With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles. II Chronicles 32:8
We're moving on through the Old Testament, as we continue to see God's power on display on behalf of His people. Today we meet Joshua, who was commanding a large army of "valiant warriors." Joshua and his warriors have had great success in war, and had captured Jericho and Ai and the city's kings. Another nation, Gibeon, had made peace with Israel and they were sharing the land together. Gibeon was a great city, and the Bible tells us its warriors were mighty men.
There were kings of other nations who didn't appreciate Gibeon having made peace with Israel. So they decided to do something about it.
Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron and to Piram king of Jarmuth and to Japhia king of Lachish and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, “Come up to me and help me, and let us attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the sons of Israel.” So the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they with all their armies, and camped by Gibeon and fought against it. Joshua 10:3-5
Well the people of Gibeon knew they needed Joshua and his valiant warriors to ward off the Amorites, so they sent word to get him to leave Gilgal and come to help.
Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us.” Joshua 10:6
Joshua responded, and took his people of war. And the Lord spoke to him, promising His deliverance.
So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him and all the valiant warriors. The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you.” Joshua 10:7-8
Well, we know what happens when God gives His word. He keeps it.
So Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal. And the LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword. Joshua 10:9-11
Not only did God allow for Joshua's army to slaughter many men, but the Lord sent large stones from heaven that killed more people than the sword! "Not one of them shall stand before you," God had promised. And they didn't!
Then Joshua spoke.
Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon, and O moon in the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Joshua 10:12-13
The sun stood still! The moon stopped! Wouldn't that be an amazing thing to witness?? Joshua won the battle; He took the Lord at His word and did not fear his enemy - He let the Lord deal with them, and God's power sent stones from heaven and made the sun and the moon stop in their courses! That is some amazing power.
That power of God is just the same today. At the end of this story, the Bible tells us that "the Lord fought for Israel." What battles do you need the Lord to fight for you? Cry out to Him for help, as David did when he prayed to be rescued from his enemies.
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Psalm 35:1
You can see God's faithful and powerful hand working throughout the ages, and know that His power at work in Joshua's time is at work in our world today. Cling to His promise:
"They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 1:19
The Power of God
Words by Frederick A. Graves
When Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son,
They were surprised and knew not what to say;
But they knew what God had promised He was able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Refrain
The pow’r of God is just the same today,
It doesn’t matter what the people say;
Whatever God has promised
He’s able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses wanted water to quench the people’s thirst,
He knew that God would then provide a way;
Although his rod was useful he had the power first:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses made a serpent and placed it on a pole,
The bitten ones were told to look that way,
And then while they were looking Jehovah-rophi made them whole:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Joshua was commander, he spoke—the sun stood still,
The moon its onward course was made to stay;
Thus he won a mighty battle, for he did his Father’s will:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Naaman, the leper, before Elisha stood,
He thought he knew just what the seer would say,
But he had to wash in Jordan, though he thought it wasn’t good:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When David met Goliath he meant to have a fight,
The leaders put the battle in array;
Of course he killed the giant, for he was in the right:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Jonah went to Tarshish to flee away from God,
A mighty fish was waiting for its prey;
It quickly swallowed Jonah, then threw him on the sod:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Malachi, the prophet, was preaching all abroad,
And cutting like sickle and the scythe;
The people were accursed, for they were robbing God,
They filled to bring the offering and the tithe.
Then came the blessed Savior, with power to cleanse and heal,
To bear my sin and sickness all away;
My burdens, too, He carries, and doth my sorrows feel:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Through Paul and Silas singing and praying in the jail,
For Paul and Silas knew the way to pray;
The prison doors were opened, for locks could not avail,
And the power of God is just the same today.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Power of God, verse 3
As for me, I shall call upon God, and the LORD will save me.
Psalm 55:16
Our friends the Israelites have been wandering in the dessert for a while now, and unfortunately, they haven't learned their lesson. God continues to provide for them, guide them, and save them from their enemies. He truly is their deliverer, and not just from Egypt - from every situation they get themselves into! We find them now as they journey through the desert, and the king of Arad rises up against them and takes some of them by force.
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, then he fought against Israel and took some of them captive. Numbers 21:l
The people respond by promising to destroy this people if God will give them over to them.
So Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.” Numbers 21:2
God answers their cry for help and Israel is victorious.
