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207.  Zion's Glory and Safety.  Psalm 76.  8s and 7s.

God is known among His people,

Every mouth His praises fill;

From of old He hath established

His abode on Zion's hill;

There He broke the sword and arrow,

Bade the noise of war be still.

 

Excellent and glorious art Thou,

With Thy trophies from the fray;

Thou hast slain the valiant-hearted,

Wrapt in sleep of death are they;

When Thy anger once is risen,

Who can stand in that dread day.

 

When from heaven Thy sentence sounded,

All the earth in fear was still,

While to save the meek and lowly

God in judgment wrought His will;

E'en the wrath of men shall praise Thee,

Thy designs it shall fulfill.

 

Vow and pay ye to Jehovah,

Him your God forever own;

All men, bring your gifts before Him,

Worship Him, and Him alone;

Mighty kings obey and fear Him,

Princes bow before His throne.

 

208.  Aspects of the Divine Character.  Psalm 76.  L.M.

Among His people God is known,

Most glorious in His might and grace;

He makes Jerusalem His throne,

Her peaceful hills His dwellingplace.

 

When God the righteous judge appeared

To save the meek from wrong and shame,

The earth stood still and greatly feared;

Then forth from heaven His sentence came.

 

The wrath of man shall praise the Lord,

Restrained by His almighty will;

Your vows to God the King record,

Your covenant made with Him fulfill.

 

Let all to Him their presents bring,

To Him Whom all the world should fear;

Ye kings and princes, own your King,

With reverence and with awe draw near.

 

209.  Doubts Overcome by Faith.  Psalm 77.  L.M.

To God for help will I repair,

To God will I direct my prayer,

And surely He will answer me,

His great salvation I shall see.

 

In long-continued grief I stand

And seek the Lord with out-stretched hand;

I find no comfort for my soul,

The clouds of darkness o'er me roll.

 

I think of God and call to mind

His goodness, yet no peace I find;

I still pour out my sad complaints,

My burdened spirit almost faints.

 

With sleepless eyes and speechless grief

I search the past to find relief,

The former years when days were bright

And songs of gladness cheered my night.

 

My constant meditations bring

My heart to anxious questioning:

Has God cast off, and will He be

No longer merciful to me?

 

Has God forgotten to be kind?

Shall I His promise faithless find?

For me shall wrath henceforth replace

His tender mercies and His grace?

 

In weakness I was pressed with fear,

But better hopes my spirits cheer;

Past mercies lead me to rely

Upon the help of God Most High.

 

Thy deeds, O Lord, will I relate

And on Thy wonders meditate;

Thy way, O God, is just and right,

And none is like to Thee in might.

 

Among the nations Thou hast shown

Thy wondrous power and made it known;

Thou art the God that mightily

Redeemed and set Thy people free.

 

At sight of Thee the waters fled,

The quaking clouds their torrents shed,

The lightnings flashed, the thunder pealed,

The trembling earth her fear revealed.

 

Thy way, O God, was in the sea,

But, though Thy paths mysterious be,

Thy people Thou didst safely keep

As shepherds lead their helpless sheep.

 

210.  Questionings and Comfort.  Psalm 77.  L.M.

To God will I direct my prayer,

And He will make my needs His care;

I trust Him still, though in my grief

No answer yet has brought relief;

With hands stretched out through all the night,

Uncomforted I sought for light.

 

The thought of God brought me no peace,

But rather made my fears increase;

With sleepless eyes and speechless pain

My fainting spirit grieved in vain;

The blessedness of long ago

Made deeper still my present woe.

 

Recalling days when faith was bright,

When songs of gladness filled my night,

I pondered o'er my grievous woes

And searching questioning arose:

Will God cast off, and nevermore

His favor to my soul restore?

 

I asked in fear and bitterness,

Will God forsake me in distress?

Shall I His promise faithless find?

Has God forgotten to be kind?

Has He in anger hopelessly

Removed His love and grace from me?

 

These doubts and fears that troubled me

Were born of my infirmity;

Though I am weak, God is most high,

And on His goodness I rely;

Of all His wonders I will tell,

And on His deeds my thoughts shall dwell.

 

211.  The Wonderful Deeds of God.  Psalm 77.  L.M.

O God, most holy are Thy ways,

And who like Thee deserves my praise?

Thou only doest wondrous things,

The whole wide world Thy glory sings;

Thy outstretched arm Thy people saved,

Though sore distressed and long enslaved.

 

O God, from Thee the waters fled,

The depths were moved with mighty dread,

The swelling clouds their torrents poured,

And o'er the earth the tempest roared;

'Mid lightning's flash and thunder's sound

Great trembling shook the solid ground.

 

Thy way was in the sea, O God,

Through mighty waters, deep and broad,

None understood but God alone,

To man Thy footsteps were unknown;

But safe Thy people Thou didst keep,

Almighty Shepherd of Thy sheep.

 

212.  Hallowed Memories.   Psalm 77.  C.M.

I thought upon the days of old,

The years departed long,

I held communion with my heart,

By night recalled my song.

