To Him be the glory forever!

We live in a fallen world. When I wrote this, I was seeing a lot of progress in my son-in-law. Now he has fallen away from his progress. He is now back into his old way of living again. Never-the-less, I will not cease praying for him, for God is still working on him - "He ain't finished with him yet". My daughter, however, is still growing and going strong in the Lord. I believe that my son-in-law suffers much from the same problem my wife suffers. Allowing the trash of their childhood to stink of their present life, instead of throwing it out at the foot of the cross.

August 16, 2015 (corrected, expanded, and completed on May 23, 2020)

Worship: Greater by Mercy Me; Greater Is He by Sixteen Cities; Forever by Keri Jobe

Greater

[Verse 1]

Bring your tired

Bring your shame

Bring your guilt

Bring your pain

Don't you know that's not your name

You will always be much more to me

[Pre-Chorus 1]

Every day I wrestle with the voices

That keep telling me I'm not right

But that's alright

[Chorus]

'Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed

When others say I’ll never be enough

And greater is the One living inside of me

Than he who is living in the world

In the world

In the world

And greater is the One living inside of me

Than he who is living in the world

[Verse 2]

Bring your doubts

Bring your fears

Bring your hurt

Bring your tears

There'll be no condemnation here

You are holy, righteous and redeemed

[Pre-Chorus 2]

Every time I fall

There'll be those who will call me a mistake

Well that's ok

[Repeat Chorus]

[Bridge]

There'll be days I lose the battle

Grace says that it doesn’t matter

'Cause the cross already won the war

He's Greater

He's Greater

I am learning to run freely

Understanding just how He sees me

And it makes me love Him more and more

He's Greater

He's Greater  [Repeat]

[Chorus]

'Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed

When others say I’ll never be enough

And greater is the One living inside of me

Than he who is living in the world

In the world

In the world

And greater is the One living inside of me

Than he who is living in the world

[Repeat Bridge]

Lyrics: https://genius.com/Mercyme-greater-lyrics

Video: https://youtu.be/GXI0B4iMLuU

Greater Is He

Verse:
Death cannot conquer me
Or stand against my family
And though there may be an enemy
Greater is He that is in me
The weight of sin is my disease
But Jesus bore the stripes for me
And though there may be suffering
Greater is He that is in me

Chorus:
Greater is He Greater is He
The Lamb has overcome
Greater is He Greater is He
The victory is won
It's finished, it's done,
God's only Son has conquered the enemy
Greater is He Greater is He that is in me

Verse:
His blood was shed on Calvary
The price He paid to ransom me
And now the grave has lost its sting
'Cause Greater is He that is in me

Chorus:

Bridge:
No longer defeated for the power of Jesus
has risen has conquered and now living me
No longer defeated for the power of Jesus
has risen has conquered and now living me
No longer defeated for the power of Jesus
has risen has conquered and now living me
Now living in me

Chorus:

+
Greater is He Greater is He that is in me
Greater is He Greater is He that is in me

Outro:
No longer defeated for the power of Jesus
has risen, has conquered and now living in me
Now living in me 

Lyrics: http://www.songlyrics.com/sixteen-cities/greater-is-he-lyrics/

Video: https://youtu.be/CoDl03R7ksQ

Forever

The moon and stars they wept
The morning sun was dead
The Savior of the world was fallen
His body on the cross
His blood poured out for us
The weight of every curse upon him

One final breath He gave
As Heaven looked away
The Son of God was laid in darkness
A battle in the grave
The war on death was waged
The power of hell forever broken

The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting
Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated

Forever, He is glorified
Forever, He is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive
He is alive

The ground began to shake
The stone was rolled away
His perfect love could not be overcome
Now death where is your sting
Our resurrected King has rendered you defeated

Forever, He is glorified
Forever, He is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive
He is alive
Forever, forever

You have overcome
Your resurrected King
You have overcome the grave
You have overcome

We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
We sing Hallelujah
The Lamb has overcome (repeat 6X)

Forever, He is glorified
Forever, He is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive
He is alive (Forever)

Forever, He is glorified
Forever, He is lifted high
Forever, He is risen
He is alive
He is alive

Lyrics: http://www.songlyrics.com/kari-jobe/forever-lyrics/

Video: https://youtu.be/s6duzVn5M6E

Personal: Interesting day. Slept fairly well, though feeling tired now. My wife messaged me and shared that her friend’s short-term disability had been denied, and no money was coming in soon. I’m praying that God would be glorified in all this. From my perspective, I see God’s chastising hand at work. The Pharaoh in Gen. 12 and King Abimelech saw this when they took Abraham’s wife. Is something like that happening here?

