“THOU ART WORTHY…”

In ourselves, we are “worthy of death” as the scriptures say. Death is our natural portion as the earned and deserved “wages” of our sin. This is not so of the Lord Jesus Christ! He alone is worthy of all glory, honor and praise. Christ is worthy to receive the praise of all His creatures and shall have it, even of those who will acknowledge it as they perish. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” But He shall have special glory, honor and praise and it shall come from unworthy sinners who are the objects of His great grace and mercy. These justified sinners, saved by His sacrifice of blood, shall both now and forever sing that new song that John spoke of:: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev 5:9,10) The worthiness of which the redeemed particularly sing is worthiness above the essential worthiness of Christ which He has as the Creator God. It is His glory as the Savior, Mediator and Redeemer of those given Him by the Father. He is “worthy” because He alone can “open the book.” The book of God’s purpose and decrees, especially in His covenant of grace, are carried out and fulfilled through the Person and the doing of Christ Jesus! He alone, by “his own blood… obtained eternal redemption for us.” All believers are “justified freely through that redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” That redemption is particular and successful for the song goes, “thou has redeemed (not tried to, or made redemption possible) us (not every son of Adam) to God!” It is a sovereign work of God who has mercy and is gracious to whom He will for these are redeemed “OUT OF every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Christ is to be praised because, by His redemptive work, all He died for are “made kings and priests” unto “our God.” They shall “reign” with Christ and even now are “seated with Him in the heavenlies.” His worthiness makes them worthy! It is in His redemptive character as the Lamb of God that has taken away their sin that they praise Him, “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Is this YOUR song?

Gary Shepard

"Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou covert to them from the face of the spoiler."- Isa. 16:4

"When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Moab was the sworn foe of Israel, but yet Moab shall be overruled to shelter and feed Israel. The world, like Moab, dislikes God's people: but as God's people must sojourn in the world, until the time comes for God to take them home, they shall be taken care of. "Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab;" house them as travelers: in an inn. See that they have a lodging. Let their bread be given, and their water sure. "They are poor; but they are my poor," saith our God. "They are outcasts; but they are mine outcasts." Oh! precious Jesus, I see thou wilt still own thy people. And wherefore is it, dearest Lord? Not for their worth, not for their deservings, not for their adherence to thee; but because thou hast loved them; because the Father hath given them to thee, and thou hast purchased their persons, redeemed them, and washed them, and made them thine. Grant, dearest Lord, that though we are constrained to dwell with Mesech, and to have our habitation among the tents of Kedar; though we "are made as the filth of the earth, and the offscouring of all things," yet never, never may we forget our relationship to thee. Though outcasts, yet Jesus’ outcasts. Be thou, Lord, our hiding-place, our covert, in the midst of Moab; and so shall we be free from every spoiler; thou wilt be to us all we need—" rivers of water in a dry place, and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."

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Since all men by nature have stony hearts, all the threatenings in the world will do no good; the stony heart of natural man must be pierced by THE POWER OF GOD in order to be tender! One with a tender heart desires to know the will of God, has a readiness for spiritual things, has a disposition to obey revealed truth, and has a desire to make the things of God his chief business.

Scott Richardson

ZION, BEHOLD YOUR GOD!

Upon the high and sovereign throne,

Sits One who by Himself alone,

Has purged our sins and gone on high,

That those in Him should never die.

There at the right hand ever nigh,

Of that great Majesty on high

Amidst the creatures crying loud,

Almighty God in flesh there crowned.

Is this the One who just before,

Our sins in His own body bore,

There justly dying in our place,

For all the chosen of His grace?

Yes, it is He, the King of kings,

A full salvation now He brings;

The Victor, He now sits at rest

Forever all our Righteousness

Stand up you weary pilgrims, cry!

Let all His glory fill your eye,

The eye of faith alone can see,

His beauty on that cursed tree.

And only those He makes to see,

Salvation by His cross made free;

Can see in Him by all expressed,

God’s grace that reigns through righteousness.

Gary Shepard