 

My heart inquired with anxious care,

Will God forever spurn?

Shall we no more His favor see?

Will mercy never return?

 

Forever shall His promise fail?

Has God forgotten grace?

Has He withdrawn His tender love,

In anger hid His face?

 

These doubts are my infirmity,

My thoughts at once reply:

I call back years of God's right hand,

The years of God Most High.

 

I will commemorate, O Lord,

Thy wondrous deeds of old,

And meditate upon Thy works

Of power and grace untold.

 

O God, most holy is Thy way,

Most perfect, good, and right;

Thou art the only living God,

The God of wondrous might.

 

213.  Lessons From the Past.  Psalm 78.  10s and 11s.

My people, give ear, attend to my word,

In parables new deep truths shall be heard;

The wonderful story our fathers made known

To children succeeding by us must be shown.

 

Instructing our sons we gladly record

The praises, the works, the might of the Lord,

For He hath commanded that what He hath done

Be passed in tradition from father to son.

 

Let children thus learn from history's light

To hope in our God and walk in His sight,

The God of their fathers to fear and obey,

And ne'er, like their fathers, to turn from His way.

 

The story be told, to warn and restrain,

Of hearts that were hard, rebellious, and vain,

Of soldiers who faltered when battle was near,

Who kept not God's covenant nor walked in His fear.

 

God's wonderful works to them He had shown,

His marvelous deeds their fathers had known;

He made for their pathway the waters divide,

His glorious pillar of cloud was their guide.

 

He gave them to drink, relieving their thirst,

And forth from the rock caused water to burst;

Yet faithless they tempted their God, and they said,

Can He Who gave water supply us with bread?

 

Jehovah was wroth because they forgot

To hope in their God, and trusted Him not;

Yet gracious, He opened the doors of the sky

And rained down the manna in richest supply.

 

With bread from on high their need He supplied,

And more did He do when thankless they sighed;

The strong winds commanding from south and from east,

He sent them abundance of quail for their feast.

 

Though well they were filled, their folly they chose,

Till God in His wrath o'erwhelmed them with woes;

He slew of their strongest and smote their young men,

But still unbelieving they sinned even then.

 

Because of their sin He smote with His rod,

And then they returned and sought for their God;

Their Rock and Redeemer was God the Most High,

Yet false were their praises, their promise a lie.

 

Not right with their God in heart and in will,

They faithlessly broke His covenant still;

But He, in compassion, reluctant to slay,

Forgave them and oft turned His anger away.

 

His pity was great, though often they sinned,

For they were but flesh, a swift passing wind;

Yet though His compassion and grace they beheld,

They tempted and grieved Him and often rebelled.

 

They limited God, the Most Holy One,

And hindered the work His grace had begun;

The hand that was mighty to save they forgot,

The day of redemption remembering not.

 

Ungrateful and blind, no longer they thought

Of wonders and signs and mighty deeds wrought,

Of how all the rivers of Egypt ran red,

And plagues in God's anger were heaped on their head.

 

They thought not of how, their freedom to gain,

In Egypt's abodes the first-born were slain,

And how all God's people were led forth like sheep,

The flock He delighted in safety to keep.

 

214.  Reminders from Israel's History.  Psalm 78.  10s and 11s.

My people give ear, attend to my word,

In parables new deep truths shall be heard;

The wonderful story our fathers made known

To children succeeding by us must be shown.

 

Unharmed through the sea, where perished their foe,

He caused them with ease and safety to go;

His holy land gaining, in peace they were brought

To dwell in the mountain the Lord's hand had bought.

 

He gave them the land, a heritage fair;

The nations that dwelt in wickedness there

He drove out before them with great overthrow,

And gave to His people the tents of the foe.

 

Again they rebelled and tempted the Lord,

Unfaithful they turned to idols abhorred,

And God in His anger withdrew from them then,

No longer delighting to dwell among men.

 

He gave them to death in battle, although

His glory and strength were scorned by the foe;

Their young men were fallen, their maidens unwed,

Their priests slain in battle, none wept for the dead.

 

Then mercy awoke, the Lord in His might

Returned, and the foes were scattered in flight;

Again to His people His favor He showed,

And chose in Mount Zion to fix His abode.

 

His servant He called, a shepherd of sheep,

From tending His flock, the people to keep;

So David, their shepherd, with wisdom and might

Protected and fed them and led them aright.

 

215.  Religious Training.   Psalm 78.  C.M.

O come, my people, to my law

Attentively give ear;

With willing heart and teachable

The words of wisdom hear.

 

My mouth shall speak in parables

Of hidden truths of old,

Which, handed down from age to age,

To us our fathers told.

 

We will not from their children hide

Jehovah's worthy praise,

But tell the greatness of His strength,

His wondrous works and ways.

 

A testimony and a law

The Lord our God decreed,

And bade our fathers teach their sons,

That they His ways might heed.

 

He willed that each succeeding race

His deeds might learn and know,

That children's children to their sons

Might all these wonders show.

 

Let children learn God's righteous ways

And on Him stay their heart,

That they may not forget His works

Nor from His ways depart.

