A Net in Time

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Reach Out Thine Hand

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Today’s Write 31 Day Challenge word is Reach.  I found this song entitled Reach Out Thine Hand.  To reach implies action, either on your part and/or on the part of another.  When you reach the desire to grab on to something.  Hold that thought while you read the words of this hymn.

reach

Lyrics

Reach out Thine hand, my Savior dear,
I long to feel Thy presence near;
When Thou art near, my soul is blest,
In Thee I find sweet peace and rest.

Refrain

O Savior dear, reach out Thine hand,
And by Thy side, O let me stand,
Till Thou shalt say, Enough, My child,
No longer face the tempest wild.

Reach out Thine hand and take me in,
And let me now Thy favors win;
I’m sorely tossed upon the sea,
I long to hide myself in Thee.

Refrain

How oft I’m tempted on the way,
And foes surround me every day;
O Savior dear, reach out Thine hand,
And lead me to the Beulah land.

Refrain

Reach out Thine hand, and hold me fast,
Until the tempests all are past;
Then I shall mount on wings of love,
And reach the promised land above.

Refrain

reach out thine hand

Comments

There are no youtube videos for this song.  Not a single one. I did manage to find the sheet music for it though. 

Holland L Boyd is actually a fairly recent hymnist.  This American started releasing his music in 1915, and wrote about 40 songs.  This particular one he dedicated to Miss Elgil Bradford of Alabama.  Other than that we don’t know a whole lot about him.  

But did you read the words?  Isn’t this a lovely plea?  Calling out to the Lord to hang on tight, while temptations and storms surround.  Oh… lovely words.  I wonder why it’s not sung any more?

First, biblical answers

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I admittedly was lacking in inspiration for the word first. I looked up the definition but that didn’t help like it often does.  Then I thought, what if I looked for biblical inspiration.  Would that have the answers?

I found the following, when looking for a definition:

An adjective… like first in line, first prize, first slot, highest priority.

Or it can be an adverb.  It’s a word of action.  First do this, then do that.

It could even be a noun.  Like grade A beef, it’s the best level. 

First, biblical answers

An Adjective

Genesis 1:5
 
God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
 
Deuteronomy 10:2
 
I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Then you are to put them in the ark.”
 
1 Corinthians 14:30
 
And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.

An adverb

Luke 6:42

“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Mark 4:28

“The soil produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head.
 
1 Chronicles 16:7
 
That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner:

A noun

Matthew 20:16

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
 
Isaiah 48:12
 
“Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last.
 
Romans 8:29
 
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
31 days of free writes

Taking part in the Write 31 Days Challenge.  Today’s word is first, and I simply thought to go to the bible for answers.  

The Introduction of Kingship

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For those who are regular readers you know that I have been slowly making my way through Learning about the Old Testament.   This isn’t one of those early read books that I often get into, but one that forces me to take my time and think so I’ve been reading through it more slowly than I initially was.   It’s good to think about the theology of the Old Testament, it is a foundation for New Testament theology. 

The Introduction of Kingship

The last time we met we learned about The Judges and why they were needed.  Today we’ll be looking at the introduction of kingship. Israel so desperately wanted to be like the nations around them. Maybe they thought it would make them safer from attack, I don’t know… I haven’t delved into the book yet!  🙂   Same is the word of the day for the Write 31 Days challenge which I why I’m putting this post on a Monday rather than on my normal Thursday. 

Same

The Introduction of Kingship

HUH!  New thing learned.  I always thought that God “gave in” to Israel’s demand to have a king, but Harman taught me that God knew that Israel would one day have a king.  He had prepared for it long before it happened.

Genesis 17:6, NASB: “‘I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.” 

Genesis 35:11 NIV 11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.

Shocker.  Being the same as the other nations, this desire didn’t surprise the Lord.  He had already planned it out.   In Deut. 17:14-20 he even laid out what the king should be like.  He didn’t want the king of Israel to be the same as the kings of the nations surrounding them. 

So God himself laid the groundwork for Israel to have a king.   I find that interesting as I never understood that before.  God himself put into place The Introduction of Kingship.