I spoke to a good friend today on the phone. It was a good time of fellowship and sharing. Church service was great tonight. I got there a little late, but worship was awesome, and the sermon edifying. Please, Lord, let me apply it to myself first always. My often mind “amens” the parts that pertain to others, but I need to look at myself first always. I thank God that my son-in-law came to church again tonight. As I was driving home from church, the thought came to mind (a God sighting!) that both my daughter next door and now her husband’s life have been affected for the better because my wife left me. Not that her leaving was good but that God has used the situation to draw them to Himself. I had to submit my will to God and acknowledge His wisdom and grace in this:

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!How unsearchable his judgments,and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has been his counselor?"
35 "Who has ever given to God,that God should repay him?"
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Rom 11:33-36 NIV

Worship tonight in my quiet time was interesting and long – long because I sang three songs instead of two. But now I’m ready for the Word.

Update (May 23, 2020): My daughter continues to walk with the Lord. Her husband has walked away from the Lord and the marriage. No change came from a lack of funds for my wife. I was sending her money at that time (so I was an enabler, but I stopped last year), and she got a job later unbeknownst to me until tax time. I continue to pray daily for my wife, my enemy, and my daughter’s husband’s salvation.

Word:

Ps 22:25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. ESV

Ps 22:25 I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. NLT

Here then, is a return and a fulfillment of verse 22. The “vow” mentioned in verse 25 is the declaration mentioned in verse 22.

I will declare your name to my brothers;in the congregation I will praise you.
Ps 22:22 NIV

What does David mean by declaring God’s name?

Barnes says it means:

I will make thee known; that is, thine existence; thy perfections; thy law; thy method of salvation.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The JFB commentary states simply:

I will declare thy name - i.e., thy power, faithfulness, and love, manifested in my deliverance.(from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997-2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

This was David’s vow.

Barnes further elaborates:

Psalms 22:22This is an expression of true piety, and is a statement of what in a pure mind will always be consequent on a gracious divine interposition-a purpose to make the character of the benefactor known. Compare Ps 51:12-13; 18:48-49.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

In other words, the righteous respond when rescued, by recounting the Godness of God.

Amid their dilemma, God’s people may promise to publicly testify to the Lord’s grace and goodness, if and when He delivers them. In the Old Testament, this was done formally in the making of a vow. Vows were often made in times of distress by the pious who trusted in the graciousness, faithfulness, and ability of God to answer their prayer for deliverance. They knew that the vow did not obligate God to fulfill their request, but it did obligate them to fulfill their vow when God answered. The fulfillment of a vow was done formally with a sacrifice and celebration.

The votive feast. Verse 25 gives the setting of these verses, for the law encouraged those who vowed some service to God, should their prayer be granted, to fulfil the vow with a sacrifice, followed by a feast (26) which might last as long as two days (Lev. 7:16).

Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, p. 126). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Vows were never commanded in scripture, but the law did offer guidance on them. That is because there was always a danger of abuse. There was the danger that the obligation would be centered on God and not oneself.  There was also the danger of magical thinking. The idea that there was some kind of power to bring something to pass by making a vow. This kind of thinking is seen today in those who teach there is some kind of power innate in the words we say—a sort of Christian abracadabra. It is clear from scripture that vows had degenerated in the later years of the O.T. and the days of our Lord walking on earth.

In later times the spirit in which vows were observed appears to have degenerated; Malachi speaks sternly of those who make a vow, and in fulfilling it sacrifice unto the Lord ‘a blemished thing’ (Mal 1:14). Another, and still worse, misuse of vows meets us in the Gospels: the spurious piety of some men induced them to vow gifts to the use of the sanctuary, but they neglected, in consequence, the most obvious duties of natural affection; when a man uttered the word ‘Corban’ in reference to any possession of his, it meant that it was dedicated to God. Money that should have gone to the support of aged parents was pronounced to be ‘Corban,’ the son felt himself relieved of all further responsibility regarding his parents, and took honour to himself for having piously dedicated his substance to God (see Matt 15:5; Mark 7:9 ff.).

