Saturday 31 January 2015

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: IX

(Chap 5: 4)


He gave His life for them “And he shall stand
To feed his flock”, clothed in Jehovah's strength;
The love that shepherds to their heavenly land
Is love that sought for them to such a length.


The One who is their fortress and their Rock
Has shown that He will always understand
Their needs “and he shall stand and feed his flock”.

Friday 30 January 2015

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: VIII

(Chap 5: 2)


He shall come forth to God “who is to be
Ruler in Israel” having achieved
All that the heart of God desired to see
And to display in those who have believed.


All nations, knowing He does all things well,
Will add to praises which He has received
“Who is to be Ruler in Israel”. 

Thursday 29 January 2015

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: VII

(Chap 4: 6)


'I will assemble her that halteth and
Will gather her that's driven out'; His grace,
Not only drawing from a distant land,
Will settle her in her exalted place.


God shall reign over them, who brought about
Their healing; they shall bow before His face
When He will gather her that's driven out. 

Wednesday 28 January 2015

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: VI

(Chap 4: 4)


And every one shall sit “under his vine
And under his fig-tree” as made replete,
Enjoying both a joy that is divine
And blessings that are succulent and sweet.


What blessedness that this is what we see
By faith, as each believer takes his seat,
“Under his vine and under his fig-tree”.

Tuesday 27 January 2015

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: V

(Chap 4: 2)

“And he shall teach us of his ways”, the nations
Will say, and bind themselves to follow in
His paths. For Christ shall bring in new relations
On earth when His millennium shall begin.


All shall redound to God the Father's praise
As He by whom the world is cleansed from sin
Shall rule, “and he will teach us of his ways. 
                                                                 

Monday 26 January 2015

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: IV

(Chap 3: 8)

He told them, “truly I am filled with power by
The Spirit of Jehovah”; what he claimed
Was proved by all the blessing he was showered by
In light concerning Christ which he proclaimed.


Blest Spirit, as I see the Man I'm thrilled with
And seek to gather where His Name is named
May I have power that truly I am filled with!

Sunday 25 January 2015

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: III

(Chap 2: 13)

Since “One that breaketh through” has gone before
We may advance whatever may ensue;
One who was once confined has burst the door
Of death, securing pasture that is new.


Discern, because of the exultant noise
The host of men since “One that breaketh through”
Has gone before to lead to heavenly joys. 

Saturday 24 January 2015

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: II

(Chap 2: 7)

God says, “Do not my words do good to him
That walketh uprightly”. It is his food
For every day; whenever life is dim
It is his light; his guard when sins intrude.


It is his tutor in the heavenly ways:
For this, and more: “Do not my words do good
To him that walketh uprightly”, God says.

Friday 23 January 2015

THOUGHTS ON MICAH: I

(Chap 1: 15)


'I will yet bring to you an heir.' God keeps
His promises, and all His loving ways
Bring out the glory of the hidden deeps
Of works in purpose to secure His praise.


But what a thought of grace that we should share
As Christ's co-heirs. What boundless grace essays
To promise He will bring to us an Heir.

Thursday 22 January 2015

DONE

But where God wished a sanctuary
He quickly found idolatry
As Israel's fervour failed;
Though you may have the greatest light
You need still to maintain its height
For it will be assailed.

The time was long, the bondage sore,
The word occasional before
Recovery came in;
Oh Christian soul, do not relax
For joys will wane and sorrows wax
As you make way for sin.

For when the conquest would restart
God found a man after His heart
Who would do all His will;
As Christ in beauty fills our view
Abundant blessing will ensue
Through what He will fulfil.

David, through all life's storms and calms
Distilled experience into psalms
For God's unending praise;
And Christ now, as He moves and tends
Our souls wakes worship which ascends
In anthems that we raise.

Affection and affliction shared
In the material prepared
For what his son would build;
Love answers love to bring us near
While suffering shapes how we appear
So that God's house is filled.

Trumpets and singers in accord
Proclaim the glory of the LORD:
The house fills with the cloud;
Now glory fills the courts above
And sons praise with united love,
Reverent, but uncowed.

Let hallelujahs now resound
Unto the LORD for He has crowned
The work He had begun;
Praise Him by whom all was conceived,
And now the matchless deed's achieved,
Determined, dared, and done.

This concludes "Progress"; I trust you will enjoy the plagiarism from Christopher Smart in the ending.

Tuesday 20 January 2015

JOSHUA AND CALEB

Joshua has assumed the lead;
Victuals are cooked on which to feed;
The ark fills Israel's view;
Christ formed in you may be your guide;
Christ is the food God will provide;
Christ is the Way for you.

Although the Jordan overflows
The priest-borne ark serenely goes
Into the watercourse;
The One who is the Prince of life
Has boldly entered into strife
Against death's awesome force.

O Jordan, why do you retreat
The moment that these priestly feet
Rest in your water's flow?
O death, why do you taste defeat?
The work of Christ is so complete
It quells our ancient foe.

Caleb, whom God had caused to live,
Called for the place they were to give
Despite the Anakim;
The Lord provides a heavenly place
Now, through the Spirit's power, and grace,
For those who trust in Him.

At Caleb's challenge Othniel took
Debir, the city of the book,
And Achsah was his prize;
Now vigorously overthrow
Man's wisdom - and God's love will show
Fresh blessings to your eyes.