The request

So the Elders of Israel demanded of Samuel a king.  They had all the wrong motives, but the request in and of itself wasn’t wrong.   Their reasoning

  • fear of Samuel’s sons taking his position when he passed on.  These were boys who were not following the Lord.
  • Insecurity.  They wanted a king to lead them in battle.  Their faith in God was not very strong. 
  • lack of patience.  They wanted a king NOW, not when God willed it, but because they simply wanted a king. 

Their demand was actually a breach of the covenant between God and the Israelites.  He could have acted differently toward them but instead he showed them mercy.   He gave them a king, the kind of king they wanted.  And so Saul was made king.  The people were delighted.   In the end he was shown to be the wrong sort of King, but even that paved the way for the right sort of King.  The king they found in David.

The Introduction of Kingship

King David

We are told David was a man after God’s own heart.  He loved God.  He didn’t live out his love perfectly (do any of us) but God was so loved by David.  When David sinned it grieved him when it was pointed out to him.

David’s kingship did the following for Israel

  • Stability.  No switching out of Judges, just one man with his team of trusted men, leading the country.
  • removed the Philistine threat.  The land God promised them was fully realized under his leadership. 
  • established a lasting dynasty.   This dynasty was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious

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I will freely admit that I am not familiar with this hymn at all, but the Write 31 day challenge word for the day is Notice.  I couldn’t find a hymn with the word notice in it, but a synonym of notice is look!   Look, Ye Saints!  The Sight is Glorious points us toward the Lord, commanding us to notice him. 

Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious

Lyrics

Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious:
See the Man of Sorrows now;
From the fight returned victorious,
Every knee to Him shall bow;
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crowns become the Victor’s brow,
Crowns become the Victor’s brow.

Crown the Savior! angels, crown Him;
Rich the trophies Jesus brings;
In the seat of power enthrone Him,
While the vault of heaven rings;
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown the Savior King of kings,
Crown the Savior King of kings.

Sinners in derision scorned Him,
Mocking thus the Savior’s claim;
Saints and angels crowd around Him,
Own His title, praise His name;
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown Him, crown Him,
Spread abroad the Victor’s fame,
Spread abroad the Victor’s fame.

Hark, those bursts of acclamation!
Hark, those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
O what joy the sight affords!
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown Him, crown Him,
King of kings and Lord of lords!
King of kings and Lord of lords!

History

Thomas Kelly is the author of Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious.  Kelly is an Irishman who originally planned to be a lawyer.  Then he came to know the Lord and his focus shifted to ministry. 

Originally an Anglican priest he eventually became one of the dissenters.  Over the course of his lifetime he wrote some 760 hymns.   He lived was born in 1769 and died 1855.  He was known to be a friend of good men, as a excellent biblical critic, and for his piety.  

Comments

I read the words to hymn and I have to ask myself… do I really take the time too look and notice the Lord?  Have I really noticed what happened when he died? 

But then see it… See how Jesus wasn’t left on his own.  He was alone, but yet he wasn’t alone.  Notice how the angels were gathered round.  We know they were at the tomb.  I know, I know… it’s a bit fanciful.  We aren’t told in scripture that as the soldiers scorned and mocked that the angels were there to be mindful of the Lord Jesus. 

Do we really notice the station that Jesus holds?  His is no longer lonely human, suffering with man on earth, but instead is full of kingly, heavenly glory.  NOTICE him!  See him there.  This is the Jesus that we worship!

notice = look

The Other

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Currently I’m listening to a story where a dad has to make a choice. Fulfill the treaty as he AUGHT to with his oldest, obedient daughter, or send off his youngster, a girl who was prone to cause no end of trouble. I haven’t reached the point in the story where he makes that choice, but I’m tending to think (given the nature of the book and the author) that he’ll send off his troublesome one. That he will strongly consider giving “the other”.

The story is causing me to pause in my thoughts.

Other

Understanding The Other

Lately I’ve been reading the devotional My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Chambers challenges us to think about what it means to give our utmost for the Lord. It’s not always as easy a decision as we think it is.

Today’s reading gave me this challenge “Worship is giving God the best that He has given you.”

When I get something that is a blessing to me… a card from my hubby, a compliment from my son, a monetary gift from someone, my inclination is two-fold.

1. to thank them and
2. to keep it my own.

