The song I have selected this week asks a question: How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts? It is a teaching song (to us) as well as a declaration of the
wondrous beauty of God's truth - the Bible!
How
Shall The Young Secure Their Hearts?
(written by Isaac Watts in 1719)
How shall
the young secure their hearts
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy word the choicest rules imparts
To keep the conscience clean,
To keep the conscience clean.
Tis, like
the sun a heav'nly light
That guides us all the day,
And through the dangers of the night
A lamp to lead our way,
A lamp to lead our way.
The word
is everlasting truth,
How pure is every page!
That holy book shall guide our youth
And well support our age,
And well support our age.
This hymn
is based on several passages found in Psalms 119. Look at these wonderful
verses:
"How
can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
For Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You."
(Psalm 119:9-11 NKJV)
"Your
word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
(Psalm 119:105 NKJV)
"You
are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth.
Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old
that You have founded them
forever."
(Psalm 119:151-152 NKJV)
I
encourage you today to make time to read the whole of Psalm 119. It is a
wonderful psalm of joyful submission to God's word, and a song of depending on
God and His faithfulness for help! Please read it!
Consider
the last verse of the hymn:
God's
word is everlasting truth, how pure is every page! That holy book shall guide our youth and well support our age.
1 Peter
1:25 states "the word of the Lord endures forever." In Psalm 119:89 the psalmist declares, "Forever, O LORD, Your word stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations." All generations! We've already read verses that declare the benefits of seeking God in our youth and
applying His instruction as we develop but we need to remember that we also have support in our older
years; God does not forget us, His word does not fail us. His instruction grows
in value and His teachings result in increasing wisdom, so we in turn can encourage a new
generation to seek Him!
Look at
this picture of old age:
"The
righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."
(Psalm 92:12-15 NKJV)
God is
good and greatly to be praised!! Encourage
the young to seek Him! Encourage the old to trust in Him! No matter your age, secure your heart to Him!! Only in
Him do we have the Lamp and the Light that can guide our way! Please read
Psalm 119 this week and sing this hymn with understanding!
This week in our 'Singing and Making Melody' series I've
selected a hymn that declares a willingness to continue to trust in God no
matter what happens in life: "It
Is Well With My Soul" written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873
Horatio
Spafford was a prominent American lawyer who, invested in significant properties
in Chicago in the 1860s, and then lost a sizable amount of his investment in
the Great Fire of Chicago of 1871.
Two years later, wanting to take a family vacation in Europe, knowing his
preacher friend, Dwight L. Moody, would be preaching in England in the Fall,
planned the trip accordingly. Due
to business demands Spafford sent his wife, Anna, and their four daughters,
Anna "Annie" (11), Margaret Lee "Maggie" (9), Elizabeth
"Bessie" (5), and Tanetta (2), ahead of him, planning on joining them
a short time later.
On November 22, 1873, while sailing across the Atlantic, an iron sailing vessel
struck the ship Anna and her daughters were on. 226 people lost their lives,
including all four of the Spafford children. Anna sent a telegram to Horatio
stating, "Saved alone."
It was while Horatio sailed across the Atlantic himself to be with Anna that he
thought of these words; as he followed the same course and traveled over the
waters where his daughters perished, this hymn was shaped and written.
When
peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well, with my soul."
Chorus: It is well (it is well) with my soul (with my soul), It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blessed assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and hath shed His own blood for my soul. [Chorus]
My sin - O the bliss of this glorious tho't! - My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! [Chorus]
And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend - Even so, it is well with my soul. [Chorus]
(as
written in the hymnal, "Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs",
Copyright 2012, Sumphonia Productions LLC)
Could you
write a hymn to the Lord after such tragedy?
Mr. Spafford never turned his back on the Lord. It seems that he leaned on him
even more heavily for help and comfort. We can learn much from this!
Consider
these words found in Habakkuk 3:17-19:
"Though
the fig tree may not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labour of the olive may fail,
and the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
and there be no herd in the stalls -
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD
God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills."
(NKJV)
We have a
Lord who can sympathize with our struggles and troubles (Hebrews 4:14-15). He
tells us to "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy
and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). This is a true statement - a real promise of help!
Almost nine years ago, I lost my Mom very suddenly (of a heart attack), she was only 65
years old and had just had a clean bill of health from her cardiologist. But on
a Sunday afternoon in late April, after worshiping with the brethren and going
out to lunch with a few of them, my Dad & Mom returned home. My Mom went
into the house, walked to the fridge to put the bottle of communion juice away,
turned to put her slippers on and collapsed, never to open her eyes in this world
again.
Within a couple hours of this happening, we arrived home (we live four hours south of my parents), and were met by my Aunt & Uncle and cousin, who
accepted the role of bearing the heartbreaking news to my family (and my
siblings).
I went with my husband and daughters to worship service that evening and was
embraced by my spiritual family there (the church is a wonderful blessing from
God!) and spent most of rest of the night praying to God.
I asked Him to help our family, to help and be near my Dad who was 4 hours
away, in the house by himself, in shock at the loss of his wife of 47 years. I
praised God for the blessing of my Mom - I had her for 41 years - I am blessed!