 

216.  The Church Under Discipline.  Psalm 79.  8s and 7s.

In Thy heritage the heathen

Now, O God, triumphant stand;

They defile Thy holy temple,

They destroy Thy chosen land;

Ruthless, they have slain Thy servants,

They have caused Thy saints to mourn,

In the sight of all about us

We endure reproach and scorn.

 

O how long against Thy people

Shall Thy anger burn, O Lord?

On Thy enemies, the heathen,

Be Thy indignation poured;

Smite the kingdoms that defy Thee,

Calling not upon Thy Name;

They have long devoured Thy people,

And have swept Thy land with flame.

 

O remember not against us

Evil by our fathers wrought;

Haste to help us in Thy mercy,

Near to ruin we are brought;

Help us, God of our salvation,

For the glory of Thy Name;

For Thy Name's sake come and save us,

Take away our sin and shame.

 

Let Thy foes no longer scorn Thee,

Now avenge Thy servants slain;

Loose the prisoner, save the dying,

All Thy enemies restrain;

Then Thy flock, Thy chosen people,

Unto Thee their thanks shall raise,

And to every generation

We will sing Thy glorious praise.

 

217.  Forgiving Mercy Besought.  Psalm 79.  S.M.

Remember not, O God,

The sins of long ago;

In tender mercy visit us,

Distressed and humbled low.

 

O Lord, our Saviour, help,

And glorify Thy Name;

Deliver us from all our sins

And take away our shame.

 

In Thy compassion hear

Thy prisoner's plaintive sigh,

And in the greatness of Thy power

Save those about to die.

 

Then, safe within Thy fold,

We will exalt Thy Name;

Our thankful hearts with songs of joy

Thy goodness will proclaim.

 

218.  A Suppliant Church.   Psalm 80.  10s.

O Thou great Shepherd of Thy chosen race,

Who leadest like a flock Thy Israel dear,

From out the cherubim reveal Thy face,

Before our host now let Thy might appear.

Come Thou, O God, to save us and restore;

We shall be saved when shines Thy face once more.

 

How long, O Lord, wilt Thou disdain our prayer?

For Thou hast fed us with the bread of tears,

And bitter sorrow Thou hast made us share;

The nations round us mock with scornful jeers.

O God of Hosts, Thy people now restore;

We shall be saved when shines Thy face once more.

 

A vine Thou broughtest forth from Egypt's land;

The nations were thrust out to give it room;

It took deep root, it spread on every hand,

The hills were covered with its shade and bloom;

Its boughs were like great cedars spreading wide;

They reached the sea, its roots the riverside.

 

Why hast Thou broken down its circling wall

That they may pluck who pass along the way?

Wild beasts from out the wood destroy it all

And feed upon Thy vine by night and day.

O God of Hosts, we pray Thee now, restore;

We shall be saved when shines Thy face once more.

 

Look down, behold and visit this Thy vine

Which Thou hast planted with Thy own right hand,

The branch Thou madest strong and owned it Thine,

For it is burned with fire, no more to stand;

Thy people perish in Thy anger sore

Because Thy face not shines on them no more.

 

O let Thy hand Thy chosen one sustain,

The son of man Thou madest strong to be;

So we shall faithful to Thy cause remain;

Revive Thou us, and we will call on Thee.

Jehovah, God of Hosts, again restore;

We shall be saved when shines Thy face once more.

 

219.  Restoration and Revival.  Psalm 80.  10s.

O Thou great Shepherd of Thy chosen race,

Who leadest like a flock Thy Israel dear,

From out the cherubim reveal Thy face,

Before our host now let Thy might appear.

Come Thou, O God, to save us and restore;

We shall be saved when shines Thy face once more.

 

O let Thy hand Thy chosen one sustain,

The son of man Thou madest strong to be;

So we shall faithful to Thy cause remain;

Revive Thou us, and we will call on Thee.

Jehovah, God of Hosts, again restore;

We shall be saved when shines Thy face once more.

 

220.  Prayer for Restoring Grace.  Psalm 80.  11s.

Great Shepherd Who leadest Thy people in love,

'Mid cherubim dwelling, shine Thou from above;

In might come and save us, Thy people restore,

And we shall be saved when Thy face shines once more.

 

O haste, Lord, to hear us and pity our woes,

Affliction our portion, despised by our foes;

O Lord, God Almighty, in mercy restore,

And we shall be saved when Thy face shines once more.

 

A place for Thy people Thou, Lord, didst prepare,

Thy vine deeply rooted rewarded Thy care;

Its branches like cedars, majestic and free,

Spread over the mountains from river to sea.

 

Thy vineyard no longer Thy tender care knows,

Defenseless, the victim and spoil of her foes;

O turn, we beseech Thee, all glory is Thine,

Look down in Thy mercy and visit Thy vine.

 

The branch of Thy planting is burned and cut down,

Brought nigh to destruction because of Thy frown;

The man of Thy right hand with wisdom endue,

The son of man strengthen Thy pleasure to do.

 

When Thou shalt revive us Thy Name we will praise,