When Caleb gave a southern land
He blessed, at Achsah's fresh demand,
Upper and lower springs;
In spiritual or moral thought
It's by the Spirit that we're brought
To life in holy things.

Sunday 18 January 2015

THE END OF WILDERNESS

Jehovah showed that He was glad
The daughters of Zelophehad
Claimed their inheritance;
Claim the rich blessings there for you.
Confident that what will ensue
Is heavenly jubilance.

After such fervour it is sad
That those of Reuben and of Gad
Prefer a lower place;
Go on to all the good that's yours
Because of all God's heart assures
In its unbounded grace!

The half tribe of Manasseh found
They too were allocated ground
Upon the eastern bank;
In all the good He will provide,
In land, or family, or bride,
You have the Lord to thank.

Now Moses, at the LORD's command
Climbs Pisgah to survey the land
Where Israel shall dwell;
So, by the Spirit, we may view
The blessings God will bring us to
Since He does all things well.

He saw the end of his pursuit,
Seeing it lived in, yet his foot
Would never tread its loam;
Authority may bring you near
The blessings of the heavenly sphere
But love must draw you home.

Saturday 17 January 2015

THE ROCK, THE BRAZEN SERPENT, AND THE WELL

As in the wilderness at first

The people murmur about thirst

With blasphemous complaints.

For life you must not only think

Of blessings, but must daily drink

What God provides His saints.



Israel's blessing would ensue

From God when Moses speaks unto

The rock before their eyes;

Speak to the One following the flock

And you have water from the Rock

In bountiful supplies.



Dishonouring Jehovah's name

Moses was tinged with lasting blame

And failed to reach the land;

Jesus alone is fit to lead

As true to God in every deed,

As Christians understand.



Then the impatient people said

That their souls hated the "light bread"

Jehovah's goodness gave.

We find our hearts can be enticed

Through flesh to disregard the Christ

Who gave Himself to save.



But what the pains they underwent

From fiery serpents which God sent!

And many people died.

For still there operates within

The working of the power of sin

Which must be mortified.



Moses is told by God to make,

And set upon a pole, a snake

And all who look will live;

Faith apprehends that it is in

His Son that God condemns our sin

Which He cannot forgive.



Now are effectual journeying days

For those who've held within their gaze

The serpent on the pole;

As Christ is fixed before your sight,

Christian, you travel towards the light,

Since He has made you whole.



Travelling by ways He has prepared

They gather, for God had declared

He'll water them at Beer;

We move with God, obediently;

We assemble to Him, faithfully;

He gives refreshment here.

Thursday 15 January 2015

THE LAND

They chose a man from every tribe
To find what blessings they describe
In spying out the land;
The Spirit helps you to explore
God's purposes, though they are more
Than you can understand.

While all affirm the land is good
And bring back samples of its food
Most make the people cower;
God's thought are good, and He has strength
To bring you to His land at length
In spite of Satan's power.

Tuesday 13 January 2015

WILDERNESS TRIALS

The Israelites now bake and beat
The manna given them to eat
Each morning on the dew;
Oh! Christian, pray you will not tire
Of Christ, who's worthy to acquire
Increasing worth to you!

They lust for meat - and soon you see
The quails Jehovah sent; yet He
Put leanness in the soul;
Judge lust by which you will not feed
On Christ, who answers every need
And makes the Christian whole.

When Moses' siblings' jealousy
Results in Miriam's leprosy
How fervently he pleads!
How well, when sins seems to enmesh,
Through sin that's working in the flesh
Our Patron intercedes!

Saturday 10 January 2015

GOD'S PROVISION

And now a priestly family
Begin to function comelily
According to God's ways;
Thus persons who are sanctified,
Influenced by Christ as glorified,
Begin to give God praise.

And should the camp remove, observe
The separated Levites serve
Under the priest's command;
Take opportunities God brings
To bear the consecrated things,
Lifting up holy hands.

Disdaining any human guide,
Israel, see the ark provide
The way for you to go;
Discounting man and all his views
Following Jesus you must choose
The road that He will show.

Friday 9 January 2015

GOD'S DWELLING

And God shows He desires to dwell
Among His people Israel
Between the cherubim;
The Lord's desire is to reside
In His own house, and there abide
In settings fit for Him.

Jehovah shows His dwelling should
Be centred on an Ark of wood
That's overlaid with gold;
A house that's suited to God's plan
Must have its centre in that Man
Whose worth cannot be told.

And each of the acacia boards
Upon its silver stands affords
Some structure for the tent;
Men fashioned after Christ provide
The dwelling where God may abide,
Eternally content.

Thursday 8 January 2015

APPROACH TO GOD

When Moses has inscribed these truths
Taking up priestly work the youths
Make sacrifice to God;
As stony tables of the heart
Are graven with God's words, saints start
To sound His praise abroad.

After his reading Moses took
The blood to sprinkle men and book
To seal the covenant;
For the new covenant to take place
The blood of Jesus forms the base
Of all that God will grant.

Where He appeared in clarity
The Israelite nobility
Saw God and ate and drank;
By faith you can approach God now
And know that He to whom you bow
Confers the highest rank.

Now Moses goes before God's face
To take the mediator's place
And thus receive God's plan;
You may know all God chose to think
Of you because you have a link
In the ascended Man.


(Back now from a visit to believers on the Lord Jesus in India: good to see God's work there.)