Psalm 4
Answer me when I call,
O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds,
and be silent.
Selah

Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Oh, this Psalm takes me back about 20 years, when Jake was a preschooler.  He used to be afraid at bedtime and always needed an extra hug and a night light.  Many was the night that I would sit on the edge of his bed in the semi-darkness just sitting there with him, talking to him about this thing and that; praying with him.  Those were the days of one more drink, one more hug, one more question, one more story.

I told my sister, Kathy, about Jake's night fears and she gave us a little piece of paper  (might have been a sticker) with  a cheerful little blue bird and the words of Psalm 4:8.  This became Jake's comfort in the night.  We taped it to his headboard and it was always there, reminding him that God was always there, giving Jake relief when he was in distress.

Did David have any idea that the psalm he had penned would give comfort and peace to a little boy so many centuries later?  No, but God did.

I remember your name in the night, O Lord  Psalm 119:55

You can find more meditations on Psalm 4 at Light Came.  

 My friend, Leslie, of Light Came, has invited her readers to “Chew on This.”  ‘This’ is a passage from Psalm 3, as presented by Charles Spurgeon in his Treasury of David.

Here is Psalm 3 in its entirety:

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

1 LORD, how they have increased who trouble me!
         Many are they who rise up against me.
 2 Many are they who say of me,
         “There is no help for him in God.”  Selah  
         
 3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me,
         My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
 4 I cried to the LORD with my voice,
         And He heard me from His holy hill.  Selah  
         
 5 I lay down and slept;
         I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.
 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
         Who have set themselves against me all around.
         
 7 Arise, O LORD;
         Save me, O my God!
         For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
         You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
 8 Salvation belongs to the LORD.
         Your blessing is upon Your people.  Selah 

This Psalm opens with David crying out to God.  His own son had led a rebellion against him and he now is fleeing into the night-- the palace behind him and the wilderness before him.  Can you imagine the pain of betrayal?  Your own son?  It is unthinkable!  David had restored his relationship with this son and he repaid him by “stealing the hearts of the people.” David did not stand and fight, nor did he call his counselors together and plot revenge.  He left with his household, bent with sadness but trusting in his God.

David’s head must have been hanging low.  He had been grieved beyond measure in the cunning rebellion of his son.  How deeply personal were his wounds and how hard it must’ve been to hold his head up!  Everyone was watching; everyone knew.  However, his steadfast trust in the God of his Fathers not only allowed him to raise his head high, it allowed him to look beyond himself to his people and to testify of God’s goodness:

4 I cried to the LORD with my voice,
         And He heard me from His holy hill.  Selah  
         
 5 I lay down and slept;
         I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.
 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
         Who have set themselves against me all around.

It must also be that way with us.  When we are burdened down with pain and trial, we must first cry out to God, for it is He who knows what we are going through and it is He who understands why.  There is great comfort in this.  David could lie down and sleep and awake in the morning knowing that it was God who sustained him.  God had protected and sustained him during the vulnerable watches of the night and he need not fear what man could do.  That is what he had experienced and that is what he cried out to the people.  “I trusted in God and He heard me—you can trust Him, too.”

It is during times of great trial that we, and the watching world, learn that of which we are made.  If we stand in our own strength and “fight it out” on our own, what lasting words of instruction and encouragement do we have for others?  None.  But when we trust God and stand in His strength and in the comfort of His shielding presence, we have something of value to share with others.

“I trusted in God and He heard me—you can trust Him, too.”

For the past 27 weeks, I've been taking my little Sunday School class verse by verse through the book of Acts.  It's been an amazing journey through the history of the early church and through the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul.  Each week since his conversion in Chapter 9, his personality and style have been fleshed out through the scriptures.  I've always loved Paul, but I admit that I could  identify more closely with Peter.  I've always sort of seen Paul as the "go to" guy for doctrine.   In my imagination of what they would have been like if you'd have been there and could have known them, Peter seemed the guy to talk to, while Paul seemed the guy to listen to.  (I know that may seem silly but I don't think you can diligently study the Word without developing a relationship of sorts with its authors as well as its Author.)