The LORD heard the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites; then they utterly destroyed them and their cities. Thus the name of the place was called Hormah. Numbers 21:3
But, how soon they forget the promises of God and His faithfulness to them! Our grumblers are back!
Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey. The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” Numbers 21:4-5
Remember, this is not the first time that they complained about being delivered from slavery. And God punished them for their sin.
The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. Numbers 21:6
It didn't take long for the people to realize their transgression, and they ask Moses to get involved.
So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. Numbers 21:7
And once again, the Lord has a plan for saving His people, even when they sinned.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.
Numbers 21:9
God displayed His mighty power for the people of Israel once again. It wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last.
The serpent on the standard gave life to those who had sinned against the Lord. We don't need a serpent anymore, because God has provided His own Son to give us life, even in our sinful condition.
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. John 3:14-15
God's power was at work when the Israelites wandered in the desert, and it was at work when Jesus came to Earth to become our salvation. And, His power continues to be on display every day in our world.
God is our Jehovah Rophi - the Lord Your Healer! Just as He healed the Israelites from their sin, He makes us whole through the blood of Jesus Christ. And His magnificent power can heal our physical bodies too. Whatever God has promised, He's able to perform. Hallelujah!
The Power of God
Words by Frederick A. Graves
When Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son,
They were surprised and knew not what to say;
But they knew what God had promised He was able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Refrain
The pow’r of God is just the same today,
It doesn’t matter what the people say;
Whatever God has promised
He’s able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses wanted water to quench the people’s thirst,
He knew that God would then provide a way;
Although his rod was useful he had the power first:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses made a serpent and placed it on a pole,
The bitten ones were told to look that way,
And then while they were looking Jehovah-rophi made them whole:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Joshua was commander, he spoke—the sun stood still,
The moon its onward course was made to stay;
Thus he won a mighty battle, for he did his Father’s will:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Naaman, the leper, before Elisha stood,
He thought he knew just what the seer would say,
But he had to wash in Jordan, though he thought it wasn’t good:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When David met Goliath he meant to have a fight,
The leaders put the battle in array;
Of course he killed the giant, for he was in the right:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Jonah went to Tarshish to flee away from God,
A mighty fish was waiting for its prey;
It quickly swallowed Jonah, then threw him on the sod:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Malachi, the prophet, was preaching all abroad,
And cutting like sickle and the scythe;
The people were accursed, for they were robbing God,
They filled to bring the offering and the tithe.
Then came the blessed Savior, with power to cleanse and heal,
To bear my sin and sickness all away;
My burdens, too, He carries, and doth my sorrows feel:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Through Paul and Silas singing and praying in the jail,
For Paul and Silas knew the way to pray;
The prison doors were opened, for locks could not avail,
And the power of God is just the same today.
Psalm 55:16
Our friends the Israelites have been wandering in the dessert for a while now, and unfortunately, they haven't learned their lesson. God continues to provide for them, guide them, and save them from their enemies. He truly is their deliverer, and not just from Egypt - from every situation they get themselves into! We find them now as they journey through the desert, and the king of Arad rises up against them and takes some of them by force.
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, then he fought against Israel and took some of them captive. Numbers 21:l
The people respond by promising to destroy this people if God will give them over to them.
So Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.” Numbers 21:2
God answers their cry for help and Israel is victorious.
The LORD heard the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites; then they utterly destroyed them and their cities. Thus the name of the place was called Hormah. Numbers 21:3
But, how soon they forget the promises of God and His faithfulness to them! Our grumblers are back!
Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey. The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” Numbers 21:4-5
Remember, this is not the first time that they complained about being delivered from slavery. And God punished them for their sin.
The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. Numbers 21:6
It didn't take long for the people to realize their transgression, and they ask Moses to get involved.
So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. Numbers 21:7
And once again, the Lord has a plan for saving His people, even when they sinned.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.
Numbers 21:9
God displayed His mighty power for the people of Israel once again. It wasn't the first time, and it won't be the last.
The serpent on the standard gave life to those who had sinned against the Lord. We don't need a serpent anymore, because God has provided His own Son to give us life, even in our sinful condition.
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. John 3:14-15
God's power was at work when the Israelites wandered in the desert, and it was at work when Jesus came to Earth to become our salvation. And, His power continues to be on display every day in our world.