(from Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible: One-volume Edition. Biblesoft formatted electronic database. Copyright © 2015 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

With these thoughts in mind, let us remember that ours is not a quid pro quo relationship with the Sovereign of the Universe. That is the religion of the pagans, for they seek to please their deity out of fear or barter to obtain something. It is also the practice of the legalist and the spiritual manipulator. No, ours is a relationship based on pure grace in which the helper helps the helpless due to no merit on their part. Our response is that of grateful praise and witness to that grace. And as we shall see below, the ultimate source of our response is not from ourselves, but from God Himself.

But what of our Savior, how does this passage relate to Him? What does the New Testament say about this? In a more precious and revealing way, the author of Hebrews applies this verse to Jesus, our Lord.  Hebrews 2:10-12 says:

10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says,

     "I will declare your name to my brothers;
     in the presence of the congregation I will sing your             praises."
     NIV       

Here we have the highest fulfillment of Psalm 22:22 & 25. What was the reason for this suffering? To bring many to glory and to form a holy family (through adoption, not the deification of a believer). Here is glory humbling itself. Here is holiness wrapped in humility. The eternal Son, who is by nature, God, humbled Himself and took on human nature and suffered. What a blessed mystery indeed this hypostatic* union of Deity and humanity. However, we cannot also jump to a universalism that teaches that everyone is a child of God, and Jesus is everyone’s brother. No, He is brother only to the ones He makes holy (v 11). And because of this, He is not ashamed of us, here too is grace.

What was the content of Christ vow? As I’ve noted above, it was to make known the knowledge of God among His people, and our deliverance from eternal destruction through His death and resurrection. 

Let us now return to our present passage in Psalm 22. Notice, as a note in my Study Bible, says: “The vow of praise leads to doxology.” ** Verse 22 says: “in the congregation I will praise you” NIV. In verse 25, we have something even more profound, I believe. It is not clear in translations such as the NLT, KJV, NKJV, or even the NIV. If they are correct, then the meaning is simple. David is saying he will praise God and fulfill a vow. The NIV adds an interpretive element to the passage by adding, “From you comes the theme of my praise.” However, a literal translation of the beginning of verse 25 is found in Young’s translation. 

Of Thee my praise [is] in the great assemblyYLT

Here, the word “is” is added to make it read better in English. Examining the translations mentioned above, and others, they all attempt to interpret what David is trying to say by filling in the [ ].  However, if we take the ESV rendering (“From you comes my praise in the great congregation”), then we get an altogether different take. I believe this captures the meaning of the verse better. But what is that meaning? Well far be it from my small mind to plumb the depths of all it means. Perhaps some thoughts from others will help here.

Lange’s Commentary says:

It is God Himself who has put this great subject of praise into his heart; and into his mouth. The will and the power to praise as well as the
deliverance comes from Him.
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/lange/psalms/22.htm

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges says:

25. My praise shall be of thee] Rather as R.V., Of thee cometh my praise.
From his fellow-worshippers the Psalmist turns to Jehovah, who is not only the object but the source of his praise.
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/psalms/22-25.htm

 J.F.B. Commentary says:

My praise shall be of thee—or, perhaps better, “from thee,” that is,

God gives grace to praise Him.

                 Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible 

                 (Vol. 1, p. 354). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Our deliverance from first to last is all of grace. That truth is less challenging to grasp. That God is not only the object of our praise but also the originator and orchestrator of our praise as well, may not be. Our deliverance is not complete until we worship and praise God, and He works in us to bring that to pass.

Spurgeon declares:

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation. The one subject of our Master's song is the Lord alone. The Lord and the Lord only is the theme which the believer handleth when he gives himself to imitate Jesus in praise. The word in the original is "from thee", — true praise is of celestial origin. The rarest harmonies of music are nothing unless they are sincerely consecrated to God by hearts sanctified by the Spirit.
(from The Treasury of David, Biblesoft formatted electronic database Copyright © 2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Calvin writes:

My praise shall proceed or flow from thee; and he made this statement in order to testify that he owed his deliverance entirely to God.(from Calvin's Commentaries, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.).

