Verse of the Day 7/5

Through the Bible - Job 34-36, Acts 14

 

Good morning,

In this weekend's devotional I referenced "Praise Him, Praise Him" as a song to sing in worship this weekend.  I then looked up the words and realized that the hymn had been written by Fanny Crosby.  The verse that inspired the song was from Psalm 146 where we'll go for today's verse.

 

Ps 146:2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.  NIV

The verse and the hymns of Fanny Crosby take on more meaning when you know a little of the story behind her writing.  Despite being blind from infancy she overcame, and went on to write over 8000 hymns, many of which are still being sung in churches across the country every week.  Some of the better known ones are Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Tenderly Calling You Home, To God Be the Glory, and Praise Him, Praise him, the words of which I've posted below.

 

1.  Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
   Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
   Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
   Strength and honor give to His holy Name!
   Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
   In His arms He carries them all day long.
2. • Refrain:
     Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
     Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!
3. Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
   For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.
   He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
   Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
   Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
   Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.
4. Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
   Heav'nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
   Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
   Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!
   Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
   Pow'r and glory unto the Lord belong.

We face difficulties, illness and loss in this life.  Fanny Crosby is one whom we can learn from in how she persevered, leaning on her Rock, our hope of eternal salvation.  May we remember that no matter what our circumstances, Christ is coming, overcoming the world, victorious.  May we be able to praise Him "ever in joyful song" because of His love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong'

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Ps 146:1-147:1

 

146 Praise the Lord. 

 

Praise the Lord, O my soul.
2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

 

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.

 

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them —
the Lord, who remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

 

10 The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.

 

Praise the Lord.     NIV