Greetings sis Reis, et al,
These old testament saints could only lament what they remembered
Zion_as it was_. THose thoughts filled their hearts with sadness and
they could do nothing but lament their own state as well as the
condition of Zion as it lay in ruins. This is the weakness of the
carnal commandment and temples made with hands, the glory of them _must
decline_. The saints of GOD in this DAY OF SALVATION however are blessed
to see ZION _as it now is _and have the prospect of seeing it in an even
greater LIGHT of glory in the ages to come. Their lament was "How shall
we sing", but our place of delight is "_*how can we not sing*_" of HIM
who has purchased our redemption and gone to prepare a place for us in
that CITY not made with hands. /"Verily I say unto you, Among them that
are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:
notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater
than he." (Mat 11:11) "Of which salvation the prophets have enquired
and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come
unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ
which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was
revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the
things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the
gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things
the angels desire to look into. " (1Pe 1:10-12/)
blessings, mike
On 3/3/2021 2:08 PM, Soraya Reis wrote:
*"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" Psalm 137:4*
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*Methinks, my soul, this strange land is the very place to sing the Lord's song in, though the carnal around understand it not. Shall I hang my harp upon the willow, when Jesus is my song, and when he himself hath given me so much cause to sing? Begin, my soul, thy song of redemption: learn it, and let it be sung upon earth; for sure enough thou wilt have it to sing in heaven. Art thou at a loss what to sing? Oh, no. Sing of the Father's mercy in sending a Saviour. Sing of Jesus's love, in not only coming, but dying for thee! Are the redeemed above now singing, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain?" Join in the chorus, and tell that dear Redeemer in the loudest notes, that he was slain, and hath redeemed thee to God by his blood. Strike up thy harp anew to the glories of redeeming grace, in that he not only died for thee, but hath quickened thee to a new and spiritual life. *
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*Add a note more to the Lord's song, and tell the Redeemer in thy song of praise, that he hath not only died for thee, and quickened thee, but he hath loved thee, and washed thee from thy sins in his own blood. Go on in thy song, my soul, for it is the Lord's song. Sing not only of redeeming love, but marvellous grace; for both-are connected. He that redeemed thee, hath all grace for thee. He hath adopted thee into his family; hath made thee an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ. He hath undertaken for thee in all troubles, under all difficulties, to be with thee at all times and all places, until he brings thee home to behold his glory, that where he is, there thou mayest be for ever. And are not these causes enough to keep thy harp always strung—always in tune? And wilt thou not sing this song all the way through, and make it the subject of thy continual praise and love, in the house of thy pilgrimage? *
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*Moreover, the several properties of the song are, in themselves, matter for keeping it alive every day, and all the day. Think, my soul, how free was this love of God to thee. Surely if a man deserved hell, and found heaven, shall he not sing? If I expected**displeasure, and received love—if I was brought low, and one like the Son of Man helped me, shall I not say, as one of old did—"He brought me out of the horrible pit, and out of the miry clay; he hath put a new song into my mouth, even thanksgiving to our God?" If I think of the greatness of the mercy, of the riches of the mercy, of the sweetness of the mercy, of the all-sufficiency of the mercy, of the sureness and firmness, and everlasting nature and efficacy of the mercy—can I refrain to sing? *
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*No, blessed, blessed Jesus! I will sing and not be afraid; "for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song, and he is become my salvation." I will sing now, I will sing for evermore. In this strange land, in this barren land, in this distant land from my Father's house, I will sing, and Jesus shall be my song. He shall be the Alpha and the Omega of my hymn; and until I come to sing in the louder and sweeter notes of heaven, among the hallelujahs of the blessed, upon the new harp and new stringed chords of my renewed soul, will I sing of Jesus and his blood, Jesus and his righteousness, Jesus and his complete salvation. *
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*And when the last song upon my trembling lips, with Jesus's name in full, shall be uttered; as the sound dies away, when death seals up the power of utterance; my departing soul shall catch the parting breath, and, as it enters the presence of the court above, the first notes of my everlasting song will go on with the same blessed note, "to him that hath loved me, and washed me from my sins in his own blood!"*
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*Robert Hawker (1753-1827) *
