This Week at Hope – For What Could Have Been
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Prayer will be held at the Daming Home.
“If only.” These are the words of the “fading glory,” that we find in the message of Isaiah 28. How many times have you looked back and said, “I wish I had’ or “If only.” Judah could easily be the nation called, “What could have been.” In this next section it is clear the God is warning Judah of the coming consequences of sin by using the example of the northern kingdom – Ephriam. If only they had listened to the advice. If only they had taken heed to the example of Ephriam and turned from their sins. But they did not. The example was not enough for them. Further, the Word of God was not enough as they finally came to a place where they heard the Word of God but they regarded it as the scornful heart says to itself, “blah, blah, blah, yada, yada yada,” or “Here a little, there a little…” As we move into a new section of Isaiah with chapter 28, we find ourselves in at the beginning of six woes the Prophet declares against Judah (the Southern kingdom) and Israel or Ephriam (the Northern kingdom). Up to this point Isaiah’s experience has been during the reign of Ahaz. Now it is clear that he is speaking during the reign on Hezekiah. While Hezekiah was a good king, his weakness is shown. He trust in Egypt for advice and strength. This was one of the grave errors that led to disaster for his people. Ephriam stands as warning. Their leaders are self indulgent and drunk, and they have closed their ears to the word of God. The focus will be Isaiah 28:1-13.
Scott Brown
The songs we will be singing on Sunday are below:
Before the Throne of God
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God
Psalm 9:1-10
(tune of O Safe to the Rock that Is Higher than I)
I now will give whole-hearted thanks to the Lord,
And all of Your marvelous works will record.
In you will be glad and exultingly cry,
And praise to Your name will I sing, O Most High.
When backward my foes were all turned in despair,
They stumbled and perished because You were there.
For you have defended my judgment and cause;
You sat in just judgment upholding Your laws.
You chided the nations, the wicked destroyed;
Their names You erased and forever made void.
The foe is consumed, is completely erased,
Their cities destroyed and their memory effaced.
The Lord will eternally sit on His throne,
Establishing it for His judgment alone.
In righteousness He’ll judge the world from His seat,
And unto all peoples shall equity mete.
The Lord is a stronghold, a lofty strong tower.
For all the oppressed in their troubles’ dark hour.
Those knowing Your name, Lord, trust You for Your grace;
You have not forsaken those seeking Your face.
Amazing Grace
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun
Break Thou the Bread of Life
Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Throughout the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord,
My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word.
Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,
As Thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;
And I shall find my peace, my All in all.
Thou art the Bread of Life, O Lord, to me,
Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;
Give me to eat and live with Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.
O send Thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me,
That He may touch mine eyes, and make me see:
Show me the truth concealed within Thy Word,
That in Thy Book revealed I see Thee Lord.
Emmanuel’s Land
The sands of time are sinking,
The dawn of heaven breaks,
The summer morn I’ve sighed for,
The fair sweet morn awakes;
Dark, dark, hath been the midnight,
But dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land.
The King there in his beauty
Without a veil is seen;
It were a well-spent journey
Though seven deaths lay between:
The Lamb with his fair army
Doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land.
O Christ, he is the fountain,
The deep sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted
More deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness
His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land.
The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on my King of grace;
Not at the crown he gifteth,
But on his pierced hand:
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Emmanuel’s land.