I decided to include two journal entries today to catch up a little and to give context to what I said in the entry to my previous opening remarks.
September 28, 2015
Worship: Onward Christian Soldiers by Sabine Baring-Gould;
Onward, Christian Soldiers
Words: Sabine Baring-Gould
Music: "St. Gertrude" by Arthur S. Sullivan
2 Tim 2:3
Topics: Spiritual Warfare
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!
Refrain
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
Refrain
Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
Refrain
What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believed, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.
Refrain
Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.
Refrain
Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.
Refrain
(from Biblesoft Hymnal, PC Study Bible electronic database Copyright © 2003-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
"Break Every Chain"
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
To break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain (2X)
All sufficient sacrifice
So freely given
Such a price
Bought our redemption
Heaven's gates swing wide
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
To break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain (2X)
All sufficient sacrifice
So freely given
Such a price
Bought our redemption
Heaven's gates swing wide
[repeat 1st verse]
There's an army rising up
There's an army rising up
There's an army rising up
To Break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain (2X)
To Break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain
[repeat 1st verse]
To Break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain
Witness:
I am very frustrated. I cannot seem to get going in the Word portion of my Journal. I get up to it and have to go to work or asleep. Even now I am very sleepy, but I am going to push through, Lord willing. So determined was I to get going, that when I saw things that need to be done in the house I said NO! I then cried out, half in humor and half in all seriousness, “Onward Christian Soldier!” That’s why I included it in my worship tonight. I also included “Break Every Chain” to compliment the theme.
Another problem I face is interruptions. I pray, then I sing. After that, it seems like it takes a time to get going, because of the interruptions. It maybe the washing machine is out of balance, the desire to snack on something, nature’s call or the neighbors arguing… uh… loudly discussing something. All of these happened tonight and kept me from getting anywhere. Do you find that to be a problem with you too? Well, “momma said there would be days like this”, never-the-less press on. Don’t let it deter you from faithfully coming to the scriptures to find things that are profitable for, “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, NIV.”
WORD:
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. |
2He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,a
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
|
Well, we are beginning to unpack all the blessings of having the Lord as our Shepherd. We have seen that He leads, feeds, quenches, and refreshes. Now we come to the portion where we see Him as our Guide. The King James has the word “leadeth” here like in verse two, but the NIV has the word “guides”. Is there a reason? Is the NIV just translating the same word differently for stylistic reasons? A simple referring to Strong’s Concordance or an interlinear Bible will clear this up. In verse 2 the root word of the verb used here is “nahal (naw-hal')” and means:
a primitive root; properly, to run with a sparkle, i.e. flow; hence (transitively), to conduct, and (by inference) to protect, sustain”
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
The TWOT says:
Our root, which occurs in the Piel and Hithpael, denotes a shepherd's loving concerned leading of his flock, especially those with young (Isa 40:11) …
It is this loving concerned shepherd-like leading that typifies God's conducting his people to Palestine (paralleled by naha, Ex 15:13). David confesses that God gently leads him beside still waters (parallel to "makes me lie down in green pastures," Ps 23:3), and prays God's continued care (Ps 31:4 *, parallel to naha). The eschaton will attest God's tender leading of his people (Isa 40:11; Isa 49:10).
The idea of tenderly leading extends to tenderly conducting, e.g. feeble ones on asses (2 Chron 28:15), the weak through threatening enemies (2 Chron 32:22), and the hungry through a famine (Gen 47:17).
(from Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Copyright © 1980 by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)
The word used in verse 3 is “nachah (naw-khaw')” and means:
primitive root; to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists)
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Different words but both can be translated lead or guide. I think making a distinction here is important for the reasons I spoke of on another day previously. I also think it makes a difference, because the word used in verse 2 means to gently lead, whereas in verse 3 the word used does not always carry that connotation. In fact, it can have a grittier meaning attached to it. So we see that He leads us gently to the waters, but there is no guarantee that it will always be easy to go down the “paths of righteousness” or “the right paths”. I’ll stop here for you and me to take that in.
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