Refuge in Reproof

Read:  Psalm 91 / Proverbs 15 / Esther 2 /Revelation 9

 

Psalm 91:2 ~ I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 

Proverbs 15:31,33 ~ The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise... The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.

Esther 2:22 ~ The thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and... certified... in Mordecai's name.

Revelation 9:20 ~ And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands.

 

How good it is to trust in God

And find our refuge in reproof

Without concern if men applaud,

Or if they scorn, or stand aloof. 

 

Like Esther who had certified

The deed done in her uncle’s name,

We show the deed of Christ who died;

He is the Refuge that we claim.   

 

His Beauty He Bestows

Read:  Psalm 90 / Proverbs 14 / Esther 1 /Revelation 8

 

Psalm 90:17 ~ And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us.

Proverbs 14:27 ~ The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Esther 1:17 ~ It shall be reported, The king... commanded Vashti the queen to be brought... before him, but she came not.

Revelation 8:4 ~ The smoke of the incense... with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

 

Now let the Spirit of the Lord

Bestow His beauty in our lives

Like waters from a fountain poured

Which God each day in us revives. 

 

And let our love for Christ our King

Be evident as we obey.

As incense, let us also bring

Our grateful worship as we pray.  

 

Mixed Multitude

Read:  Psalm 89 / Proverbs 13 / Nehemiah 13 /Revelation 7

 

Psalm 89:14-16 ~ 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... and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

Proverbs 13:20 ~ He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Nehemiah 13:3 ~ Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

Revelation 7:9-12 ~ I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude... cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving...  be unto our God forever... Amen.

 

The multitude is mixed today

With saints who know the joyful sound

And sinners who yet go astray

Like those in Noah’s day who drowned. 

 

It's only for a little while

Until we see this separation,

For sinners never shall defile

The joy of heaven's celebration. 

 

Justifiable Joy

Read:  Psalm 88 / Proverbs 12 / Nehemiah 12 /Revelation 6 

 

Psalm 88:2,3 ~ Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; for... my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

Proverbs 12:20 ~ Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counselors of peace is joy.

Nehemiah 12:43 ~ Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy.

Revelation 6:1 ~ I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard... one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 

 

Our joy is justifiable,

For Christ has risen from the grave! 

He is the Refuge of our soul;

There is no other who can save. 

 

We call the lost to come and see

The Lamb who fills our hearts with joy. 

Rejoice!  Our Lord has made us free

With gladness death cannot destroy.  

 

Sing of His Salvation

Read:  Psalm 87 / Proverbs 11 / Nehemiah 11 /Revelation 5 

 

Psalm 87:3,7 ~ Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God... As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.

Proverbs 11:4,30 ~ Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death... The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Nehemiah 11:2 ~ And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

Revelation 5:9 ~ They sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy...  Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred... tongue... people, and nation.

 

How glorious are the things now spoken

Of Zion where we soon shall dwell. 

The oath of Christ shall not be broken: 

His Church shall triumph over hell. 

 

The Lord shall there receive the praise

Of every kindred, tongue, and nation. 

With every instrument that plays,

We'll gladly sing of His salvation.  

 

Worthy of our Worship

Read:  Psalm 86 / Proverbs 10 / Nehemiah 10 /Revelation 4

 

Psalm 86:12 ~ I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

Proverbs 10:22 ~ The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Nehemiah 10:29 ~ They...  entered into...  an oath... to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD.

Revelation 4:11 ~ Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

There is no value in the things

That cause distraction and seduction.

Let us adore the King of kings

Who has redeemed us from destruction! 

 

How rightly should our hearts adore

Our Lord as we explore creation,

Yet He is worthy all the more

Of worship for His great salvation!  

 

Clarity of Christ

Read:  Psalm 85 / Proverbs 9 / Nehemiah 9 /Revelation 3

 

Psalm 85:8,10 ~ I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people... Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Proverbs 9:5 ~ Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Nehemiah 9:31 ~ For thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

Revelation 3:20,22 ~ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me... He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

 

The days have come when many seek

For endless fables that increase. 

I'll hear what God the Lord will speak,

For He alone gives perfect peace. 

 

I hear the clarity of Christ

With bread and wine upon His table.

