Prayer
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber (Psalm 121:1-3).
Today’s Hymn
Words: Traditional French carol (Les Anges dans Nos Campagnes); translated from French to English by James Chadwick in Crown of Jesus, 1862. Music: Gloria (Barnes), French carol melody; arranged by Edwin S. Barnes.
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
Click here for tune.
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Refrain
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Refrain
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain
Thought Provoker
Recently, I heard a lecture on the mindset of “post- moderns.” One of the most troubling of characteristics of the youth of this “new cultural trend,” is contempt for history. Not just a wish not to have to memorize key dates and people in history, but a total disdain and contempt for the past. No value is put in it. It is not worthy of being studied and learned from unless it is your own experience. What will become of the old axiom “those who do not learn from history will be destined to repeat it”?
Dad’s Study
In verse 8 we read that ” — there arose a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” A short memory is not only a mark of new Egyptian monarchs, but frequently God’s people forget their past and the part played in it by their ancestors and their God. Throughout the history of Israel and Judah God called them to remember that he had done great things for them. They forgot that God had brought them out of Egypt, delivered them from Pharaoh’s army by parting the sea and given them victories over their enemies. They also forgot how God had judged mankind in the time of Noah and destroyed great cities because of their failure to repent.
Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
Truth in Practice
One of the great things about living in these “latter days” is that we have “a great cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us, who we can look to for an example and inspiration in living godly lives in our day. We Christian’s have a historical religion, a God with a proven track record who adds to that history of love, grace, and power every second of every day – 6,000 years ago with the creation, 4,000 years ago in the creation of a distinctive people to serve him, 2,000 years ago in the provision of The Savior of his people, and in our “latter days” when He made Himself known to each of us and effectually called us into His glorious light.
Catechism
Question 67
Q. What does every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come (Eph. 5:6; Ps. 11:6).
