Worship

Unusual events at Calvary

When the apostle Paul came to Corinth, he ‘decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified’ (1 Corinthians 2:2). The cross of Christ lies at the heart of the heart of the Christian faith.

 

By ‘the cross’ we refer not to its wood, but its work — the redeeming work of Christ for sinners.

There was nothing particularly unusual about crucifixion in the first century. Gruesome and barbaric though it was, it was a common capital punishment when the Romans ruled.

When Christ was crucified, however, some very unusual events occurred which can only be explained supernaturally. These show that Christ’s crucifixion was as much an act of God as of cruel men.

 

Darkness

 

Let us consider three such unusual events. First, when Christ died at Calvary, a supernatural darkness covered the land. ‘When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour’ (Mark 15:33). From noon to 3.00pm, one day in Spring, it became midnight at midday! Something unique was happening.

Isaac Watts gave a clue when he wrote:

 

Well might the sun in darkness hide

And shut its glories in

When Christ the mighty Maker died

For man the creature’s sin.

 

Darkness in the Bible refers to divine judgement. Hell — the ultimate in divine judgement — is described by Jesus as ‘outer darkness’, where ‘men will weep and gnash their teeth’ (Matthew 8:12). Joel 2:2 describes God’s judgement as ‘a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness’.

The darkness of Calvary is explained by the fact that there Christ was being judged by God, not for his own sins, for he had none; but for the sins of others.

He was judged for our justification. He was punished, so that by believing in him we might be pardoned. He endured the darkness of hell, so we might forever bask in the light of heaven.

Isaiah prophesied, ‘He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole and with his stripes we are healed’ (Isaiah 53:5), and the earliest ever Christian creed states succinctly that, ‘Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures’ (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Jesus then was forsaken by God in the depths of divine judgement, so that believers might be lifted up to the glories of heaven.

 

Curtain

 

When Christ died at Calvary, the Bible tells us that ‘the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom’ (Mark 15:38). This has no natural explanation.

The Jerusalem temple was modelled on the ancient tabernacle and divided into the holy place and holy of holies. The omnipresent God presenced himself in the holy of holies in a special way. Access to it was limited and barred, and a great curtain separated it from the holy place.

Only the high priest could enter the holy of holies, and only once a year with sacrificial blood on the annual Day of Atonement. But when Jesus died at Calvary, the curtain which prohibited entrance was torn in two.

It shows that the death of Christ accomplished something. He did not just die as a martyr or example, but as an atoning sacrifice for sinners. Sinners separated from God may now be reconciled to God, and gain access to God through the death of Christ.

‘We have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is through his flesh’ (Hebrews 10:19).

 

Centurion

 

Thirdly, when Christ died at Calvary, a miracle occurred in the heart of a hardened sinner.

The Roman centurion supervising Christ’s crucifixion had no doubt witnessed many crucifixions in his time. Yet he was forced to confess that there was something very different about this one.

‘When the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God!’ (Mark 15:39). Almighty God had opened his eyes, so that he could see that Jesus was the very Son of God.

The value of Calvary lies in the identity of the one who died there. Only the eternal Son of God could offer himself up as an eternal sacrifice to atone for sinners. His blood alone can cleanse us from our sins and make us fit for heaven.

Yes, in the first century, crucifixion was a common event. But the crucifixion of Christ was unparalleled and unique. It alone saves from hell’s darkness, reconciles sinners to God, and is the sure ground of eternal salvation for all who, by God’s grace, put their faith in the crucified Christ.

For these reasons, every Christian has cause to say with Paul, ‘Far be it from me to glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world’ (Galatians 6:14).

 

© Timothy Cross

Dr Cross has authored many Christian books and articles, and has an honorary doctorate of sacred literature, from Christian Bible College, Rocky Mount, NC .

 

Posted by Site Developer in Salvation, Worship, 0 comments

The Seal of the Holy Spirit

The seal of the Holy Spirit

 

The full-orbed Christian doctrine of God takes us to the doctrine of the holy Trinity, that is, that the one true God exists and has eternally existed in the three persons of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Of these three divine persons, the Holy Spirit has been, arguably, the most neglected member of the Trinity in Christian thinking and preaching.

The Holy Spirit’s ministry however is absolutely indispensable. We would not and could not become Christians apart from his regenerating agency. It is the Holy Spirit of God who imparts to us all the blessings of God in Christ. Chief in his work is the effectual application of the redeeming work of Christ on the cross to our souls.

