“Lord, work in us that fear of You which is the beginning of wisdom. Let us be instructed by this wisdom, which is the fountain of life even as it teaches us to depart from the snares of death. Give us an undivided heart that we may fear Your name and keep Your commandments, which is the whole duty of man. Put Your fear in our hearts, that we may never depart from You. Let us be zealous for Your fear. Let us live in the fear of the Lord every day, and all day long.”
— from Matthew Henry’s A Way to Pray
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14)
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. (Jeremiah 32:40)
When you think about corporate worship, what first comes to mind?
When you are providentially hindered and unable to attend, what do you miss?
When you made the effort to come to the service today, what motivated you to attend?
What brings you the most joy in corporate worship?
Please open your Bibles to Psalm 42. Tonight, we begin a brief series from Psalm 42 and 43 on “The Joys of Corporate Worship.” These two psalms may at first seem like an unlikely source to learn about corporate worship. They are not composed by one who is in the midst of God’s people, enjoying the blessings of gathered worship. They are rather a lament of one who is providentially hindered from joining in worship—he is prevented from being in Jerusalem and is, at least temporarily, separated from the people of God.
In this lament the psalmist pours out his heart to God and reveals his longing to return to Jerusalem and gather once again with the people of God in worship. Through his words, we are taught what should be most desirable about worship. We learn why corporate worship is so necessary for the people of God.
Psalm 42 and 43 are actually a single psalm made up of three sections. Each section ends with a similar refrain. In each section the psalmist sings about an aspect of worship that he especially misses and longs to experience again.
The Joys of Corporate Worship.
I. (42:1-4) The Joy of Seeking and Delighting in God together. (42:5) Refrain
II. (42:6-10) The Joy of Strength and Encouragement in time of suffering. (42:11) Refrain
III. (43:1-4) The Joy of Light and Truth (43:5) Refrain
Over the past many years, I have compiled a Prayer Book. It includes people I remember in prayer (family, church members, students and colleagues at the college where I teach), lyrics to songs (songs I have written, songs I find meaningful), Scripture passage (for meditation and memorization), as well as other notes and quotes.
One of the pages I visit often is an encouragement to learn patience and rest in Christ. On the page is a list of truths to remember (and preach to myself!) when facing difficult and uncertain times. I wrote down the list many years ago while taking notes in a Sunday School class. I don’t remember the date, but the class was taught by Steve Garrick when my family and I were at Heritage Baptist Church in Mansfield, Texas.
The notes have been valuable in pointing me many times back to God’s Word. In the uncertain times we face today, I hope you find them valuable as well.
Rest in Christ
Help me, Lord, to grow in patience and longsuffering, to learn more and more to rest in Christ.
Help me to remember:
God is absolutely sovereign. I must trust Him fully and not lean on my own understanding.
God is always good—always. I must look to the cross and remember: He loves me and will do everything needed to complete the good work begun in me.
God gave me my life for His glory, not the pursuit of my own pleasure. I must walk in contentment, submissive to His will.
God never reveals my future or explains His decrees. I must walk by faith and not by sight.
God hold me responsible for all my thoughts, actions, and reactions. I must walk in humble obedience to His Word.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22–23).
These past few weeks have reminded me again how much I treasure the gathering of the church. I don’t so much miss going to a building, though buildings can be beautiful places to gather. I miss being with the gathered people of God—coming together to pray, sing, fellowship, and hear the preaching of God’s Word. It is a great kindness of God to allow us to walk together through this life, to share one another’s burdens, to comfort and encourage one another.
I’m praying that God will bring a swift end to the pandemic in days ahead, so we can once again gather as a church without fear of inadvertently doing one another harm. But even more, I’m praying that God will remind us how beloved the church is, that we would learn more deeply to treasure one another in Christ.
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1
How Dear and Treasured in the Church
How dear and treasured is the church, With voices joined in praise and prayers, For God has made us one in Christ, To share our sorrows, joys and cares.
Entrusted with the truth of God, Called out to make the gospel known, We boldly as His church proclaim: There’s grace and hope in Christ alone!
God fashions us as living stones; Assembled as His dwelling place. Though we were dead, He gives us life, Each soul a miracle of grace.
Built as a buttress of the truth, A pillar rising to the sky, God sets His church before the world, His Word and name to magnify.
To all the world we testify, Our lives display in word and deed The matchless worth of knowing Christ, The boundless depth of our great need.