 But I've changed my impression of Paul through this study.  Now, when I read his epistles, I can almost see the man behind the letters--his passion for the Gospel, his love for the churches, his willingness to both discipline and restore.  More importantly, the more I see of Paul, the more I see of the Trinity--God's sovereign plan, Christ's Person and Work, and the Spirit's guidance and direction.

Ephesians 1 has always been one of my favorite "go to" passages in all of scripture.  I've read it more times than I can count or will ever know, for it is chock full of the doctrines of grace.  But when I read it again this morning, I didn't just thrill to the great theological sweep of the chapter, I saw Paul, the man, writing to his beloved friends in Ephesus, speaking to them of the things he desired above all other things that they remember. I can imagine how those words echoed in the minds of the Ephesian elders.

He had laid the foundation of doctrine while he was laying the foundation of friendship--with the Ephesians and the Galatians and the Caesareans and with every one he taught, even me.

Paul's a great guy to get to know.  

 

I have always been awed by architecture, particularly the architecture of the great Cathedrals of Europe.  I have never forgotten how immensely diminished I felt as I stood in the great Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.  The disparate sensations of feeling weighed down by the great weight of stone above and yet spiritually lifted into the heavenlies surpasses description.

It's been thirty-five years since I first experienced what R. C. Sproul describes as "the threshold experience:"

A threshold is a place of transition.  It signals a change from one realm to another.

R. C. Sproul, The Holiness of God

Today's photo transported me back to that cherished memory.  Instead of ripping off my first impressions in less than 5 minutes, which is my usual approach to this project, this week I wanted to explore the Scottish cathedral that housed this shining, living stone:

THE BLACADER (or BLACKADDER) AISLE

This aisle, probably intended as an undercroft for a chapel above, is said to occupy the site of the cemetery consecrated at the beginning of the 5th century by St. Ninian.

When I discovered that this luminescent, alabaster aisle was built upon the site of a cemetry, images and words filled my mind, making sense of my response and bringing into focus my "threshold experience" with this image.

These shining columns, reaching from the grave to the sky, brought images of Christ's transfiguration, His resurrection, His ascension; the raising of Lazarus, and our union with Christ in His death and resurrection. 

The cross on the vaulted ceiling, banding the outstretched columns together reminded me of the power that holds all things together, both in heaven and on earth. 

Celum et terra.  On earth as it is in Heaven. 

More In 15  Words or Less Poems at laurasalas.

Either my vocabulary is slipping or the Dictionary Word of the Day is getting more obscure.  I haven't had this many "new words" in a long time!  It comes at a good time, though, because I haven't had much time to fit blogging into my day lately.  Here's another new one to me:

1. Potemkin village \puh-TEM(P)-kin\, noun:
   An impressive facade or display that hides an undesirable fact or state; a false front.
2. A Potemkin village is so called after Grigori Aleksandrovich Potemkin, who had elaborate fake villages built in order to impress Catherine the Great on her tours of the Ukraine and the Crimea in the 18th century.

In the last few days, I have learned about four churches--all with impressive buildings, exciting programs, and growing congregations--that are imploding.  They look good on the outside, but inside things are not at all what they seem.  Interestingly, they have been from very diverse denominational/theological backgrounds but the types of facades are so similar, as are the types of failures and sins that have brought them crashing down, or at least shaking on their foundations.

Potemkin was, reportedly, erecting false fronts to impress a Sovereign, Catherine the Great.  If you read the Wikipedia article, it seems he wasn't fooling anyone.

This morning, thinking about the Potemkin churches, I wonder.  Were the facades built for man or for God?  It seems that men can easily be fooled--both the men who are constructing the Potemkin churches and those who are attending them.  But just as we can be falsely impressed by the outward appearance, we can be wrongly discouraged when we see behind the false fronts.  God is shaking them; He will reveal their foundations.  Our job is to offer God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe and not refuse Him who is speaking when He warns. 

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
  
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” 

A Hymn for Pentecost Sunday

Holy Ghost, Dispel Our Sadness 

Holy Ghost, dispel our sadness,
Pierce the clouds of sinful night;
Come, thou source of sweetest gladness,
Breathe thy life, and spread thy light.
Loving Spirit, God of peace,
Great distributor of grace,
Rest upon this congregation;
Hear, O hear our supplication.

From that height which knows no measure,
As a gracious show'r descend;
Bringing down the richest treasure
Man can wish, or God can send.
O thou Glory, shining down
From the Father and the Son,
Grant us thine illumination;
Rest upon this congregation.