It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin and enables us to believe in Jesus, and so appropriate personally the salvation Christ procured at Calvary. The joy and peace which comes as a consequence of this is an experience which ‘none but Zion’s children know’.

 

In Scripture

 

A ministry of the Holy Spirit’s which receives even less mention in Christian preaching and writing is that of ‘sealing’ — yet this blessed ministry is written plainly on the pages of the Bible for the Christian’s encouragement, assurance and reassurance.

In Ephesians 1:13, Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus that ‘you … who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit’. Here then is a distinguishing mark of a Christian.

How do we describe a Christian? In various ways. A Christian is chosen by God, saved by grace, called by God, redeemed by Christ, justified by faith. And a Christian is ‘sealed with the promised Holy Spirit’.

Paul says the same a little later in Ephesians when he exhorts ‘do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption’ (Ephesians 4:30). What though does Paul mean when he writes of this invisible, yet very real ‘seal’?

In the ancient world, visible seals were used on goods to attest their genuineness — something akin to our modern day trademarks. They were also utilised to mark ownership and to keep a legal document from being tampered with. A document had to arrive at court with an unbroken seal or it would be considered invalid.

The seal of God’s Holy Spirit then is proof that we genuinely belong to Jesus. It is the proof of our salvation. In Romans 8:9 Paul writes, ‘Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him’. The seal of the Holy Spirit is also one of the many ways in which the Bible describes the eternal security of one united to Christ in saving faith.

God our Father not only made us, but has also purchased us with the blood of his Son. We belong to him for ever. Nothing can undo our salvation, for God’s mark is upon us. By his Holy Spirit we are ‘sealed for the day of redemption’. ‘He has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee’ (2 Corinthians 1:22).

 

In society

 

The Bible often comes to life when we consider it against its original background of first century, middle eastern context and customs. This is especially so here. The booklet The Bible Comes to Life, published by the Churches Ministry amongst Jewish People, casts light on the Holy Spirit’s sealing of the Christian when it explains that in the first century world of the Bible: ‘letters, books, documents and other possessions were sealed to indicate ownership, authority or the value of an article. Paul uses this old custom of sealing to show how the believer has been purchased and paid for by the blood of Christ’.

The same booklet also has an instructive paragraph about a corn seal which, it says, was: ‘made of wood and measures about 48x24x2 cms. On one side the monogram of the owner is deeply cut while on the other side is fixed the handle.

‘When a man has purchased a quantity of corn it is placed in a heap which he proceeds to seal carefully by pressing his monogram upon it. This is to warn all who pass by that the corn has been purchased and paid for and is the property of the person whose seal is upon it. Later the man will send a servant with a donkey to collect or redeem it in his name’.

So we can understand better what Paul meant when he referred to the Holy Spirit’s sealing of the Christian. A Christian is ‘sealed for the day of redemption’. We have been purchased by the blood of Christ. We belong to Jesus. We are his property, for he has paid for us and now owns us. His mark — the seal of the Holy Spirit — is upon us.

One day he is going to come and collect us and we shall be with him for ever. Jesus promised ‘I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also’ (John 14:3).

 

In suffering

 

The last book of the Bible — the book of Revelation — was written during the most troublesome, violent and unstable days. If anyone should have believed that a Christian could not be sure of salvation, or lose a salvation he once had, surely John, the author of Revelation, should have.

But, no. God gave John a vision. John was enabled to view salvation from a heavenly angle. In Revelation 7:2 ff. he tells how: ‘I saw another angel … with the seal of the living God, and he called … “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads”. And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty four thousand …’

This, of course, is highly symbolic. But symbolic of what? There were twelve tribes in Israel, and there were twelve apostles. 12×12=144. This then refers to God’s true church — the large number of his elect from all the ages who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. They have God’s seal upon them. They are a saved people, a safe people and a sealed people.

They will be a glorified people because no natural or supernatural power can break the Holy Spirit’s seal upon them. ‘Those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified’ (Romans 8:30).

‘Sealed for the day of redemption’. If, by God’s grace, you belong to Jesus, why not bow your head now and thank God for the blessed sealing of his Holy Spirit.

 

There on each he setteth

His own secret sign

They that have my Spirit

These, saith he, are mine.

 

© Timothy Cross; originally published in Evangelical Times, reproduced with the kind permission of www.evangelicaltimes.org 

 

 

 

 

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The Unfinished Work of Christ

Is Christ’s work unfinished?

 

‘The finished work of Christ’ is one of the dearest doctrines of all to Protestants (see January 2013 ET). When Christ died on the cross, he did everything necessary to save us eternally.