Brought near to God by Christ’s shed blood, Loved and adopted as His own, A household built upon the Word, With Christ Himself the Cornerstone.
Built on this Rock, the church will stand, The gates of hell shall not prevail, All who are Christ’s shall be raised up, The Word of God will never fail.
It is a great comfort that we can say, if we are in Christ, “My righteousness is in heaven.” When we put our faith and trust in Christ, God declares us to be righteous in Him. Our standing before God is no longer on the basis of our own righteousness. If it were, we would stand before God condemned by our sin. In Christ, our righteousness is Jesus Himself! We are justified by faith in Christ alone.
When we are justified, God imputes our sin to Jesus (He treats Jesus as if He had sinned and was guilty). “The wages of sin of death” (Romans 6:23a) and so Jesus died on the cross to pay the wages due our sin. He paid the price, so we are no longer condemned. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). But that is not all! God also imputes Christ’s righteousness to us (He treats us as if we had perfectly obeyed His Law). “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). In Christ we have life. We are clothed in His righteousness, accepted and beloved as sons and daughters, and brought near to God.
Here is rest for our souls! The measure of our righteousness is not our own feeble and often failing efforts, but the finished and perfect work of Christ. We are protected from pride, knowing that on our best days, we are no more righteous than on our worst days. We must confess every day that we are sinners in need of mercy and grace. And we are protected from despair, knowing that on our worst days, we are no less righteous that on our best days. We are ever safe in the arms of our Savior, who is “able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25).
John Bunyan describes this comforting truth in Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
But one day, as I was passing in the field, and that too with some dashes on my conscience, fearing lest yet all was notright, suddenly this sentence fell upon my soul, “Thy righteousness is in heaven.” Then it seemed to me that I saw, withthe eyes of my soul, Jesus Christ at God’s right hand. There, I say, is my righteousness; so that wherever I was, or whatever I was doing, God could not say of me, He wants my righteousness, for that was just before him. I also saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, the same yesterday, and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, par. 229
Unchanging Righteousness
In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6 ESV).
There sits My Righteousness, Enthroned at God’s right hand: The perfect, spotless Lamb of God, In Him alone I stand. No better is my stand On days when all feels right, No worse when days are dark and gray, For nothing dims His light.
Unchanging Righteousness, My only hope and plea, That Jesus came and lived and bled And died and rose for me.
The Law cannot condemn, Since I in Christ abide. It sees His perfect work and is Completely satisfied. When God looks down on me, He sees no lack or need, For there in heaven, My Righteousness Does always intercede.
Unchanging Righteousness, My only hope and plea, That Jesus came and lived and bled And died and rose for me.
By imputation mine, Through faith in Christ alone, Enfolded in His righteousness That God has made my own. A never ending store, A bountiful supply! Each day the same, My Righteousness Exalted reigns on high.
Unchanging Righteousness, My only hope and plea, That Jesus came and lived and bled And died and rose for me. That Jesus came and lived and bled And died and rose for me.
O Spirit, now we thank You For giving us Your Word. Please bless its proclamation, The truths that we have heard. Indwell us and empow’r us, And cause us to obey; Shine now the light of Scripture On all we do and say.
Great Artist of the Scriptures, In beauty You have made God’s Word to shine in glory That cannot fail or fade. In poetry and proverbs, Through narrative and line; In prophecy and hist’ry, God’s truth in splendor shines.
You, down through many ages Inspired men to write, Progressively revealing, You brought God’s truth to light. O Spirit, come illumine This truth for us today; And guide us in sound doctrine, The straight and narrow way.
Wield now Your Sword, O Spirit, The quick and living Word, And rend our hearts asunder With truths that we have heard. O search us now and know us, Expose iniquity; Conform us to our Savior, And holy we shall be.
This hymn is a prayer addressed to the Holy Spirit, who inspired and crafted the Word of God. It is written to serve as a closing hymn following the preaching of the Word. In the hymn we respond to the preaching by asking the Spirit to “bless its proclamation” and apply it in an effective way to our lives. The final verse is based on Hebrew 4:12. Scripture is the sword of the Spirit, who skillfully and lovingly lays bare our hearts with truth.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
The idea for the hymn came in October 1995 during a Sunday School class taught by Steve Garrick at Heritage Baptist Church. Steve was teaching a series of lessons on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. During the lesson on October 22nd, he compared the Spirit’s work in bringing us God’s Word to that of an artist. When God revealed His Word to us, he did not package it as a “systematic theology.” He chose and inspired men to write from their own experiences in poetry, proverb, narrative, history, and prophesy. The Bible is a great work of art crafted by the Spirit “through many ages” as God-breathed revelation. I thought during the class that the comparison would work well for lyrics to a hymn. I finally wrote the hymn several months later. I finished the lyrics on July 8, 1996 while driving to Dallas Baptist University, where I was teaching Classical Guitar during the summer semester. The hymn tune is named for Pastor Steve Garrick.