God is our Jehovah Rophi - the Lord Your Healer! Just as He healed the Israelites from their sin, He makes us whole through the blood of Jesus Christ. And His magnificent power can heal our physical bodies too. Whatever God has promised, He's able to perform. Hallelujah!
The Power of God
Words by Frederick A. Graves
When Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son,
They were surprised and knew not what to say;
But they knew what God had promised He was able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Refrain
The pow’r of God is just the same today,
It doesn’t matter what the people say;
Whatever God has promised
He’s able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses wanted water to quench the people’s thirst,
He knew that God would then provide a way;
Although his rod was useful he had the power first:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses made a serpent and placed it on a pole,
The bitten ones were told to look that way,
And then while they were looking Jehovah-rophi made them whole:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Joshua was commander, he spoke—the sun stood still,
The moon its onward course was made to stay;
Thus he won a mighty battle, for he did his Father’s will:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Naaman, the leper, before Elisha stood,
He thought he knew just what the seer would say,
But he had to wash in Jordan, though he thought it wasn’t good:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When David met Goliath he meant to have a fight,
The leaders put the battle in array;
Of course he killed the giant, for he was in the right:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Jonah went to Tarshish to flee away from God,
A mighty fish was waiting for its prey;
It quickly swallowed Jonah, then threw him on the sod:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Malachi, the prophet, was preaching all abroad,
And cutting like sickle and the scythe;
The people were accursed, for they were robbing God,
They filled to bring the offering and the tithe.
Then came the blessed Savior, with power to cleanse and heal,
To bear my sin and sickness all away;
My burdens, too, He carries, and doth my sorrows feel:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Through Paul and Silas singing and praying in the jail,
For Paul and Silas knew the way to pray;
The prison doors were opened, for locks could not avail,
And the power of God is just the same today.
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Power of God, verse 2
How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! Again and again they tempted God, and pained the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power, the day when He redeemed them from the adversary, when He performed His signs in Egypt and His marvels in the field of Zoan, and turned their rivers to blood, and their streams, they could not drink. He sent among them swarms of flies which devoured them, and frogs which destroyed them. He gave also their crops to the grasshopper and the product of their labor to the locust. He destroyed their vines with hailstones and their sycamore trees with frost. He gave over their cattle also to the hailstones and their herds to bolts of lightning.
He sent upon them His burning anger, fury and indignation and trouble, a band of destroying angels. He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, but gave over their life to the plague, and smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the first issue of their virility in the tents of Ham.
But He led forth His own people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; He led them safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea engulfed their enemies. Psalm 78:40-53
Now we come to one of the many stories of how God demonstrated His power to Moses and the Israelites during their 40 years of wandering in the desert. This story comes pretty early on in their wandering. It was only two chapters earlier that the Israelites sang their song of praise to God for parting the waters of the Red Sea and ensuring their successful "escape" from Egypt. After that, they start their journey, and God displays His power by turning bitter water into sweet. Then He again displays His power by providing them with manna, new each morning, just enough for each family to gather.
But, these Israelites are a people who are quick to forget God's power and provision. They easily become disgruntled with their situation. They've seen God do miracles in front of them, and yet they become unhappy and quarrelsome. Here we see them at it again, as they worry about what they are to drink.
Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” Exodus 17:1-2
Moses must have been thinking, "Are you even kidding me? Haven't you seen what the Lord has done?" Even if he was thinking that, he responded less sarcastically.
And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” Exodus 17:2
God's chosen people could not take a hint.
But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” Exodus 17:4
Wow, that's pretty dramatic. They complain to Moses that they were rescued from slavery only to die of thirst! Remember, this is early in their wandering, but it seems like Moses is already at his wits' end!
So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me.” Exodus 17:5
And, God comes through again with a plan for providing water for the Israelites.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”
And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. He named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us, or not?” Exodus 17:5-7
God displayed His power again to the Israelites, causing water to come out of the rock. There was nothing powerful, per se, in Moses' staff. The power came from God. God told Moses, "I will stand before you there" - Moses had the power, even if he didn't have the staff. Moses obeyed God and the Lord provided water, even to a grumbling, ungrateful people.