 

His death has paid the full price for the eternal salvation of his people. ‘When Jesus therefore received the vinegar, he said, it is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost’ (John 19:30). ‘But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God’ (Hebrews 10:12).

So while it is an essential truth of the gospel that Christ’s work is finished, it is also true to say that the Bible teaches us of ‘the unfinished work of Christ’, that is, what the Lord Jesus is currently doing for his people.

The Bible teaches that Christ’s saving work is both accomplished and ongoing! This will be so until all of God’s people have been saved ‘to sin no more’.

According to the Bible, there are at least four aspects of the continuing work of Christ.

 

Saving

 

Christ has not finished drawing sinners to himself. Jesus stated, ‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me’ (John 12:32). For his work at Calvary in the past to make any difference to an individual’s life in the present, it has to be applied to the human heart.

Christ continues, by his Holy Spirit, to draw sinners to himself. He convicts them of their sin and lost condition, and gives them saving faith to unite them to himself.

The Shorter Catechism states, ‘Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of God and renewing our will, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel’.

It is as true to define a Christian as one who has been drawn by Christ to himself, as it is to define a Christian as one who is justified by faith, redeemed by the blood or saved by grace.

 

Interceding

 

Christ has not finished interceding for sinners. Jesus is praying for his people. This is one aspect of his work as our High Priest. ‘[He] is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us’ (Romans 8:34); ‘wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them’ (Hebrews 7:25).

Jim Packer provides us with an excellent definition of this unfinished work: ‘Christ’s intercession [is] that heavenly activity … whereby he makes sure that all who come to God through him, pleading his name, trusting him for forgiveness, access, grace to help in time of need, and ultimate glory, will not be disappointed … it is certainly and infallibly efficacious [effective]’ (God’s words, J. Packer, p.118).

 

He died; but lives again

And by the throne he stands

There shows how he was slain

Opening his pierced hands

Our Priest abides and pleads the cause

Of us who have transgressed his laws.

 

Preserving

 

Christ has not finished preserving saved sinners. He not only makes us safe, but keeps us safe. If the barriers to our coming to faith in Christ were great, humanly speaking, so are the barriers to our persevering in the faith.

We face a continual battle against the world, flesh and devil, all of which threaten to make shipwreck of us and separate us from the Saviour. However, the Bible teaches that Christ keeps his own.

Jesus is stronger than Satan or sin. Jesus affirms concerning his own sheep, ‘I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand’ (John 10:28).

The Bible teaches the eternal security of those who are united to Christ. The Christ who saves us is actually the King of kings. There is no higher authority than his. No natural or supernatural power is a match for him. Paul is persuaded that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:39).

The Shorter Catechism, in explaining how his kingship is an aspect of his being our Redeemer, states, ‘Christ executeth the office of a king in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies’.

Christ is infinitely worthy of our confidence and trust. He will not let us go. Some of the apostle Paul’s last recorded words were the confident affirmation, ‘And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever’ (2 Timothy 4:18). All of God’s children may make these words their own.

 

Preparing a home

 

Christ has not finished preparing a glorious home for his people. He is preparing a home in heaven for all who belong to him.

Remember those well known words which the Saviour uttered in the upper room: ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions [lit. “abiding places”]. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you’ (John 14:2).

Think of it! He is preparing a place for you. A place in glory, in God’s house, for all those he died to save. What must that place be like? The Christian’s glorious, eternal home will surely be greater than any human words can tell.

If you are a Christian then, and your faith is based on Christ’s finished work of redemption at Calvary, you can also rejoice and take great comfort from his ongoing work on your behalf.

Christ has some unfinished business! He is working for you today! He lovingly drew you to himself. He intercedes for you, keeping you in the protection of his work at Calvary. He keeps you from all evil and, in amazing grace, is preparing an exquisite home in heaven for you — a home in the Father’s house itself.

 

Thou art gone up before us Lord

To make for us a place

That we may be where now thou art

And look upon God’s face

 

O think of the home over there

By the side of the river of light

Where the saints all immortal and fair

Are robed in their garments of white.

 

© Timothy Cross; originally published in Evangelical Times, reproduced with the kind permission of www.evangelicaltimes.org

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Tolerance

TOLERANCE: A CHRISTIAN VIRTUE?

 

In 1 John 4:1, the Apostle John – an intimate of the Lord Jesus – gives the following exhortation and warning to Christians: ‘Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.’