Come, thou best of all donations
God can give, or we implore;
Having thy sweet consolations
We need wish for nothing more.
Come with unction and with pow'r,
On our souls thy graces show'r;
Author of the new creation,
Make our hearts thy habitation.

Trinity Hymnal #246 

Why do the nations so furiously rage together?
Psalm 2:1,2 (Acts 4:25-26)

Why do the heathen rage, and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His Anointed,

Let us break their bonds asunder
Psalm 2:3

Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us.

He that dwelleth in heaven
Psalm 2:4

He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision.

Thou shalt break them
Psalm 2:9

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Hallelujah
Revelation 19:6

Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Revelation 11:15

. . . the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 19:16
 . . . KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS.

Related Tags: Messiah, Handel, Hallelujah Chorus, scripture, Easter, meditations

I know that my Redeemer liveth
Job 19:25, 26

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

1Corinthians 15:20

For now is Christ risen from the dead. . . the first fruits of them that [sleep].

Since by man came death
1Corinthians 15:21,22

Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Behold I tell you a mystery
1Corinthians 15:51,52

 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet;

The trumpet shall sound
1Corinthians 15:52b-53

The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Then shall be brought to pass
1Corinthians 15:54b (Isaiah 25:8)

Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'

O death where is thy sting?
1Corinthians 15:55-56 (Hosea 13:14)

O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God
1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

If God be for us
Romans 8:31, 33, 34

If God be for us, who can be against us?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us.

Worthy is the Lamb
Revelation 5:12, 13

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
 . . . . Blessing, and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Amen.

Related Tags: Messiah, Handel, Hallelujah Chorus, scripture, Easter, meditations

Unto which of the angels said He at any time
Hebrews 1:5 (Psalm 2:7)

For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?

Let all the angels of God worship Him
Hebrews 1:6b

"Let all the angels of God worship Him."

Thou art gone up on high
Psalm 68:18 (Ephesians 4:8)

Thou art gone up on high, Thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; yea, even for Thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

The Lord gave the word
Psalm 68:11

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of the preachers.

How beautiful are the feet
Romans 10:15 (Isaiah 52:7)

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Their sound is gone out
Romans 10:18 (Psalm 19:4)

Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Thy rebuke hath broken His heart
Psalm 69:20

Thy rebuke hath broken His heart; He is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him, but there was none; neither found He any to comfort Him.

Behold, and see if there be any sorrow
Lamentations 1:12

Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow. . .

He was cut off out of the land of the living
Isaiah 53:8b

He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of [Thy] people was He stricken.

But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell
Psalm 16:10 (Acts 2:27)

But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; neither didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates
Psalm 24:7-10

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.

This is a picture of the Golden (Mercy) Gate. It lies on the Eastern side of the Old City of Jerusalem and faces the Mount of Olives. According to the Jews, this is the gate spoken of in Psalm 24, through which Christ will return.

Related Tags: Messiah, Handel, Easter, scripture, The Mercy Gate, The Old City of Jerusalem, Mount of Olives

Part II

Behold the lamb of God
John 1:29

Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world.

He was despised
Isaiah 53:3

He is despised and rejected of men: a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. . .

Isaiah 50:6

He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting.

Surely He hath borne our griefs
Isaiah 53:4,5

Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. . . .

. . . He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:the chastisement of our peace was upon him,

And with His stripes we are healed
Isaiah 53:5b

and with His stripes we are healed

All we like sheep have gone astray
Isaiah 53:6

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to His own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn
Psalm 22:7

All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn: they shoot out their lips, they shake their heads, saying:   He trusted in God

Psalm 22:8 (Matthew 27:43)

He trusted in God that He would deliver Him: let Him deliver him, if He delight in Him.

Behold A Virgin Shall Conceive
Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:23)

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name EMMANUEL, God with us.

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
Isaiah 40:9

O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, and be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

Isaiah 60:1

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
Isaiah 60:2,3

For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

The people that walked in darkness
Isaiah 9:2 (Matthew 3:16)

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

For unto Us a Child is born
Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

There were shepherds abiding in the field
Luke 2:8

There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

Luke 2:9

And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Related Tags: Messiah, Handel, Easter, meditation, devotional, scripture

 

Comfort Ye
Isaiah 40:1-3

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. . . .
The voice of Him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every Valley
Isaiah 40:4

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight, and the rough places plain.