That power that made water come from a rock is still at work in our world today! God's promises are the same to us as they have been for thousands and thousands of years. When we get to our wits' end, we only have to call upon the Lord, and ask that He would reveal His power in us.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Ephesian 1:18-19
The Power of God
Words by Frederick A. Graves
When Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son,
They were surprised and knew not what to say;
But they knew what God had promised He was able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Refrain
The pow’r of God is just the same today,
It doesn’t matter what the people say;
Whatever God has promised
He’s able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses wanted water to quench the people’s thirst,
He knew that God would then provide a way;
Although his rod was useful he had the power first:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses made a serpent and placed it on a pole,
The bitten ones were told to look that way,
And then while they were looking Jehovah-rophi made them whole:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Joshua was commander, he spoke—the sun stood still,
The moon its onward course was made to stay;
Thus he won a mighty battle, for he did his Father’s will:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Naaman, the leper, before Elisha stood,
He thought he knew just what the seer would say,
But he had to wash in Jordan, though he thought it wasn’t good:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When David met Goliath he meant to have a fight,
The leaders put the battle in array;
Of course he killed the giant, for he was in the right:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Jonah went to Tarshish to flee away from God,
A mighty fish was waiting for its prey;
It quickly swallowed Jonah, then threw him on the sod:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Malachi, the prophet, was preaching all abroad,
And cutting like sickle and the scythe;
The people were accursed, for they were robbing God,
They filled to bring the offering and the tithe.
Then came the blessed Savior, with power to cleanse and heal,
To bear my sin and sickness all away;
My burdens, too, He carries, and doth my sorrows feel:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Through Paul and Silas singing and praying in the jail,
For Paul and Silas knew the way to pray;
The prison doors were opened, for locks could not avail,
And the power of God is just the same today.
He sent upon them His burning anger, fury and indignation and trouble, a band of destroying angels. He leveled a path for His anger; He did not spare their soul from death, but gave over their life to the plague, and smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the first issue of their virility in the tents of Ham.
But He led forth His own people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock; He led them safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea engulfed their enemies. Psalm 78:40-53
Now we come to one of the many stories of how God demonstrated His power to Moses and the Israelites during their 40 years of wandering in the desert. This story comes pretty early on in their wandering. It was only two chapters earlier that the Israelites sang their song of praise to God for parting the waters of the Red Sea and ensuring their successful "escape" from Egypt. After that, they start their journey, and God displays His power by turning bitter water into sweet. Then He again displays His power by providing them with manna, new each morning, just enough for each family to gather.
But, these Israelites are a people who are quick to forget God's power and provision. They easily become disgruntled with their situation. They've seen God do miracles in front of them, and yet they become unhappy and quarrelsome. Here we see them at it again, as they worry about what they are to drink.
Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel journeyed by stages from the wilderness of Sin, according to the command of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” Exodus 17:1-2
Moses must have been thinking, "Are you even kidding me? Haven't you seen what the Lord has done?" Even if he was thinking that, he responded less sarcastically.
And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” Exodus 17:2
God's chosen people could not take a hint.
But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” Exodus 17:4
Wow, that's pretty dramatic. They complain to Moses that they were rescued from slavery only to die of thirst! Remember, this is early in their wandering, but it seems like Moses is already at his wits' end!
So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “What shall I do to this people? A little more and they will stone me.” Exodus 17:5
And, God comes through again with a plan for providing water for the Israelites.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.”
And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. He named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us, or not?” Exodus 17:5-7
God displayed His power again to the Israelites, causing water to come out of the rock. There was nothing powerful, per se, in Moses' staff. The power came from God. God told Moses, "I will stand before you there" - Moses had the power, even if he didn't have the staff. Moses obeyed God and the Lord provided water, even to a grumbling, ungrateful people.