Oswald though says “Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift. take time to meditate before God and offering the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship.”

Deliberate. Giving back. Doing the OTHER.
So not just saying Thanks God that was awesome and then hoarding it in.

But taking the time to genuinely praise and worship him and offering it back. Therefore if God blesses me with plentiful rain and an abundant harvest I need to THANK him for it. Not take it for granted. I need to take that abundant harvest and allow him to use it.   If he blesses me with good health, then I need to use that good health as a praise offering to him.   Not just merely going about my business without giving him a thought.

It’s a deliberate act on my part.  To consider those blessings given, praise him for it, and offer them back to him as worship. 

It’s an outside focus.  A focus that is non-worldly, not self-centered 

It’s The Other.

31 days of free writes

This post is part of the Write 31 days Challenge. 

Period of the Judges

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I know, it’s been a while, but I’m finally picking up my Learning about the Old Testament book again.  Last time we met we talked about Worship in Ancient Israel.   Today we are going to talk about the Conquest and the period of the Judges. 

period of the judges

The history So Far

We know that the exodus happened, Mount Sinai happened, and now they sit on the southeast corner of Canaan.  How do they progress?

God has promised them this land.  12 spies, 10 say “It’s a great land but it’s filled with strong, mighty men, it’s a no go”. but two say “we can do this.”

Israel decided to listen to the 10 rather than the 2.  They rebelled against God when they did so. They did rebelled again going in without Moses or the Ark of the Covenant.  Defeat followed.  They then needed to wander through the desert. 

They after a fair few years in the desert ended up on the east side of Canaan. The conquest of the land begins.   Moses giving over leadership to Joshua. 

Period of the Judges

The Conquest

Harman tells us that there are two aspects to the conquest

  1. God’s promises regarding this land.   
  2. The Israelites conquered the land but left pockets of Canaanites. 

This is where the period of the Judges comes in.  Shaking out those pockets of Canaanites.  

Because of the Israelites disobedience, these pockets of Canaanites “were a snare to them” (p 66) as well as a testing ground.  Would the people of Israel call out to God for help?   How would they handle these remaining Canaanites?

The Judges show this result. 

  • The people call out to God in distress
  • God helps them. 
  • The people again become unfaithful.
  • Repeat this cycle.

Eventually the Israelite people settle the land.   They are sometimes slow in the doing so, but eventually the land is there.   They have two problems.

  • Threats from within: the Canaanite faith system threatens the faith of the Israelites to the Lord.  At this point the synagogue had not been built.  Regular instruction of the things of God were infrequent and not well-organized.  Some of the similarities in the Canaanite religion and Jewish religion would have confused some and attracted others. 
  • Threats from without: the surrounding nations attack frequently.  The surrounding nations had establish governing systems.

By the end of this period the people of Israel were becoming unsatisfied with how they were governed.  They wanted stable continuity, and they wanted to be more like the nations around them.  Israelis wanted a king.

Mighty To Save

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Our church is currently celebrating it’s 40th anniversary.  As part of that celebration they are bringing in people who are part of their past.  This morning they brought in a young man Tyson and the band he plays with.  One of the songs they played is Mighty to Save.  It was a joy to sing this song with our congregation.

Mighty To Save

Lyrics for Mighty to Save

Everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations

[Chorus:]
Saviour, he can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever Author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as you find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again

I give my life to follow
Everything that I believe in
Now I surrender

[Chorus]

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen king Jesus [2x]

[Chorus x2]

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen king Jesus [6x]

Authors

Benjamin David Fielding and Reuben Timothy Morgan are the authors of this song. This song comes out of Hillsong music. Reuben Morgan being an Australian, a pastor with Hillsong.  He has written several songs.  Ben Fielding is a worship leader, a pastor within Hillsong.  He has written more than 200 songs.

Thoughts on Mighty to Save

I know there is scuttlebutt about not using Hillsong music as it supports an organization that is shown to be struggling with being true to God.  At the same time I read the words to this song and I have to wonder… is this song untrue to who God is?  Does it call us to worship anyone other than God?  

This song is clear. 

Saviour, he can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever Author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So we beseech Jesus to take us as we are, and then to fill our lives.  Our lives given in surrender to him and to his ways.  A good thing that eh?