For me my Lord was sacrificed!

I have no hunger for a fable. 

 

Find the Fountain

Read:  Psalm 84 / Proverbs 8 / Nehemiah 8 /Revelation 2

 

Psalm 84:5,6 ~ Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee... who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well.

Proverbs 8:34,35 ~ Blessed is the man that heareth me... for whoso findeth me findeth life, and... favor of the LORD.

Nehemiah 8:10 ~ The joy of the LORD is your strength.

Revelation 2:4 ~ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

 

We find the Fountain of our joy

In Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

He gives us strength that we employ

To bring glad tidings of His favor. 

 

This well of joy shall not run dry

When hearts are set on things above. 

If dryness comes, the reason why

Is our departure from first love.  

 

Fundamental Goal of Fearing God

Read:  Psalm 83 / Proverbs 7 / Nehemiah 7 /Revelation 1

 

Psalm 83:1,18 ~ Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still... That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Proverbs 7:24 ~ Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Nehemiah 7:2 ~ Hanani... was a faithful man, and feared God above many.

Revelation 1:5 ~ Jesus Christ... the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth... loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. 

 

There is a fundamental goal

Of fearing God to make us wise. 

The benefits are wonderful

When God's approval is our prize.

 

Since Christ, the faithful Witness, said

That He will come for us again,

Let us by godly fear be led

To praise Him now, as well as then.  

 

Earnestly with Evidence

Read:  Psalm 82 / Proverbs 6 / Nehemiah 6 /Jude 1

 

Psalm 82:5,8 ~ They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course... Arise, O God... Thou shalt inherit all nations.

Proverbs 6:5,23 ~ Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter... reproofs of instruction are the way of life. 

Nehemiah 6:9,11 ~ They all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands... Should... I flee?

Jude 3,21 ~ Earnestly contend for the faith...  which was once delivered unto the saints... Keep yourselves in the love of God.

 

I'm trusting in the Lord alone

To show me what is right and wrong. 

His light in darkness has been shown;

His evidence is surely strong. 

 

The truth of God has made me free;

Let skeptics come!  I will contend    

As I persuade them earnestly 

With evidence I can defend.  

 

Governed by God

Read:  Psalm 81 / Proverbs 5 / Nehemiah 5 /3 John 1

 

Psalm 81:13 ~ Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

Proverbs 5:1 ~ My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

Nehemiah 5:15 ~ The former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people... and had taken of them ... but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

3 John 9 ~ I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

 

How foolishly we hearken not

When God would give us understanding! 

How vain is every stubborn thought

That does heed our Lord's commanding!

 

How wise is our obedience

To Christ as we incline our ear,

That He might have preeminence

As we are governed by His fear!  

 

Looking or Losing

Read:  Psalm 80 / Proverbs 4 / Nehemiah 4 /2 John 1

 

Psalm 80:17,18 ~ Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.  So will not we go back from thee: quicken us.

Proverbs 4:25-27 ~ Let thine eyes look right on... Ponder the path of thy feet...  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left. 

Nehemiah 4:18,20 ~ Every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded... our God shall fight for us.

2 John 8 ~ Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

 

We're either looking to the Lord

Or losing ground on what we’ve done. 

The former guarantees reward,

The latter forfeits what was won. 

 

Look neither to the left nor right,

But to our Lord victorious. 

As darkness flees before the light,

Our God Himself shall fight for us! 

 

God is Greater

Read:  Psalm 79 / Proverbs 3 / Nehemiah 3 / 1 John 5

 

Psalm 79:9 ~ Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name...  and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.

Proverbs 3:5,26 ~ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.... For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Nehemiah 3:5 ~ And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.

1 John 5:9 ~ If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

 

Without the help of God today,

No work worth doing could begin.

For who can purge our sins away?

Behold the Lamb who bore our sin! 

 

In Christ alone is our defense;

The work is great, but God is greater.

We work, yet place our confidence

In God our Savior and Creator.  

 

Bold to Build

Read:  Psalm 78 / Proverbs 2 / Nehemiah 2 / 1 John 4

 

Psalm 78:70-72 ~ He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds... So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart...guided... by the skillfulness of his hands.