In our 21st century, multi-cultural, multi-faith, multi-lifestyle society, ‘toleration’ is definitely one of the spirits of the age. It is enjoined as a good, even a ‘Christian’ virtue. Thus one Nick Pratt (sic) is quoted in the Metro of 19/10/12 as being very angry when his son George was prohibited from joining the Scouts due to his professed atheism. Said Mr Pratt: ‘Christianity is meant to be about being tolerant, forgiving and understanding …’ But is a blanket ‘tolerance’ truly ‘of God’? What happens when we ‘test the spirits’?

 

  1. Consider the Person of God

 

Contrary to common belief, the God of the Bible is actually revealed as an intolerant God. He brooks no rivals for He has no rivals. Idolatry – that is, giving worship and honour to anyone or anything other than the one true God – is condemned in the Bible throughout its pages. The God of the Bible is jealous and zealous for His own glory. Thus in Exodus 34 He commanded His people to break down the altars and pillars of the false gods found in the land of Canaan. His reason for this was Himself. He affirmed ‘you shall worship no god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God’ (Exodus 34:14). The true God therefore is not tolerant but jealous. He demands, requires and is worthy of our exclusive obedience, allegiance and worship. He alone can affirm ‘I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other’ (Isaiah 42:8). And in the very first of the Ten Commandments – the summary of the moral law – God commands: ‘You shall have no other gods before me’ (Exodus 20:3). The Shorter Catechism explains:-

 

The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God and our God, and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.

 

The first commandment forbiddeth the denying or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other which is due to Him alone.

 

  1. Consider the Law of God

 

The God of the Bible exercises no tolerance at all when it comes to the breaking of His law. As God our great creator, He has the right to lay down His law and demand obedience to it. Breaking His law is serious solely from the fact that it entails a rebellion against Himself – treason against the King of kings.  So in Galatians 3:10 we read ‘it is written ‘Cursed be every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law and do them.’’ So the God if the Bible is completely intolerant when it comes to punishing law breakers. They are liable to His ‘curse.’ Non Christians who rebel against God can expect His merciless judgement in the life to come. And even Christians who lapse and flout God’s law, can expect His chastisement in this life, for the God of the Bible is inflexible when it comes to the law He has laid down. The slightest infringement brings punishment: ‘For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it’ (James 2:10).

Will God punish all who have broken His law? Yes. But the Good News of the Gospel is that sinners may be pardoned and escape from the punishment they deserve, for in His wisdom and mercy, God devised a way whereby sinners could be justly pardoned. In sending His Son to die in the sinners place, and take their punishment, God was true to both the justice and love which lies at the heart of His nature. Calvary was the supreme demonstration of both God’s love and wrath – wrath in condemning sin, and mercy in pardoning the believing sinner: ‘to prove at the present time that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies those who have faith in Jesus’ (Romans 3:26). Which leads us to:-

 

  1. Consider the Salvation of God.

 

The Bible is intolerant when it comes to salvation, for according to the Bible, the salvation Christ procured at Calvary is an exclusive one – there is no other pardon for sin and there is no other way of salvation apart from the sacrifice of Christ on the cross: ‘And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under haven, given among men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12).

There were those in the province of Galatia who preached an alternative way of salvation from the cross of Christ. They ‘did it their way.’ In response, far from enjoining toleration, the Apostle Paul expressed his indignation and wrote one of the most intolerant letters of the New Testament. It is doubtful whether Galatians pass the censors today. Paul was gripped by the necessity of the cross –  its indispensibility for our salvation and the futility of seeking salvation anywhere else. ‘If justification were through the law (that is, our own efforts) then Christ died to no purpose’ (Galatians 2:21), he wrote.

 

So the exclusive nature of the Christian Faith does not sit easily with the current spirit of the age. Christian belief and behaviour are contrary to the current tide and world view which promotes ‘tolerance’ whilst, paradoxically, is increasingly intolerant of the Christian Faith. The words of the Saviour however still remain: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me’ (John 14:6).

Having considered something of the intolerance of the God of the Bible, along with the intolerance of His law and His salvation, the question is begged as to why He does not intervene straight away in fearful judgement. Isn’t our current world a total affront to Him? The answer is as follows. Paradoxically, again, the Bible reveals that almighty God is long-suffering as well as intolerant. In His great mercy, He tolerates sinners for a while. He exercises His patience with them so that they may come to Christ and be saved. Yes, intolerance is part of His holy nature. But He amazingly has His elect people, destined for eternal glory. So although He will surely intervene one day, He withholds His final judgement so that Christ’s church – the church of the redeemed – may be built. As Peter explained: ‘The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance’ (2 Peter 3:9). So whilst God’s intolerance is to be revered, His forbearance is fuel for our praise. Apart from the latter, we would not have come to saving faith in Christ.