      

If God is the object and the origin of our praise, then what should be the subject of our praise. Well, we know from these verses it should be about God. We must be vigilant in examining our motives when testifying to the grace of God in our life, or doing good to others. Are we calling attention to ourselves or God? Are we seeking the praise of others, or are we leading others to praise God?  I’m speaking now in general, and not just when He delivers us from evil. This is not a new problem.

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others.
Matt 6:2 ESV

11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
Luke 18:11-12 NIV

(None of us would be so bold as to pray this way, but do we think this way in our heart of hearts?)

Calvin says:

“We know that there are many who, under pretense of praising God, trumpet forth their own praises, and those of their friends, and leaving God in the back-ground, take occasion from one thing or another to celebrate their own triumphs.”(from Calvin's Commentaries, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Spurgeon says:

“The clerk says, "Let us sing to the praise and glory of God;" but the choir often sing to the praise and glory of themselves.”(from The Treasury of David, Biblesoft formatted electronic database Copyright © 2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Let us then remember that God is the origin, object, and the theme of our praise.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1457/1636/files/12182017social.jpg?v=1513568813

https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/2708.jpg

* HYPOSTATIC UNION. A theological expression that refers to the dual nature of Christ. God the Son took to Himself a human nature, and He remains forever true God and true man-two natures in one Person forever. The two natures remain distinct without any intermingling; but they nevertheless compose one Person, Christ the God-Man.

(from Moody Handbook of Theology, © 1989 by Paul P. Enns. All rights reserved.)

** NIV Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible, Copyright © 2003, by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI

The Joy of the Lord is my strength!

Skipped a day. I was busy in the morning dealing with issues and didn't get to bed till after 10 am and didn't get up till after 5 pm.,  so dinner came late. I did listen to the songs of worship yesterday from this journal entry. They ministered to me again. I was dealing with an issue with my wife over a letter I received from her friends wife trying to draw me into the divorce frey between my wife's friend and his wife (sounds like a soap opera doesn't it). This also kept me from making an entry in my journal or blogging. However, the songs came at the right time and I ended up humming and whistling Twila's "Joy of the Lord" all night at work. Thank you Lord for your blessings and great comfort"!

August 15, 2015

Worship: The Joy of The Lord by Twila Paris; The Joy of the Lord is My Strength by Desiree Kitajima

The joy of the Lord will be my strength
I will not falter, I will not faint
He is my Shepherd, I am not afraid
The joy of the Lord is my strength

The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength

The joy of the Lord will be my strength
He will uphold me all of my days
I am surrounded by mercy and grace
And the joy of the Lord is my strength

The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength

The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength

The joy of the Lord will be my strength
And I will not waiver, walking by faith
He will be strong to deliver me safe
And the joy of the Lord is my strength

The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength

The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength

I'm singing the joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength

The joy of the Lord
Well, the joy of the Lord
The joy of the Lord is my strength

https://youtu.be/qyIGnuDwBKA

https://youtu.be/4f61hmIWdPc  no lyrics seem to be available for this song except on the video itself.

Personal: Got up late and am rushing again. Found a wonderful song online while looking for the Joy of the Lord songs. It’s by a woman names Desiree Kitijim. The tune is simple and the song doesn’t always flow well, but the lyrics are powerful and scriptural. Memorable lines that hit me in my situation: “My God is greater, greater than all my sorrow…He heals my broken heart….Delivers me from my afflictions”. How appropriate that God would lead me to this song while studying this Psalm (song!).

Word:

Ps 22:25

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. NIV

Ps 22:25

25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.KJV

This verse is too important to gloss over or rush through. I must return to it tomorrow and begin working through it. Praise the Lord who is the theme and the source of my praise!

