God spoke, from the beginning

For fellowship no longer fit –
see how they tried to hide,
but in that perfect place they now
could not, must not abide.
God spoke – his words were stern, but showed
that he would one day bring
a way of mercy so they could
approach the holy King.

God spoke when Cain, in jealousy
his brother Abel killed;
and when with violent godlessness
and evil, earth was filled,
God spoke to Noah of his grief  –
he’d send a world-wide flood,
but told him how to build a vast
safe vessel out of wood.

God spoke to Abram, so that he
might pass the teaching on
to his descendants, who’d expect,
await the Christ to come.
God spoke through prophets to rebuke
unkindness, pride and greed,
and taught them to turn back, and pray
for mercy, grace in need.

God spoke how he would come one day,
to teach, redeem and save,
foretold Messiah’s birth and death,
and then the empty grave.
And so God spoke by his own Son,
the Priest, the living Word
– himself revealing: will his words
be scorned, repressed, ignored?

DCM eg Noel tune of ‘It came upon a midnight clear’
‘In the past God spoke … at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son …” Hebrews 1:1,2

The need for God’s revelation

Man, created in God’s image,
knew communion with his Lord:
earth’s Creator and Sustainer
Adam worshipped and adored;
fully knowing,
understanding
all that he had need to know.

When he sinned he lost this constant
full, rich, fellowship with God:
conscience, vision were corrupted, –
disobedience brought the rod.
Judgement feeling,
mercy needing, –
gracious messages from God.

As he learned of his condition,
Adam heard God speak in grace; –
through the ages God revealed more
how he’d solve this hopeless case.
God chose ways and
timely days and
through his prophets truth made known.

What he told must be remembered –
Words of God for all mankind:
holy writing God protected,
revelation for the blind.
Spirit holy
works in mercy,
sight restoring through God’s Word.

Christ, the Saviour, Word incarnate, –
Scripture teaches why he came;
Scripture guides, reproves, corrects us,
for salvation through Christ’s name.
Always needing
Scripture reading
’Til we see him face to face.

Tune: 87 87 47 eg Blaencefn by John Thomas

Reliable words!

God of truth,  he cannot lie; –
on his Words we can rely, –
necessary, full supply:
Bible, perfect truth.

Satan, father of all lies –
cunning, crafty, clever, tries
by deceit men’s hearts to seize
from God’s words of truth.

Every day we talk a lot.
So much we can speak about!
God considers, – never doubt!
Purify your speech!

Do not gossip, slander, bear
witness false, but speak with care
what is right and true; don’t share
idle words unkind.

Men don’t always want to hear
truth; for truth will interfere
with their lies, but have no fear
truth will be made known.

For my failings I repent,
trust in Christ, with discontent
at my past, pray grace be sent
to help me purge my sin.

Jesus clears away the additions to scripture

He spoke to the needy and lost,
and witnessed whatever the cost,
not harshly to stir into hate, –
but they killed him outside of the gate.

Their system of rules he refused,
– their rules had made many confused;
the Scriptures that God had revealed
beneath human rules were concealed.

True meaning of Scripture they missed,
else they would have welcomed, and kissed
the Son, but they hated his claim,
rejecting his wonderful name.

Tune: 88 88 (anapaestic?)

From right outside this universe …

From right outside this universe,
and this material sphere,
came One, confusion to reverse,
with truth for us to hear,
truth that is true, unchangeable,
from One who knows, reliable.

Life-bringing message to accept
– escape from living death,
his promises he’s always kept
his words are priceless wealth:
for this world isn’t all there is
but Jesus came awhile to this!
to show us what is now amiss,
and how to find the missing bliss.

Building Philosophical houses of cards

In days of yore they trimmed their wood,
creating idols that looked good,
but nowadays we realise
a lifeless doll no help supplies.
Instead we sift ideas, build
a house on sand, with bubbles filled,
which cannot last, or satisfy
not now, nor soon, nor when we die.

An edifice may stand awhile,
but soon will be a rocky pile,
if not on lasting pillars founded:
false notions disappoint, confounded.

The truth that claims it will not fail,
must not give transient appeal;
and never crumble, bear all stress,
worthy of trust, not just a guess.

For human words are all so fallible,
but words from God are wholly credible.

But some are angry, and can’t see
why if he’s God, he won’t decree
at once the things they feel he should,
that seem to them so very good;
they do not feel that he can be
a help to those in agony,
nor see the need for this delay
before all evil’s swept away,
and we all meet him on his day.

Their choosing to believe, or not,
won’t change the facts if true, a jot
Will they just toss it in the waste,
without investigative taste?

Mystery disclosed

Colossians 1:25-2:10
People like to frighten, tease,
speculate on mysteries …
all is murky, no-one knows,
each enjoying to suppose …
Mystery of man and God:
come and see the mist removed!

Truth of wonder was unclear,
but when Jesus Christ came here,
Way and Word were both revealed,
nothing complex, half-concealed:
yet so awesome, mind can’t measure
vastness of redemption’s treasure.

Christ in me, and I in him, –
justified, and power within
to live like my Guarantor,
– though I fail, I sin abhor;
– joy and praise for what he’s done,
pressing on to glory won.

Christ: divine and man, so he
could atone and set us free;
source of wisdom, well of grace
while we struggle in this place –
treasures hidden to be found
daily, and our joys abound.
Tune: 77 77 77

Principles from Psalms 1&2

Those heeding earth’s Creator stand
and flourish, under his command,
but those who boast rebellious thought
rejecting what he sent and taught
will have, he says, their day in court,
and like the chaff, the words they say
with them will quickly blow away,
their influence passing, short their day.

The great Creator sees and hears –
men’s cleverness to him appears
as folly, for their vision’s short –
imperfect knowledge, and flawed thought.
So who will listen? he informs
of wisdom that we need, and warns,
appeals, foretells, and offers grace
once purchased for the human race.