 

Timothy Cross

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From Dawn until Dusk

FROM DAWN UNTIL DUSK

 

I recently had the experience of being outside in the morning while it was dark, and seeing the day dawn gradually until it was light. Then, as it happened, that very same day, I was out in the early evening as the sun set and the darkness appeared again. The experience reminded me of Psalm 113:3 which reads ‘From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.’

We are told that in heaven, the praise of God never ceases. Revelation 7:15 informs us that there, the redeemed ‘are … before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night within His temple.’ It is doubtful though if there is any moment here on earth when someone, somewhere is not engaged in the praise of God. ‘From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.’

 

Sunday worship

 

Think for a moment of an average Sunday – the Christian Sabbath. Here in the UK we might be fast asleep in bed early on a Sunday morning – but the sun has already risen in the east. In China and in the former states of the Soviet Union, Christians are already awake, up and meeting together, sometimes illicitly. They have gathered together to hear God’s Word and to unite their hearts and voices in God’s praise. Then, when the day dawns in the UK, Christians here take up God’s praise. My mother’s church meets at 09.30 on a Sunday. My church meets at 11.00. A church I know in Belfast meets at midday. We have our evening service at 18.30 hrs. The church I know in Belfast meets at 19.00 hrs. Eventually though, in both assemblies, the closing benediction is said, we make our way home and the caretaker locks the church door. Our corporate worship has finished for the day. Yet if we could travel west to America, we would find that their evening worship has not yet begun. It will do though. They will be engaged in corporate worship while we are getting ready to retire for the night. ‘From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.’

The question is begged: Why is God always to be praised? The answer of the Bible is ‘Because He alone is worthy.’ Worship depends on worth, and there is no one or nothing more worthy than Almighty God. He alone may be described as truly ‘great.’ Human greatness is relative. Divine greatness is absolute. ‘Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable’ (Psalm 145:3).

There is then no time on earth or in heaven when Christians, either individually or corporately are not praising God. Their praise actually is a response to Him. Specifically, it is a response to i. His Superlative Glory and ii. His Saving Grace.

 

  1. God’s Superlative Glory

 

The ‘name of the LORD’ in our verse refers to the revelation God has given us of Himself – His self disclosure. We learn from the Bible that God is supreme, sovereign and unrivalled. He is the uncreated Creator and sustainer of the universe, unsurpassed and unsurpassable in His power and greatness. In Isaiah 46:9 He makes the assertion ‘I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.’ The Shorter Catechism, in answer to the question ‘What is God?’ states

 

‘God is a spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.’

 

The revelation of God in the Bible incites and demands our praise and awe. Not worshipping Him is the height of disrespect. Worshipping anything created is idolatry. Christians therefore praise God for His superlative glory and greatness. But Christians alone have a special reason for praising God, namely:-

 

  1. God’s Saving Grace

 

The wonder of wonders is that the awesome God of the universe should have mercy on sinners and enter into a relationship with them – but this one truth is the conviction which unites all Christians. Christians are the recipients of God’s saving grace. Whilst He was within His rights to condemn us all to hell for our sins, in His mercy He sent His Son to save us from our sins and restore us to fellowship with Himself. God the Father planned our salvation. God the Son procured our salvation on Calvary’s cross. God the Holy Spirit has applied Christ’s work of redemption to us, reconciling us to God for time and eternity. With this in mind, Christians meet together for the corporate worship of God – to praise Him for His saving grace in Christ. We have a salvation to celebrate, a mercy to extol and a God to glorify. The wonder of God’s saving grace in the gospel is the fuel which ignites our praise. Hear again John’s summary of the gospel in John 3:16,17: ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.’

God’s superlative glory and God’s saving grace. Here is the reason for the praise He receives from His creatures. And here is the reason for obeying the injunction of Psalm 113:3:’ From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.’ The hymn writer captured the sentiment of the verse very well in the following lines:-

 

We thank Thee that Thy church unsleeping

While earth rolls onward into light

Through all the world her watch is keeping

And rests not now by day or night

 

As o’er each continent and island

The dawn leads on another day

The voice of prayer is never silent

Nor dies the strain of praise away

 

The sun that bids us rest is waking

Our brethren neath the western sky

And hour by hour fresh lips are making

Thy wondrous doings heard on high

 

So be it, Lord, Thy throne shall never

Like earth’s proud empires pass away

Thy kingdom stands and grows for ever

Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.

 

Timothy Cross

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Site Developer in Bible, Worship