Most scholars agree that Psalm 76, the psalm we’ve been singing all through the month of September, is intended to describe the miraculous defeat of Sennacherib, whose army had laid siege to Jerusalem during the reign of Hezekiah (see 2 Chronicles 32 and Isaiah 37). The angel of the Lord decimated the Assyrian forces in the night as they slept.…
Come ye thirsty, come and welcome, God’s free bounty glorify; True belief, and true repentance, every grace that brings you nigh. —Joseph Hart In the first two chapters of Zephaniah, the prophet paints a portrait of universal judgment, followed by specific woes for the wicked nations surrounding the people of God. But here in the beginning of chapter 3, we…
Passages like Zephaniah 2, in which God details the coming judgement on the enemies of Israel, tend to make contemporary readers a bit squeamish. After all, the outpouring of words and phrases like “desolation,” “woe,” “I will destroy you,” and “You shall be slain” doesn’t seem particularly winsome. But the promises that God will defend His people from their enemies…
The thirteenth century Dies irae (“Day of Wrath”) is one of the best-known hymns of the middle ages. Containing terrifying descriptions of the “tearful day” (Lacrimosa) in which the wicked are confounded (Confutatis maledictis) and consigned to “acrid flames,” this poem became a standard part of the medieval funeral liturgy. As such, it has been set to music numerous times…
What though my joys and comforts die? The Lord, my Savior, liveth; What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night He giveth. —Robert Lowry Over the course of the previous two chapters, the prophet Habakkuk has cried out to God in despair over his people’s condition. The Lord answers his cry with a vision of judgement, both for…
In Habakkuk 2, the Lord responds to the prophet’s questions with a harrowing description of the judgement He is preparing for Babylon. This passage gives us a picture of God as our judge, lawgiver, and king (Isaiah 33:22), imagery which you’ll find throughout our service this morning. The Call to Worship from Psalm 50 portrays the Lord surrounded by fire…
Over the next three weeks, Pastor Grant will be leading us through the book of Habakkuk. This prophet, like his contemporary Jeremiah, was writing on the cusp of one of the climactic moments in Old Testament history: the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah and the Babylonian captivity. He begins his oracle (what the King James Version poetically renders as…
Many of the hymns we have sung over the past four weeks have had an “Easter” flavor, focusing on Jesus’ resurrection as discussed in 1 Corinthians 15. This week, as Paul brings his letter to a close with some personal greetings and encouragements, the hymns shift focus to our own callings as Christians. We ask for Christ’s love and power…
Jesus came to vanquish the final enemy, death itself—and He must win the battle. He is triumphant over the grave and lives that death may die. He is a mighty conqueror, who overthrows death and hell. We can boast in His death and resurrection because His wounds paid our ransom. Because of His atoning sacrifice, we receive great spoils from…
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. —1 Peter 2:2-3 All through the month of July we’ve been singing a new setting of Psalm 34 (BETHESDA), and I hope the experience has been a blessing. This psalm, written by David…