That power that made water come from a rock is still at work in our world today! God's promises are the same to us as they have been for thousands and thousands of years. When we get to our wits' end, we only have to call upon the Lord, and ask that He would reveal His power in us.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Ephesian 1:18-19
The Power of God
Words by Frederick A. Graves
When Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son,
They were surprised and knew not what to say;
But they knew what God had promised He was able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Refrain
The pow’r of God is just the same today,
It doesn’t matter what the people say;
Whatever God has promised
He’s able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses wanted water to quench the people’s thirst,
He knew that God would then provide a way;
Although his rod was useful he had the power first:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses made a serpent and placed it on a pole,
The bitten ones were told to look that way,
And then while they were looking Jehovah-rophi made them whole:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Joshua was commander, he spoke—the sun stood still,
The moon its onward course was made to stay;
Thus he won a mighty battle, for he did his Father’s will:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Naaman, the leper, before Elisha stood,
He thought he knew just what the seer would say,
But he had to wash in Jordan, though he thought it wasn’t good:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When David met Goliath he meant to have a fight,
The leaders put the battle in array;
Of course he killed the giant, for he was in the right:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Jonah went to Tarshish to flee away from God,
A mighty fish was waiting for its prey;
It quickly swallowed Jonah, then threw him on the sod:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Malachi, the prophet, was preaching all abroad,
And cutting like sickle and the scythe;
The people were accursed, for they were robbing God,
They filled to bring the offering and the tithe.
Then came the blessed Savior, with power to cleanse and heal,
To bear my sin and sickness all away;
My burdens, too, He carries, and doth my sorrows feel:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Through Paul and Silas singing and praying in the jail,
For Paul and Silas knew the way to pray;
The prison doors were opened, for locks could not avail,
And the power of God is just the same today.
Friday, August 12, 2011
The Power of God, verse 1
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
The story of Abraham and His obedience to God is one of my favorites. His story starts in Genesis 11 when he takes his wife and goes with his father and they settle in Haran.
Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there.
Genesis 11:31
Terah dies there, and in the next chapter God tells Abram what he is to do.
Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:1
And Abram does it. Without questioning the Lord, without stopping to ponder the "what ifs," without consulting anyone else, he just does what the Lord said to do.
So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. Genesis 12:4-5
Now, in the next few chapters, Abram makes a few mistakes. One time, he asks his wife to lie and almost loses her to the Egyptians. But God still has great plans for him. He's just been through war, and the Lord appears to him.
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.” Genesis 15:1
Abram is not so sure. He questions God.
Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Genesis 15:2
Then he gives God the answer!
And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.” Genesis 15:3
But God had quite a different plan in mind.
Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Genesis 15:4-5
Descendents as many as the stars in the sky??? Wow. I'm sure Abram could hardly wrap his head around that idea. Even if he couldn't fathom it, He believed God. (This next verse is my favorite in the story.)
Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6
Abram believed. He took God at His word. And Abram was credited with righteousness for believing God. He knew that God had the power to do whatever He said He would do. And even though Isaiah the prophet wasn't born yet, Abram knew this fact to be true: God's words do not return to Him empty - they accomplish what He desires.
God makes a covenant with Abram that night, to seal His promise. But not long after that, Abram's wife grows impatient. She insists that Abram takes her servant as his wife, and encourages him to conceive a child with her that they would then raise as their own. Instead of trusting God completely, they take matters into their own hands. And, it works. Sarai's maid Hagar becomes pregnant, and immediately Sarai regrets her choice. Abram was 86 when his son Ishmael was born. Then 13 years later, the Lord appears to Abram again.
Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:1-8
God also had something to say about Abraham's wife.
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Genesis 17:15-16
Abraham seems to have forgotten God's promise from several chapters ago. He laughs! And again he presents God with his own plan.
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” Genesis 17:17-18
Of course, God had something different in mind. He again promises Abraham a son from Sarah, the son with whom God will establish a covenant for generations. He also promises that He will bless Ishmael.
But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.” Genesis 17:19-21
Later the Lord appears to Abraham again and, again, promises him a son.
Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Genesis 18:9-14
Abraham and Sarah were still not sure that God would give them a son - they were preoccupied with their physical ages, instead of God's power! Several chapters later, God demonstrates His power to Abraham and Sarah.
Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised. Genesis 21:1
He promised. And He did it.
So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Genesis 21:2-4
Remember Sarah laughing when she heard God say that she would bear a son? Well, who is laughing now? I love her response here.
Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” Genesis 21:5-7
God kept His promise and displayed His power for all to see when He gave Abraham and Sarah a son. Abraham was 100 years old! But remember, nothing is too difficult for Him.
The same power that gave Abraham a son when he was 100 years old is at work today. God keeps His promises! Whatever He promises He's able to perform.
