Sing to Yahweh

Sing to Yahweh a new song;
Sing to Yahweh, all the earth.
Sing to Yahweh, bless His name;
Proclaim good news of His salvation from day to day.
Recount His glory among the nations,
His wondrous deeds among all the peoples.

—Psalm 96:1-3, LSB

The LORD is the Strength of His People

Blessed be the LORD!
        For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
        in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
        and with my song I give thanks to him.

The LORD is the strength of his people;
        he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
        Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

—Psalm 28:6-9, ESV

Peace With God Through Faith

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

—Romans 5:1-5, ESV

The King of Glory

Lift up your heads, O gates!
        And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
        that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
        The LORD, strong and mighty,
        the LORD, mighty in battle!
Lift up your heads, O gates!
        And lift them up, O ancient doors,
        that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
        The LORD of hosts,
        he is the King of glory! Selah

—Psalm 24:7-10, ESV

Hello, World! (Again)

This is the first post to the reboot of this weblog. I’ve owned this domain for almost 20 years and try as I might, I’ve never been really good at consistently writing posts. I’d like to rectify that and this is the latest attempt to keep this site alive.

As a christian, this is one of my guiding principles:

You are required to believe, to preach, and to teach what the Bible says is true, not what you want the Bible to say is true.

—Dr. R.C. Sproul
Chosen by God

I guess that is enough for this post. Soli Deo Gloria!

The Jaw-Dropping Beauty of Jesus

On a recent episode of The Whole Counsel podcast that is published by Media Gratiae, the discussion focused on Hebrews 1 and 34 descriptions of Jesus in those 14 verses.

Ten Descriptions of Christ from the inspired human author (x10; vv. 1-4):

  • v. 2 — Definitive voice of God
  • v. 2 — Heir of all
  • v. 2 — Maker of all
  • v. 3 — Radiance of God’s glory
  • v. 3 — Exact representation of God’s nature
  • v. 3 — Upholds all by His word
  • v. 3 — Purifier of sins
  • v. 3 — Sat down (Priestly work complete)
  • v. 3 — Co-equal w/Father in Majesty
  • v. 4 — Better than totality of angels & Inheritor of more excellent Name

Twenty-four Descriptions of Christ from the Father (x24; vv. 5-14):

  • v. 5 — My Son (Ps. 2:7)
  • v. 5 — Today begotten
  • v. 5 — I will be a Father to Him (2 Sam 7:14)
  • v. 5 — He will be a Son to Me
  • v. 6 — All angels worship Him (Ps 97:7)
  • v. 8 — Inhabits everlasting throne (Ps 45:6)
  • v. 8 — You are God
  • v. 8 — You are King
  • v. 8 — Righteous ruler/scepter
  • v. 9 — Lover of righteousness (Ps 45:7)
  • v. 9 — Hater of sin
  • v. 9 — God is Thy God
  • v. 9 — Anointed by God (Isa 61:3)
  • v. 9 — Happiest of all
  • v. 10 — You are LORD (Ps 102:25)
  • v. 10 — You are forever
  • v. 10 — You are Creator of earth (Ps 102:26)
  • v. 10 — You are Creator of heaven
  • v. 11 — You are indestructible (Isa 51:6)
  • v. 12 — You will effect consummation (Ps 102:26-27)
  • v. 12 — You are immutable
  • v. 12 — You are eternal
  • v. 13 — Enthroned at God’s right hand (Ps 110:1)
  • v. 13 — Father will make enemies Thy footstool

Source: Media Gratiae

All Creatures of Our God and King

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou, burning sun with golden beam
Thou, silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let all things their Creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son
And praise the Spirit, Three-in-One
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All the redeemed washed by His blood
Come and rejoice in His great love
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Christ has defeated every sin
Cast all your burdens now on Him
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

He shall return in pow’r to reign
Heaven and earth will join to say
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Then who shall fall on bended knee?
All creatures of our God and King
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

—Original words (v. 1-2) by St. Francis of Assisi, translated by William Henry Draper. Music, 16th Century German tune, adapted by Jonathan Baird and Ryan Baird. Add. words (v. 3-4) by Jonathan Baird and Ryan Baird. © 2013 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved.

The King In All His Beauty

O lift your eyes to Heaven see
The Holy One eternal
Behold the Lord of Majesty
Exalted in His temple
As symphonies of angels’ praise
Now strain to sound His glory
Come worship, fall before His grace
The King in all His beauty

How worthy, how worthy
How worthy
The King in all His beauty

Now see the King who wears a crown
One made of shame and splinters
The sacrifice for ruined man
The substitute for sinners
As Earth is stained with royal blood
And quakes with love and fury
He breathes His last and bows His head
The King in all His beauty

How worthy, how worthy
How worthy
The King in all His beauty

Now see the Savior lifted up
The Lamb who reigns in splendor
The hope of every tribe and tongue
His kingdom is forever
Bring praise and honor to His courts
Bring wisdom, power, blessing
For endless ages we’ll adore
The King in all His beauty

How worthy, how worthy
How worthy
The King in all His beauty

—Matt Boswell, Matt Papa © 2019 Getty Music Publishing / Messenger Hymns / Getty Music Hymns and Songs / Love Your Enemies Publishing / Adm by MusicServices.org.