And the Glory of the Lord
Isaiah 40:5

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Thus saith the Lord
Haggai 2:6,7

Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Yet once, a little while and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come.

Malachi 3:1

The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.

But who may abide the Day of His Coming?
Malachi 3:2

But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire.

And He shall Purify
Malachi 3:3

And He shall purify the sons of Levi. . . that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Related Tags: Handel's Messiah, scriptures, devotional, Holy Week, meditations, Albrecht Durer

I'm going to be taking a week long break from blogging during Holy Week. 

Thanks to Squarespace's wonderful feature of timed publishing, I've decided to republish a series of meditations I posted on Blogger way back in 2006, based on Handel's Messiah and the scriptures that inspired it.  This was one of my favorite series and it'll be good to have it over here on Squarespace.

To those of you who remember it from before, thank you for indulging me.  

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

    34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Yippee!  Rebecca is starting another series!  All  of Rebecca's series are interesting and educational and this one promises to be theologically informative, too. 

Theological Term of the Week 

This is  a new feature I’m introducing. Once a week I hope to give a very brief explanation of a theological term, include a few quotes on it, and link to some resources that may explain the term and the issues around it more fully.

The first term she is exploring is the perspicuity of Scripture.  Like so many great creeds of the faith, Rebecca is starting her instruction with Scripture.  A great place to start.  I'd subscribe if I were you.

Lord of my heart, give me vision to inspire me, that, working or resting, I may always think of you.

Lord of my heart, give me light to guide me, that, at home or abroad, I may always walk with you.

Lord of my heart, give me wisdom to direct me, that, thinking or acting, I may always discern right from wrong.

Lord of my heart, give me courage to strengthen me, that, amongst friends or enemies, I may always proclaim your justice.

Lord of my heart, give me trust to console me, that, hungry or well-fed, I may always rely on your mercy.

Lord of my heart, save me from empty praise, that I may always boast of you.

Lord of my heart, save me from worldly wealth, that I may always look to the riches of heaven.

Lord of my heart, save me from military prowess, that I may always seek your protection.

Lord of my heart, save me from vain knowledge, that I may always study your word.

Lord of my heart, Save me from unnatural pleasures, that I may always find joy in your wonderful creation.

Lord of my heart, whatever may befall me, rule over my thoughts and feelings, my words and action.

I saw this over at The Happy Wonderer this morning and it really captured my imagination.  As I read through it, scriptures came leaping into my mind. 

I thought it would make a good series of posts, so I'm going to be taking these phrases, one at a time, and adding scriptures and perhaps some of my own thoughts over the next week or so.  You can find them all by clicking the "Lord of My Heart" button in the sidebar.  Feel free to meditate upon these phrases along with me and leave your thoughts in the comments.

Conflicting Feelings

Strange and mysterious is my life.
What opposites I feel within!
A stable peace, a constant strife;
The rule of grace, the power of sin:
Too often I am captive led,
Yet daily triumph in my Head,
Yet daily triumph in my Head.

I prize the privilege of prayer,
But oh! what backwardness to pray!
Though on the Lord I cast my care,
I feel its burden every day;
I seek His will in all I do,
Yet find my own is working too,
Yet find my own is working too.

I call the promises my own,
And prize them more than mines of gold;
Yet though their sweetness I have known,
They leave me unimpressed and cold
One hour upon the truth I feed,
The next I know not what I read,
The next I know not what I read.

I love the holy day of rest,
When Jesus meets His gathered saints;
Sweet day, of all the week the best!
For its return my spirit pants:
Yet often, through my unbelief,
It proves a day of guilt and grief,
It proves a day of guilt and grief.

While on my Savior I rely,
I know my foes shall lose their aim,
And therefore dare their power defy,
Assured of conquest through His Name,
But soon my confidence is slain,
And all my fears return again,
And all my fears return again.

Thus different powers within me strive,
And grace and sin by turns prevail;
I grieve, rejoice, decline, revive,
And victory hangs in doubtful scale:
But Jesus has His promise passed,
That grace shall overcome at last,
That grace shall overcome at last.