“25. My praise shall proceed from thee. I do not reject the other translation; but in my opinion, the Hebrew manner of expression here requires this sense - that David will take the matter of his song of praise from God. Accordingly, I supply the verb shall proceed, or shall flow, -- My praise shall proceed or flow from thee; and he made this statement in order to testify that he owed his deliverance entirely to God. We know that there are many who, under pretense of praising God, trumpet forth their own praises, and those of their friends, and leaving God in the back-ground, take occasion from one thing or another to celebrate their own triumphs.” http://biblehub.com/commentaries/calvin/psalms/22.htm

“The song of praise has as its subject the deliverance by God, and on this account takes its departure, or its origin from God, who naturally, at the same time, remains as the object of the praise (Psalm 22:22). [So Perowne: “From Thee, not (as A. V.) of Thee, as if God were the object only of his praise. It is God Himself who has put this great subject of praise into his heart; and into his mouth. The will and the power to praise as well as the deliverance comes from Him. Comp. Ps. 118:23, where the construction is precisely the same ‘from Jehovah is this.’ ”—C. A. B.]” http://biblehub.com/commentaries/lange/psalms/22.htm

God's perfect timing

August 14, 2015

Worship: Father Knows Best by Lenny Leblanc/Mike Curtis; Lord, I lift Your name on High by Rick Founds

Father Knows Best

Daddy told me not to ride my bike across that Rocky Creek
You know it's swift in places and son it's pretty deep
But hardheaded full of pride I went on anyway
And if daddy hadn't been watchin' me I wouldn't be here today.

Father knows best, father knows best
If he hadn't been lookin' out for me I'd be in such a mess
I swore from then on I would do just what he said
'Cause father knows best, father knows best.

I remember back in high school about sixteen years old
My friend said let's go drinkin', but daddy told me not to go
Now I'm so glad that I stayed home 'cause it turned out he was right
When the papers came the next mornin' it was there in black and white.

Father knows best, father knows best
If he hadn't been lookin' out for me I'd be in such a mess
I swore from then on I would do just what he said
'Cause father knows best, father knows best.

Today a man knocked on my door and said your daddy died
I tried holdin' back the tears but I just stood there and cried
Lord, you know I loved him, why did he have to go away
Then lookin' up to Heaven I heard somebody say.

Father knows best, father knows best
I'm always lookin' out for you so your heart can be at rest
I'll see you through the bad times, just remember what I said
Father knows best, father knows best.

Your Father knows best son, your Father knows best... (Lenny LeBlanc / Mike Curtis)

Lyrics:http://www.classic-country-song-lyrics.com/fatherknowsbestlyricschords.html

Video: https://youtu.be/4cuKG3m0s2M

Lord I Lift Your Name on High

Lord I lift Your name on high
Lord I love to sing Your praises
I'm so glad Your in my life
I'm so glad You came to save us

Chorus:
You came from heaven to earth
to show the way
from the earth to the cross
my debt to pay
from the cross to the grave
from the grave to the sky
Lord I lift Your name on high

lyrics: http://www.songlyrics.com/rick-founds/lord-i-lift-your-name-on-high-lyrics/

Video:https://youtu.be/Q3JshOvMNcE

Personal:

Another rush day. Seems I’m always taking a long time to get up and get going. Home repairs, grocery shopping for a few missing items. Messaging with my wife over her fears I might talk to her friend's ex. Been There, thought about it, didn’t do it. Knew it wouldn’t be wise. I pray she learns the real truth about her friend and his wife. I think she has a bias view based on what her friend has told and showed her. She thinks his wife is a destructive, greedy person. Perhaps, but I wonder. From the picture on facebook of them together, and the caption underneath it, and the text she sent my wife last year; I wonder if she isn’t just deeply hurt and lashing out at him to hurt him as he hurt her. I cannot say this to my wife. It would only lead to her getting mad at me. Getting Late, I must get into the word.

Word:

24For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help NIV

In recognizing that we are to rejoice in the work of God in others, it is not without merit to make an application of this passage to ourselves. The Psalmist began with a sense of abandonment, but it was only for a season, as he realized. His seeming unanswered petitions were being stored up by God to be answered in His wise and perfect timing. In the case of our Lord, if He had responded to too soon, then the great redemption on the cross would not have been accomplished. So God's delay not only led to the Saviors deliverance but to ours as well! 

He was delivered over to death for our sins

and was raised to life for our justification.

Rom 4:25 NIV                     

O blessed affliction that led to my aid! O merciful distress that brought my deliverance. And should I enter a season of suffering, I must trust and know He hears my cries and acknowledges my groaning, and I can hope in Him who in His time will bring relief and a time of refreshing. We know that in this life, there will always be tribulation. We know that all who desire to live godly lives will suffer (2 Tim. 3:12). However, ultimately we know this promise:

"6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you."
 2 Thess 1:6-10 NIV

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor 15:57 NIV

Amen!