Proverbs 2:6 ~ For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Nehemiah 2:18 ~ Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me... And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

1 John 4:4 ~ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them... greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

The Lord took David from the fold

Where He had taught him to be skilled

With training that would make him bold

To guide the nation God would build.

 

So may we likewise now be wise

With courage and with strengthened hands

As Jesus calls us to arise

And build His church as He commands.  

 

Remember we are Redeemed

Read:  Psalm 77 / Proverbs 1 / Nehemiah 1 / 1 John 3

 

Psalm 77:11,12 ~ I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

Proverbs 1:32,33 ~ For the turning away of the simple shall slay them... but whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Nehemiah 1:10 ~ Now these are thy servants and thy people... redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

1 John 3:1,16 ~ Behold, what manner of love... Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us. 

 

Remember what our Savior did

That we might be redeemed in full

And thus by grace be safely hid

From judgment that condemned our soul. 

 

Remember that we are redeemed

By Christ who left His throne above

Because our souls were so esteemed

He died for us!  What wondrous love!  

 

Vigilantly Vow

Read:  Psalm 76 / Proverbs 31 / Ezra 10 / 1 John 2

 

Psalm 76:11 ~ Vow... unto the LORD... let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

Proverbs 31:30 ~ Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Ezra 10:4 ~ Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

1 John 2:28 ~ Now, little children, abide in him; that... we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

 

Let us determine now to do

The will of God that He makes clear.

This is the vow we should renew 

With earnest love and holy fear.

 

We ought to vigilantly vow

To Christ who died in our defense. 

The time to love the Lord is now,

That we may live with confidence.  

 

Life Span of our Little Space

Read:  Psalm 75 / Proverbs 30 / Ezra 9 / 1 John 1

 

Psalm 75:3,7 ~ The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.... But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Proverbs 30:4,5 ~ Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth?... he is a shield unto them that...trust in him.

Ezra 9:8 Now for a LITTLE SPACE grace hath been showed from the LORD our God... to give us a nail in his holy place...  lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

The earth shall know that Jesus lives

And that He is the Judge therein. 

Yet, even so, our Lord forgives

The sinners who confess their sin.

 

How little is our span of space

To seek and serve our risen Lord!

Let us approach Him by His grace

For cleansing and to be restored.   

 

Scoffers Schooled

Read:  Psalm 74 / Proverbs 29 / Ezra 8 / 2 Peter 3

 

Psalm 74:22 ~ Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

Proverbs 29:26 ~ Many seek the ruler's favor; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD. 

Ezra 8:31 ~ The hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy... of such as lay in wait. 

2 Peter 3:3-6 ~ There shall come in the last days scoffers... For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.

 

Arise, O God, and plead Your cause,

That men may seek Your saving favor

That satisfies Your holy laws,

Providing refuge in the Savior. 

 

Let scoffers be arrested now

And schooled by truth they have ignored,

Assured that every knee shall bow 

To Christ our everlasting Lord.  

 

Faithful vs. False

Read:  Psalm 73 / Proverbs 28 / Ezra 7 / 2 Peter 2

 

Psalm 73:28 ~ 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.

Proverbs 28:5 ~ Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

Ezra 7:10 ~ Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD... to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

2 Peter 2:1 ~ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you.

 

Let faithful teachers testify

Who will declare the works of Christ, 

For false and foolish teachers lie

To those who blindly are enticed. 

 

As Ezra’s heart was well prepared

To seek the Lord, to do His will,

And teach His Word that he declared,

Let faithful teachers do so still.  

 

Due Diligence

Read:  Psalm 72 / Proverbs 27 / Ezra 6 / 2 Peter 1

 

Psalm 72:18-20 ~ Blessed be the LORD God... who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Proverbs 27:1,11,23 ~ Boast not thyself of tomorrow… My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me... Be thou diligent.

Ezra 6:22 ~ The LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

2 Peter 1:10,19 ~ Brethren, give diligence... We have also a more sure word of prophecy...  ye do well that ye take heed.

 

The time to give due diligence

To glorify our Lord and Savior

Is now and every moment hence 

To gladden Him by our behavior. 

 

The Lord gives joy and strengthens hands

As He beholds us taking heed

To do the work that He commands

With grace supplying every need.