Then
Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the
burnt offering began, the song of the Lord also began, with the trumpets and
with the instruments of David king of Israel. (2
Chronicles 29:27 NKJV)
The Hebrew Psalmody became famous
throughout the world. Even their fierce conquerors recognized the sublime
beauty of the Hebrew temple music. By the waters of Babylon they urged them to
sing one of the Songs of Zion, not knowing how impossible it was for the
captives to sing the Lord's song in a strange land! For sixteen years no song
had poured forth from the sacred shrine. Ahaz had shut the doors, dispersed the
Levites, and allowed the holy fabric to remain unkempt, unlit, and unused. There
were no sacrifices on the Altar, no sweet incense in the Holy Place, no blood
on the Mercy Seat, no Song of the Lord!
For too many Christians this,
unfortunately, is a picture of their life. The soul, intended to be a holy
temple for God, shows signs of disorder and neglect. The lights are not lit,
the sweet incense of prayer does not ascend, the doors of entrance to
fellowship and exit to service are closed. Outwardly the ordinances of the
religious life are preserved, but inwardly silence and darkness prevail, into
which bat like thoughts intrude. Thorns have come up in the court of the Holy
Place, where the scorpion makes her nest. The Song of the Lord had died out of
heart and life.
Why should not this miserable
condition be ended today? Why should you not be cleansed from the traces of sin
and neglect through the blood of the cross? Why should you not come back into
fellowship with God, who waits to receive and forgive? Surrender yourself to
Him now. Do not be general, but specific in your consecration. Weld yourself to
some life or lives that sorely need help. Give not words only, but deeds and
blood. Merge your little life into the life of Christ, as the stream in the
wide ocean. And as you yield yourself to Christ first, and next to all who need
you for His sake, you will find the Song of the Lord breaking forth again in
your heart like a spring, which was formerly choked with debris.
PRAYER
We pray You, Heavenly Father, to
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that
we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your Holy name, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. AMEN.
God's Daily Promise
Promise
#203:
I will strengthen you with feet like a deer so you can reach great heights.
Habakkuk 3:19 (WEB)
Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength.
He makes my feet like deer’s feet,
and enables me to go in high places.
I will strengthen you with feet like a deer so you can reach great heights.
Habakkuk 3:19 (WEB)
Yahweh, the Lord, is my strength.
He makes my feet like deer’s feet,
and enables me to go in high places.
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