  Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound… In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted" (Psalm 89:14-16).  "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (Proverbs 18:10).  "I saw another angel… having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people " (Revelation 14:6). 

The justice of God's holy throne,

Where judgment's standard has been set,

Was satisfied by Christ alone

Where heaven's truth and mercy met. 

How blest are they who know the sound

Of joy that celebrates salvation

In Jesus Christ that we have found,

Which we declare to every nation!   

The name of Christ is our strong tower

Where judgment has been satisfied.  

We've fled to Him for saving power,

Who loved us first and for us died. 

The mandate of Your judgment's wrath,

Lord Jesus, sent You to the cross

Where truth and mercy forged the path

Whereby You purged our sins as dross.  

Advocate for Adversity

"My soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave… Lover and friend hast Thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness" (Psalm 88:3,18).  "A Friend loveth at all times, and a Brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17).  "It shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD… I will plead against him" (Ezekiel 38:18,22,23).  "They worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?  Who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:4). 

Our life is drawing near the grave,

Despite the sweetest sympathy  

Of mortal friends who cannot save

Our bodies from mortality. 

But Christ became our mortal Friend

To save our souls from condemnation,

That by His death He might defend

And rescue us with His salvation. 

The day will come when Israel

Shall be attacked by foes indeed,

But Christ shall stand up then as well

Against her enemies to plead. 

O Lord, our Advocate at last,

When You shall make all wars to cease

And all adversity has passed,

You are the Friend who gives us peace.  

Springs of our Speech

"Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God… The singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee" (Psalm 87:3,7).  "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged... Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it" (Proverbs 16:6,22).  "My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Ezekiel 37:27).  "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ" (Revelation 12:10).

Eternal springs in heaven flow

With joy that stirs the heart to sing

In heaven and in earth below

To Jesus Christ, our glorious King. 

How sweetly are we thereby urged

To sing and diligently teach

Of Christ, by whom our sins were purged,

As grace and truth adorns our speech. 

The joyful springs of heaven's favor

Inspire us to celebrate

The good news of our Lord and Savior,

The Gospel we communicate. 

O Lord, the springs above abound

With joy that fills our speech with grace,

For all who know the joyful sound

Have found in You their Hiding Place.  

Beloved Book

"Teach me Thy way, O LORD; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name" (Psalm 86:11).  "The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge… The heart of the righteous studieth to answer" (Proverbs 15:14,28).  "I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities…  I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it" (Ezekiel 36:33,36).  "I took the little Book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey… and he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many" (Revelation 10:10,11).    

How sweet the words are in this Book

Wherein we hear our Savior's voice,   

Who teaches us to wisely look

And walk according to His choice.   

He teaches us in every season

To answer those with evidence

Who ask the underlying reason

For hope that has a clear defense. 

This Book declares our separation

From God because of sin He sees

Is remedied by His salvation

That cleanses our iniquities. 

From Your beloved Book, O Lord,

We take the precious words You gave,

Advancing with Your Spirit's sword

The only Gospel that will save.  

Fear the Lord or Fall for Lies

"I will hear what God the LORD will speak… Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him" (Psalm 85:8,9).  "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident… A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death" (Proverbs 14:16,25-27).  "Men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not" (Revelation 9:20). 

It's wise to hear what God will speak,

For His salvation shall be near

To those who fear Him and will seek

The truth His Gospel shall make clear. 

The wise man fears and flees from sin. 

The fool will rage with confidence. 

The witness who is true shall win

The humble sinner who repents. 

There is a perfect Hiding Place,

For all who flee to Jesus Christ,

Where truth is reconciled with grace,

Since He, for us, was sacrificed.

How strangely, Lord, do men resist

The Gospel that their heart denies,

But truth, unchanged, shall still exist: 

They'll fear You or they'll fall for lies.