Rejoicing in other's blessings

August 13, 2015

Worship: Take me into the Beautiful by Cloverton; Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning by Reginald Heber

Take me into the beautiful
Won't you take me back again
With a love unexplainable
Come and fill up this dry land
Let it open our eyes
To see a world we've never seen
Let it open our hearts up
To feel You inside of us
You're here inside of me

            Chorus

            Take me into the beautiful
            Where the rivers flow
            Where the love that never ends
            Oh I wanna go
            To the beautiful

            Take me into the beautiful
            Where the faces glow
            Where the lights that never dim
            Oh I wanna go
            To the beautiful
            Come on and take me again

Take me into the mystery
Gently lift me with Your grace
Make the chaos a chorus
With Yourself come fill this place
Cover me with Your mercy
Come and cover me with love
Cover me so that all might see
That it's You, not me
It is You that I am singing of

            Chorus

Bridge

A love that's brighter than diamonds
When I am with You
A love that always invites us
To be with you
Your love is brighter than diamonds
Now that I'm with You

            Chorus

Lyrics: http://www.songlyrics.com/cloverton/take-me-into-the-beautiful-lyrics/

Video: https://youtu.be/-ACsL84v_Fg

Brightest And Best Of The Sons Of The Morning (Morning Star)

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,

Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid;

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;

Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;

Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,

Maker and Monarch and Savior of all!

Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,

Odors of Edom and offerings divine?

Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,

Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,

Vainly with gifts would His favor secure;

Richer by far is the heart's adoration,

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

(from Biblesoft Hymnal, PC Study Bible electronic database Copyright © 2003-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Video: https://youtu.be/yIW2a5pFYAk

Personal: Day three of the rush. Projects get in the way of my quiet time. Getting up too late, too, and going to bed too late. I found a marvelous hymn sung at Christmastime. Must be a well known one, though I have never heard of it, nor is it on any Christmas album I have as far as I know. I say well known because there are at least five different tunes it is sung to, and YouTube has a lot of versions of it. I especially like the last verse, which says:

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,

Vainly with gifts would His favor secure;

Richer by far is the heart's adoration,

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Word:

Ps 22: 22-24 22 I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. 23You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help NIV

Ps 22:22-24 22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. 23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. 24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. NASU

The Psalmist now breaks into testimony and praise (see also v. 25). In the midst of his circumstances, the LORD breaks through the dark clouds of suffering, and the light of His grace and mercy shines through! So too, our Lord and Savior arose and testified to His disciples and many witnesses of His resurrected body. So also, He will come again in glory with His angels and the redeemed to dwell and reign here for a thousand years, followed by the coming new heavens and earth for eternity, testifying to the grace and mercy of God the Father. Seated at the right hand of the Father, He will reign forever, and we, with all the host of heaven, will, in Spirit-led worship, praise our great God and Savior forever. Blessed Trinity!  

Notice that not only will he/He testify to God’s deliverance “in the assembly,” but he/He exhorts all God’s people to do the same. This is certainly the proper response when God personally delivers us from suffering or answers our prayers or grants us some special blessing. However, the reason for David’s and our Savior’s testifying is given in verse 24. Why are we to praise Him? Why are we to honor and glorify Him? Why are we to revere and stand in awe? Because:

He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. NASU

So the reason given is not personal deliverance, answers to prayers, or blessings. No, the reason given is God’s deliverance of David, their king and most gloriously of our Savior, who testified by the Spirit of prophecy in Psalm 16:10:

“you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.” NIV 2011

Therefore, we rejoice in God’s work in another’s life, not just our own. That is more difficult in our extremely narcissistic society. How often, when God is working in someone else’s life, are we inclined to be envious rather than encouraged and enjoy seeing the evidence of the Lord’s grace at work? How often are we jealous instead of joyful?   But we are exhorted in Romans 12:15 to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Here is an opportunity to praise our God, join in sweet Koinonia (fellowship), and rid ourselves of self-centeredness.

Blessed be the God who delivers us from all afflictions and delivers us safely into His Kingdom of light and glory and peace. Amen!