Maybe you can't relate directly to Abraham and Sarah's story. That's ok. There are 9 stories left in this hymn and they all speak to God's amazing power. Open your eyes and your heart and believe; you will see God's power manifest in your life and all around you!
The Power of God
Words by Frederick A. Graves
When Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son,
They were surprised and knew not what to say;
But they knew what God had promised He was able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Refrain
The pow’r of God is just the same today,
It doesn’t matter what the people say;
Whatever God has promised
He’s able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses wanted water to quench the people’s thirst,
He knew that God would then provide a way;
Although his rod was useful he had the power first:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses made a serpent and placed it on a pole,
The bitten ones were told to look that way,
And then while they were looking Jehovah-rophi made them whole:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Joshua was commander, he spoke—the sun stood still,
The moon its onward course was made to stay;
Thus he won a mighty battle, for he did his Father’s will:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Naaman, the leper, before Elisha stood,
He thought he knew just what the seer would say,
But he had to wash in Jordan, though he thought it wasn’t good:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When David met Goliath he meant to have a fight,
The leaders put the battle in array;
Of course he killed the giant, for he was in the right:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Jonah went to Tarshish to flee away from God,
A mighty fish was waiting for its prey;
It quickly swallowed Jonah, then threw him on the sod:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Malachi, the prophet, was preaching all abroad,
And cutting like sickle and the scythe;
The people were accursed, for they were robbing God,
They filled to bring the offering and the tithe.
Then came the blessed Savior, with power to cleanse and heal,
To bear my sin and sickness all away;
My burdens, too, He carries, and doth my sorrows feel:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Through Paul and Silas singing and praying in the jail,
For Paul and Silas knew the way to pray;
The prison doors were opened, for locks could not avail,
And the power of God is just the same today.
The story of Abraham and His obedience to God is one of my favorites. His story starts in Genesis 11 when he takes his wife and goes with his father and they settle in Haran.
Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there.
Genesis 11:31
Terah dies there, and in the next chapter God tells Abram what he is to do.
Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:1
And Abram does it. Without questioning the Lord, without stopping to ponder the "what ifs," without consulting anyone else, he just does what the Lord said to do.
So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. Genesis 12:4-5
Now, in the next few chapters, Abram makes a few mistakes. One time, he asks his wife to lie and almost loses her to the Egyptians. But God still has great plans for him. He's just been through war, and the Lord appears to him.
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great.” Genesis 15:1
Abram is not so sure. He questions God.
Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Genesis 15:2
Then he gives God the answer!
And Abram said, “Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.” Genesis 15:3
But God had quite a different plan in mind.
Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Genesis 15:4-5
Descendents as many as the stars in the sky??? Wow. I'm sure Abram could hardly wrap his head around that idea. Even if he couldn't fathom it, He believed God. (This next verse is my favorite in the story.)
Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6
Abram believed. He took God at His word. And Abram was credited with righteousness for believing God. He knew that God had the power to do whatever He said He would do. And even though Isaiah the prophet wasn't born yet, Abram knew this fact to be true: God's words do not return to Him empty - they accomplish what He desires.
God makes a covenant with Abram that night, to seal His promise. But not long after that, Abram's wife grows impatient. She insists that Abram takes her servant as his wife, and encourages him to conceive a child with her that they would then raise as their own. Instead of trusting God completely, they take matters into their own hands. And, it works. Sarai's maid Hagar becomes pregnant, and immediately Sarai regrets her choice. Abram was 86 when his son Ishmael was born. Then 13 years later, the Lord appears to Abram again.
Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:1-8
God also had something to say about Abraham's wife.
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Genesis 17:15-16
Abraham seems to have forgotten God's promise from several chapters ago. He laughs! And again he presents God with his own plan.
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” Genesis 17:17-18
Of course, God had something different in mind. He again promises Abraham a son from Sarah, the son with whom God will establish a covenant for generations. He also promises that He will bless Ishmael.
But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.” Genesis 17:19-21
Later the Lord appears to Abraham again and, again, promises him a son.
Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Genesis 18:9-14
Abraham and Sarah were still not sure that God would give them a son - they were preoccupied with their physical ages, instead of God's power! Several chapters later, God demonstrates His power to Abraham and Sarah.
Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised. Genesis 21:1
He promised. And He did it.
So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Genesis 21:2-4
Remember Sarah laughing when she heard God say that she would bear a son? Well, who is laughing now? I love her response here.
Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” Genesis 21:5-7
God kept His promise and displayed His power for all to see when He gave Abraham and Sarah a son. Abraham was 100 years old! But remember, nothing is too difficult for Him.
The same power that gave Abraham a son when he was 100 years old is at work today. God keeps His promises! Whatever He promises He's able to perform.
Maybe you can't relate directly to Abraham and Sarah's story. That's ok. There are 9 stories left in this hymn and they all speak to God's amazing power. Open your eyes and your heart and believe; you will see God's power manifest in your life and all around you!
The Power of God
Words by Frederick A. Graves
When Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son,
They were surprised and knew not what to say;
But they knew what God had promised He was able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Refrain
The pow’r of God is just the same today,
It doesn’t matter what the people say;
Whatever God has promised
He’s able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses wanted water to quench the people’s thirst,
He knew that God would then provide a way;
Although his rod was useful he had the power first:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses made a serpent and placed it on a pole,
The bitten ones were told to look that way,
And then while they were looking Jehovah-rophi made them whole:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Joshua was commander, he spoke—the sun stood still,
The moon its onward course was made to stay;
Thus he won a mighty battle, for he did his Father’s will:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Naaman, the leper, before Elisha stood,
He thought he knew just what the seer would say,
But he had to wash in Jordan, though he thought it wasn’t good:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When David met Goliath he meant to have a fight,
The leaders put the battle in array;
Of course he killed the giant, for he was in the right:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Jonah went to Tarshish to flee away from God,
A mighty fish was waiting for its prey;
It quickly swallowed Jonah, then threw him on the sod:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Malachi, the prophet, was preaching all abroad,
And cutting like sickle and the scythe;
The people were accursed, for they were robbing God,
They filled to bring the offering and the tithe.
Then came the blessed Savior, with power to cleanse and heal,
To bear my sin and sickness all away;
My burdens, too, He carries, and doth my sorrows feel:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Through Paul and Silas singing and praying in the jail,
For Paul and Silas knew the way to pray;
The prison doors were opened, for locks could not avail,
And the power of God is just the same today.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The Power of God
Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. Jeremiah 32:17-18
I've been thinking a lot lately about God's power. I have seen first-hand what He can do and how He shows His power through others. And I can't stop thinking about my niece and nephew singing, with great conviction, "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's NOTHING my God cannot do." (And, by the way, they are 2 and 4 years old!) NOTHING that he cannot do - that's a lot of power.
This is a wonderful old hymn from 1899 with TEN verses, each one describing a Bible story that showed God's power. And the refrain, sung ten times, carries this potent reminder: God's power is the SAME TODAY. The same power that gave Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age, that gave David the victory over Goliath, the same power that rose Jesus from the dead! - that power is still the same today, and still at work in our world.
So stay with me for the next several weeks as we look at each verse of this wonderful hymn. I know you will be encouraged about God's power through the ages and in our lives.
The Power of God
Words by Frederick A. Graves
When Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son,
They were surprised and knew not what to say;
But they knew what God had promised He was able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Refrain
The pow’r of God is just the same today,
It doesn’t matter what the people say;
Whatever God has promised
He’s able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses wanted water to quench the people’s thirst,
He knew that God would then provide a way;
Although his rod was useful he had the power first:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses made a serpent and placed it on a pole,
The bitten ones were told to look that way,
And then while they were looking Jehovah-rophi made them whole:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Joshua was commander, he spoke—the sun stood still,
The moon its onward course was made to stay;
Thus he won a mighty battle, for he did his Father’s will:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Naaman, the leper, before Elisha stood,
He thought he knew just what the seer would say,
But he had to wash in Jordan, though he thought it wasn’t good:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When David met Goliath he meant to have a fight,
The leaders put the battle in array;
Of course he killed the giant, for he was in the right:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Jonah went to Tarshish to flee away from God,
A mighty fish was waiting for its prey;
It quickly swallowed Jonah, then threw him on the sod:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Malachi, the prophet, was preaching all abroad,
And cutting like sickle and the scythe;
The people were accursed, for they were robbing God,
They filled to bring the offering and the tithe.
