August 29, 2011

• The Watchman's Song – "Day and night, night and day"

  I Samuel 12:22  For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.  23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

  

  
  

  Isaiah 62:6-7
  
  On your walls, O Jerusalem,
  I have set watchmen;
  all the day and all the night
  they shall never be silent.
  You who put the LORD in remembrance,
  take no rest,
  and give him no rest
  until he establishes Jerusalem
  and makes it a praise in the earth.

  
  The Watchman's Song – "Day and night, night and day"

  A watchman I remain
  Day and night, night and day
  All glory due Your name
  Through devilish snares
  Through worldly cares
  May I never cease to pray
  And teach the good way
  A watchman I remain
  Day and night, night and day

  This people You have made
  For Your pleasure, for Your name
  This remnant You have claimed
  This flock by Your blood obtained
  You will never orphan or forsake
  Day and night, night and day

  We confess our abominations
  We turn from our transgressions
  See our darkness and desolation
  O, awake, arise, arrive for our salvation
  Rush upon the mountains of separation
  May we no longer be called a city forsaken
  Make us the joy of many generations
  A healing stream to all the nations
  Life forevermore, blessing descending

  Let the poor and needy spring up with praise
  Let not the oppressed be ashamed
  Adorn us with Your garment of praise
  That all peoples might know Your name
  Is Your arm shortened that You cannot save?

  For You alone, O God, are our King
  In the midst of the earth working
  Day and night, night and day
  Working everlasting salvation
  Day and night, night and day
  For those whose heart is loyal to Him
  Descend again to Mount Zion
  Beautify Your sanctuary with salvation

  A watchman I remain
  Day and night, night and day
  All glory due Your name
  Through fainting flesh
  Through great distress
  May I never cease to pray
  And teach the good way
  A watchman I remain
  Day and night, night and day

  O, Word, pour like rain
  I seek Thee not in vain
  Hope maketh not ashamed
  Ignite my fitful flame
  Kindle me and save
  All glory due Your name
  A watchman I will remain
  Day and night, night and day
  By Christ's grace sustained
  For the sake of Your great name
  Day and night, night and day

  Send a token of Your covenant love
  Forget not the soul of Your turtledove
  Deliver me not to the wild beast
  Refresh my soul with Your mercy feast

  O, Word, pour like rain
  I seek Thee not in vain
  Hope maketh not ashamed
  This blustery storm tame
  Anchor me and save
  All glory due Your name
  A watchman I will remain
  Day and night, night and day
  By Christ's grace sustained
  For the sake of Your great name
  Day and night, night and day

  Show Your goodness
  Show Your face
  Show Your glory
  Show Your grace
  Send a morsel
  Send a taste
  For You I watch
  For You I wait
  For You alone my soul silently waits
  Day and night, night and day
  For what other god remains
  Day and night, night and day
  I am pursuing, though faint
  Day and night, night and day
  In this lonely graveyard place
  A watchman I remain
  Day and night, night and day

  Wait on the LORD, my soul, wait!
  You will not be put to shame
  He waits to show His grace
  Blessed are those who wait
  Day and night, night and day
  Waiting for You to shine Your face
  Radiance beaming in the secret place
  
  Psalm 74:12  Yet God my King is from of old,
  working salvation in the midst of the earth.

  

  Isaiah 30:18  Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,
  and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
  For the LORD is a God of justice;
  blessed are all those who wait for him.
  
  19  For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more.
  He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry.
  As soon as he hears it, he answers you.

  Ii Timothy 2:1  You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus...

  While I was busying myself about the house concerns before I went, these words entered my heart - "Though faint, yet pursuing". I cannot express the tenderness with which this was spoken, nor the sweet encouragement it conveyed to my heart. I said, Have I been pursuing, Lord? Why I thought I had given it up long ago. I thought to myself if Mr. Bourne had said these words to me, I should have replied in my heart, No, I am not pursuing; I have given it up long long ago. But when I knew the voice that spoke to me, that He would not lie, I could not deny His word, and I replied, Have I been pursuing, Lord? I am sure I did not know it; I thought far otherwise.
  
  While I was on my way to The Grove this song was put into my heart, and I could not help singing it all day long -
  
  

  Jesus, my Lord! I know His name;
  His name be all my trust.
  Nor will He put my soul to shame,
  Nor let my hope be lost.

  It was a substantial hope which nothing could remove. It was the first time I had ever felt that holy boldness to cry, "I know His name". This boldness is attended with such humility that none can understand it but such as the Lord reveals it to by His Spirit. It is a mystery. O the change between the last Sabbath and this! I could not help saying, O Lord, how is this? I do bear Thy name. I am Thy adopted child. Why should I be like an alien?

  – Miss Jane Gilpin in Chapter 16 of J.H. Alexander's "More than Notion" (emphasis mine)

  "As to my desires for a revival, I have not, and never had, the least doubt that they are exceedingly corrupt and sinful. A thousand wrong motives have conspired to excite them. Still I do not believe that my desires were ever half so strong as they ought to be; nor do I see how a minister can help being in a 'constant fever,' in such a town as this, where his Master is dishonored, and souls are destroyed in so many ways. You can scarcely conceive how may things occur, almost daily, to distress and crush me. All these are nothing, when my Master is with me; but, when he is absent, I am of all men most miserable. But now he is with me and I am happy."

  – Edward Payson in "Memoir, Select Thoughts and Sermons of the Late Rev. Edward Payson, Volume 1" by Edward Payson (1783-1827) and Asa Cummings, p. 248 (emphasis mine)

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  Related:

  • Naphtali News: the Ministry of the Word & Prayer
  • Naphtali News: update on tent of meeting
  • my holy ambition
  • "I Have Need of Patient Endurance Today"
  • In this valley, in the midst of this valley (Ezekiel 37:1-14)
  • but not too hard with Me (calling, doubt & assurance)
  • the door, the sword, the crown ~ through faith & patience (Hebrews 6:11-12)
  • Why do I write poetry?
  • every time (the prophet's affirmation in depression, doubt & distress)
  • Are you storming heaven – or are you sleeping?
  • Letter 9 on assurance and fighting for joy in contending for the Gospel
  • How can I be joyful weeping over Jerusalem? (Letter 50 on assurance & joy)
  • Rejoicing in the battle (Judges 20:27-28) | Letter 103 on assurance & fighting for joy
  • Nehemiah's Song ~ "even here, even in the night seasons, even in the ruins" | letter 106 on joy
  • the pilgrim's Assurance ~ His Sovereign pouring | letter 110 on assurance & fighting for joy
  • Can there be more? | letter 113 on assurance & fighting for joy
  • you are Mine, not of the world (ministry's temptation, sorrow & joy) | letter 122 on assurance & joy
  • "Who wants candles when he has the sun?" ~ Edward Payson | letter 124 on assurance & joy
  • "today's a new day" (pressing on through sin, failure, fear & doubt)

  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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