Zion{people}

“’I cannot do that. Jesus saved me. He did everything for me. I can’t be quiet!’” Lung Singh

This is a time of change, some that can be embraced willingly and some that need thought before embracing. Change usually means something good, it is a movement and we have to keep moving, there is no standing still with the Lord within.

There are times when we need to rest, but in that rest, we draw closer to Him we are moving towards the Lord. We can choose to turn away, when we know we are doing wrong and hope he is not looking. Of course he is looking, we are choosing to turn away.

I heard of a man that had a 'beef' with God, for ten years he would recount  to anyone who would listen his problems. They were not unsurmountable, they were problems that could be more easily be teased out than a ball of knotted yarn but this man held onto his problems, they were what defined him. One day someone close to him pierced through all the buff and pomp and helped the Lord bring the man to his knees. This hymn he sang with vigour and from then on witnessed and talked about the wonderful saving grace of the Lord.

Hymns are a reflection of how we worship the Lord, catchy tunes and arm waving, deep stodgy theologically sound dry verses. We all have our favourites. But should we? Shouldn't we sing out loud and brave no matter what. No matter what emotion is inside on any particular day. There are hymns that pierce straight through to the heart of the matter and when that happens it is beautiful to watch, to witness or to feel.

There are times when the last thing we want to do is sing and that is when we should. No one ever said we would be comfortable in our worship, it should prick us, the Spirit will convict us. I invite you to google this song and sing all ten verses and refrains. It is a joyous song of deliverance and harks back to Isaiah 30:19 in context - 

19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 22 Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!” Isaiah 30:19-22

Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
Join in a song with sweet accord
And thus surround the throne,
And thus surround the throne.

Refrain

We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.

The sorrows of the mind
Be banished from the place;
Religion never was designed
Religion never was designed,
To make our pleasures less,
To make our pleasures less.

Refrain

Let those refuse to sing,
Who never knew our God;
But favorites of the heavenly King,
But favorites of the heavenly King
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.

Refrain

The God that rules on high,
And thunders when He please,
Who rides upon the stormy sky,
Who rides upon the stormy sky,
And manages the seas,
And manages the seas.

Refrain

This awful God is ours,
Our Father and our Love;
He will send down his heav’nly powers,
He will send down his heav’nly powers,
To carry us above,
To carry us above.

Refrain

There we shall see His face,
And never, never sin!
There, from the rivers of His grace,
There, from the rivers of His grace,
Drink endless pleasures in,
Drink endless pleasures in.

Refrain

Yea, and before we rise,
To that immortal state,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss,
Should constant joys create,
Should constant joys create.

Refrain

The men of grace have found,
Glory begun below.
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow,
From faith and hope may grow.

Refrain

The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.

Refrain

Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
To fairer worlds on high,
To fairer worlds on high.

Refrain