This post is for friends who are musicians, especially those who play guitar.
One of my life’s joys is teaching music theory and classical guitar at Florida Southwestern State College. I have recently expanded my website to include more resources that I have shared with my students. These include:
How often should you practice? What is the best way to structure your practice time? Here are some encouragements on how to get the most out of your practice.
These exercises for Classical Guitar are designed to help you acclimate your hands to the guitar, learn the fretboard, and develop good technique and tone. I will be adding more to this page in the days ahead.
A new recording of the song I wrote for my daughter Anna is now available on Bandcamp. I surprised her with the song and sang it at her wedding this past August (2019). My thanks to the students in the audio tech class at Florida Southwestern State College for recording and mixing the song for me during the 2019 Fall semester.
Listen and down the song here:
Anna’s Song
From little girl to radiant bride From dolls and toys to dresses sewn God’s hand has guided every step With joy I’ve watched you as you’ve grown
In early days when you were small To fountains, shops and malls we went Your hand I held to keep you close And treasured all the time we spent
For years you dreamed about this day In patience waited, made your plans You prayed and rested in God’s hands You sought your prince, now here he stands
The day has come to say your vows Now two are one for all of life Your hand in marriage now I give To make a home as man and wife
Now in your home may Christ be known In you His gospel on display Your lives committed to His hands His love your anchor day by day
For years you dreamed about this day In patience waited, made your plans You prayed and rested in God’s hands You sought your prince, now here he stands
We have every reason to pray. We are fragile and have great needs. God is great and does wondrous things (Psalm 40:10). We are burdened and weighed down by sin. God is “is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Psalm 103:8). We are troubled and oppressed. God alone can save; salvation belongs to Him (Psalm 3:8).
Hope and help are always close at hand, yet too often we fail to pray. The very reasons that should compel us to seek God in prayer become the cause of our discouragement. We feel weighed down by our needs and undone by our sin. We feel weak and ashamed. We wrongly conclude that God will reject us when we come to Him. We think that He will turn us away, and so we do not pray.
Daniel Herbert’s hymn, “Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace,” is a welcoming encouragement to pray. Though we are “wretched sinners,” we can lay our load at Jesus’ feet. Though we are “lost and blind and lame” in our sin, the Lord will befriend us. Though we are “bankrupt” and feel the terrible weight of sin’s condemnation, we are assured of the promise: “The Lord will take you in.” Because of Christ we can “come boldly to the throne of grace” and “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace
Come boldly to the throne of grace, Ye wretched sinners come; And lay your load at Jesus’ feet, And plead what He has done. “How can I come?” some soul my say, “I’m lame and cannot walk; My guilt and sin have stopped my mouth; I sigh but dare not talk.”
Come boldly to the throne of grace, Though lost and blind and lame; Jehovah is the sinner’s Friend And ever was the same. He makes the dead to hear His voice, He makes the blind to see. The sinner lost He came to save, And set the pris’ner free.
Come boldly to the throne of grace, For Jesus fills the throne; And those He kills He makes alive, He hears the sigh or groan. Poor bankrupt souls; who feel and know The hell of sin within, Come boldly to the throne of grace, The Lord will take you in.
Tom Wells (Heritage Baptist Church in Mansfield, Texas) composed the tune for this hymn. Download free sheet music (PDF), including a guitar chord charts and an arrangement of the hymn tune HERBERT for classical guitar.
Throughout the ages the church has confessed that there is One God in Three Persons. We declare it in our creeds:
“I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; On the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy catholic church; The communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And life everlasting. Amen.”
The Apostle’s Creed
We affirm it in our confessions of faith:
“In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.”
1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, 2:3
And we celebrate it in our songs. Below is a list of psalm settings, hymns, and spiritual songs that teach on the doctrine of the Trinity: One God in Three Persons. This List is from my Theological Index of Music for Worship. If you have additional suggestions for songs related to the doctrine of the Trinity that should be included in the index, please comment or send me a message.