Then came the blessed Savior, with power to cleanse and heal,
To bear my sin and sickness all away;
My burdens, too, He carries, and doth my sorrows feel:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Through Paul and Silas singing and praying in the jail,
For Paul and Silas knew the way to pray;
The prison doors were opened, for locks could not avail,
And the power of God is just the same today.
I've been thinking a lot lately about God's power. I have seen first-hand what He can do and how He shows His power through others. And I can't stop thinking about my niece and nephew singing, with great conviction, "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's NOTHING my God cannot do." (And, by the way, they are 2 and 4 years old!) NOTHING that he cannot do - that's a lot of power.
This is a wonderful old hymn from 1899 with TEN verses, each one describing a Bible story that showed God's power. And the refrain, sung ten times, carries this potent reminder: God's power is the SAME TODAY. The same power that gave Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age, that gave David the victory over Goliath, the same power that rose Jesus from the dead! - that power is still the same today, and still at work in our world.
So stay with me for the next several weeks as we look at each verse of this wonderful hymn. I know you will be encouraged about God's power through the ages and in our lives.
The Power of God
Words by Frederick A. Graves
When Abraham and Sarah had been promised a son,
They were surprised and knew not what to say;
But they knew what God had promised He was able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Refrain
The pow’r of God is just the same today,
It doesn’t matter what the people say;
Whatever God has promised
He’s able to perform:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses wanted water to quench the people’s thirst,
He knew that God would then provide a way;
Although his rod was useful he had the power first:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Moses made a serpent and placed it on a pole,
The bitten ones were told to look that way,
And then while they were looking Jehovah-rophi made them whole:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Joshua was commander, he spoke—the sun stood still,
The moon its onward course was made to stay;
Thus he won a mighty battle, for he did his Father’s will:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Naaman, the leper, before Elisha stood,
He thought he knew just what the seer would say,
But he had to wash in Jordan, though he thought it wasn’t good:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When David met Goliath he meant to have a fight,
The leaders put the battle in array;
Of course he killed the giant, for he was in the right:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Jonah went to Tarshish to flee away from God,
A mighty fish was waiting for its prey;
It quickly swallowed Jonah, then threw him on the sod:
And the power of God is just the same today.
When Malachi, the prophet, was preaching all abroad,
And cutting like sickle and the scythe;
The people were accursed, for they were robbing God,
They filled to bring the offering and the tithe.
Then came the blessed Savior, with power to cleanse and heal,
To bear my sin and sickness all away;
My burdens, too, He carries, and doth my sorrows feel:
And the power of God is just the same today.
Through Paul and Silas singing and praying in the jail,
For Paul and Silas knew the way to pray;
The prison doors were opened, for locks could not avail,
And the power of God is just the same today.
Friday, August 5, 2011
My Times are in Thy Hand
I originally wrote about this hymn several years ago as the New Year approached. But lately I find myself singing it often as a reminder. I find encouragement in this hymn that reminds us of God’s sovereignty in our lives. Too often I take my times into my own hands. God has the ultimate plan for my years, my life and everything in it. How comforting to know that we can rest in His care.
My Times are in Thy Hand
Words by William F. Lloyd
My times are in Thy hand;
My God, I wish them there;
My life, my friends, my soul I leave
Entirely to Thy care.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. Psalm 139:7-10
My times are in Thy hand;
Whatever they may be;
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
As best may seem to Thee.
My times are in Thy hand;
Why should I doubt or fear?
My Father’s hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3
My times are in Thy hand,
Jesus, the crucified!
Those hands my cruel sins had pierced
Are now my guard and guide.
I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me. Galatians 2:20
My times are in Thy hand,
I’ll always trust in Thee;
And, after death, at Thy right hand
I shall forever be.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24
My Times are in Thy Hand
Words by William F. Lloyd
My times are in Thy hand;
My God, I wish them there;
My life, my friends, my soul I leave
Entirely to Thy care.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. Psalm 139:7-10
My times are in Thy hand;
Whatever they may be;
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
As best may seem to Thee.
My times are in Thy hand;
Why should I doubt or fear?
My Father’s hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1-3
My times are in Thy hand,
Jesus, the crucified!
Those hands my cruel sins had pierced
Are now my guard and guide.
I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me. Galatians 2:20
My times are in Thy hand,
I’ll always trust in Thee;
And, after death, at Thy right hand
I shall forever be.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24
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