I thanked Him for her love and gentleness and her example in following Him in
her walk as a Christian. He blessed me with moments of sleep and when I would
wake I would again ask for help, praise Him, and thank Him.
Through Him, Mom had hope. Through Him, I have hope. I will one day stand
again, shoulder to shoulder with my Mom as we, together, join with all the
others who have 'gone on', to sing God's praises!
I, and my family, faced the next several days with a peace that was
indescribable! That's what the peace of God is - see Philippians 4:6-7 - it
surpasses understanding and it guarded our hearts and minds!!
Thanks be
to God for His indescribable gift!!
God's
promises are REAL!! He is faithful to keep them!! Never
turn from Him! Always, and with all your being, turn to Him!! Lean on Him,
receive help, comfort, peace, grace, and mercy from Him in your time of need!
Think on
Habakkuk 3:17-19 today. Thank God for His faithfulness! Thank Him for His care and provision in good times and bad! Sing the song selected for this week with understanding. Declare for yourself that, no
matter what happens in this life, because you wholly trust in God "It Is Well With Your Soul."
It's time for a new series of study: "Sing and Make Melody In Your Heart"
I've been
thinking of this for a little while now and thought, as we near Spring, it would be a great time
to run with it!
This week I chose a hymn of praise that happens to be one of
my earliest remembered favourites: "Holy,
Holy, Holy" written by Reginald Heber in 1826. This hymn is based on
the scene and song mentioned in the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation,
this song is one of beautiful praise to the "LORD God Almighty."
Holy,
holy, holy! LORD God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God over all and blest eternally.
Holy,
holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting downs their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who wert and art, and ever more shalt be.
Holy,
holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful men Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.
Holy,
holy, holy! LORD God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God over all and blest eternally.
(As found
in the hymnal, "Psalms, Hymns, And Spiritual
In
Revelation 4:8 the four living creatures "do not rest day or night,
saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to
come!" and when the four living creatures give "glory and honour and
thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever" the
twenty-four elders "fall down before Him who sits on the throne and
worship Him who lives forever and ever" they cast their crowns before the
throne saying, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and
power; for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were
created."
Read the
whole of Revelation chapter 4. Take the time to meditate on the beauty
described within that scene of praise and honour and glory! Take note of the
jewel-like description of the One who sits on the throne. Take note of the
rainbow around the throne, "like an emerald." The "sea of glass,
like crystal" that spreads out before the throne of God. It's
breath-taking!!
Pause for
a moment and think on Revelation 4. Picture it in your mind. Isn't it
wonderful? Now, sing this hymn of praise ~ I've attached a link, if you are in
need of the tune!
If the Lord wills, bring the
scene in Revelation 4 to your mind each day this week. Let the tune of this melody
flow through your heart as you consider the worthiness of God to receive glory
and honour and praise-filled thanksgiving!! Magnify Him in your heart as tune
your lips to sing His praise!
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he
who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not
take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38 NKJV)
Over the past several weeks we have looked at what it means to:
let go of the past (parental teaching/religion) if it isn’t according to God’s truth
look to the future by helping your children to seek
God first and foremost in their lives
deny your own self and be fully committed to
obeying God, willing to make any changes needed to be right in His sight
take up your cross by committing yourself so wholly
to following Jesus that you do not return to your former life (ideas, notions, practices, etc.)
If you are content to simply know what you have always known, do what
you’ve always done; if you are willing to surrender your leadership to your
children’s wishes, wants, and desires without regard for where their wants may
lead them, if you are unwilling to deny even yourself (your own self-centered
wants, wishes, and desires) nor commit yourself wholly to following Jesus for
life, then Jesus says that you are not worthy of Him. If you are doing these
things you aren’t following Jesus – you aren’t even on His pathway – you’re
creating your own (Romans 10:2-3) and
man-made pathways will never get you to heaven (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25, Matthew 7:21-23).
Instead, let us have a disposition like Paul, who willingly submitted to
God’s truth when He heard it, and followed Jesus’ path:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)
Paul took up his cross, died to selfish interests and pursuits, and used
his time and ability to magnify Christ in all he did. He declared God’s
greatness, he spoke the gospel Truth and he lived by it! When we read some of
Paul’s epistles (consider Philippians) we quickly come to realize the joy he
truly felt, even though in prison, even though nearing physical death; Paul was
overjoyed in following Christ and being faithful to God and obedient to His
commands. That is why he kept telling others about Jesus, no matter where he
found himself!
We can do what Paul did! He encouraged us all to do just that when he
wrote “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Are you ready and willing to trust God enough to let go and follow
Jesus? Are you ready to let conviction win over convenience? Are you prepared
to love your children enough to love Jesus more? To guide them by example to
always seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew
6:33)? Are you pleased to put God ahead of yourself, take up your cross
never to return to your former, sinful ways, and commit yourself wholly to
following Jesus through study and practice (James
1:25)? Then you are worthy of Christ!!