Note: The songs are listed below by title and author. For more complete entries (including tunes and hymnal page numbers) see the page for Songs and the Trinity in the Theological Index of Music for Worship online. I will be updating the online Index with more songs and topics in the days ahead as I receive recommendations.
Songs and the Trinity: There is one God in Three Persons
All Creatures of Our God and King (St. Francis of Assisi / William H Draper)
Angels from the Realms of Glory (James Montgomery)
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation (Latin Hymn – 7th C / J M Neale)
Come Praise and Glorify (Bob Kauflin / Tim Chester) • Sovereign Grace Music
Come, Thou Almighty King (Anonymous)
God, Our Father, We Adore Thee (G W Frazer / A S Loizeaux)
Holy God, We Praise Your Name—Te Deum(Anonymous / I Franz / C Walworth)
Holy, Holy, Holy (Reginald Heber)
Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now (Anonymous / Catherine Winkworth)
We Believe—Apostles Creed (Keith and Kristyn Getty / Stuart Townend)
2. The work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Creation
All Creatures of Our God and King (St. Francis of Assisi / William H Draper)
Holy, Holy, Holy (Reginald Heber)
Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Prudentius / J M Neale / H Baker)
We Believe—Apostles Creed (Keith and Kristyn Getty / Stuart Townend)
3. The work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Salvation
All Glory Be to Thee Most High—Gloria in Excelsis (Latin Hymn)
Behold, My Soul (Ken Puls) to DUANE STREET • Ken Puls Music
Come Praise and Glorify (Bob Kauflin / Tim Chester) • Sovereign Grace Music
God, Our Father, We Adore Thee (G W Frazer / A S Loizeaux)
Heavenly Father, Beautiful Son (Mark Altrogge) • Sovereign Grace Music
Vast the Immensity, Mirror of Majesty (Edmund Clowney)
Only Jesus (Doug Plank) • Sovereign Grace Music
Savior of the Nations, Come (Ambrose of Milan / M Luther / W M Reynolds)
There Is a Redeemer (Melody Green)
We Believe—Apostles Creed (Keith and Kristyn Getty / Stuart Townend)
Wonderful, Merciful Savior (Dawn Rogers / Eric Wyse)
4. Prayer to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
All Glory Be to Thee Most High—Gloria in Excelsis (Latin Hymn)
Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word (Tobias Clausnitzer / Catherine Winkworth)
Come, Thou Almighty King (Anonymous)
God, Our Father, We Adore Thee (G W Frazer / A S Loizeaux)
Heavenly Father, Beautiful Son (Mark Altrogge) • Sovereign Grace Music
Holy God, We Praise Your Name—Te Deum(Anonymous / I Franz / C Walworth)
Holy, Holy, Holy (Reginald Heber)
Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word (Martin Luther / Catherine Winkworth)
O God, We Praise Thee—Te Deum (Anonymous – 5th C)
Only Jesus (Doug Plank) • Sovereign Grace Music
Wonderful, Merciful Savior (Dawn Rogers / Eric Wyse)
5. Praise and adoration to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
All Creatures of Our God and King (St. Francis of Assisi / William H Draper)
Alleluia! Alleluia! (Christopher Wordsworth)
Angels from the Realms of Glory (James Montgomery)
Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word (Tobias Clausnitzer / Catherine Winkworth)
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation (Latin Hymn – 7th C / J M Neale)
Come Praise and Glorify (Bob Kauflin / Tim Chester) • Sovereign Grace Music
Come, Thou Almighty King (Anonymous)
Doxology (Thomas Ken)
God, Our Father, We Adore Thee (G W Frazer / A S Loizeaux)
Holy God, We Praise Your Name—Te Deum(Anonymous / I Franz / C Walworth)
Holy, Holy, Holy (Reginald Heber)
Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now (Anonymous / Catherine Winkworth)
O God, We Praise Thee—Te Deum (Anonymous – 5th C)
Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Prudentius / J M Neale / H Baker)
Savior of the Nations, Come (Ambrose of Milan / M Luther / W M Reynolds)
The God of Abraham Praise (Thomas Olivers)
Wonderful, Merciful Savior (Dawn Rogers / Eric Wyse)
For more complete entries (including tunes and hymnal page numbers) see the online Index:
