Sunday Meditation, August 16

The King Who Brings Exiles Home

Responsive Meditation: Ezra 3:11-13

And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,

“For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”

And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 

so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping,

for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

Hymn of the King: God, the Uncreated One

God the uncreated One, the author of salvation,
Wrote the laws of space and time, and fashioned worlds to his design;
The One whom angel hosts revere, hung the stars like chandeliers,
Numbered every grain of sand, knows the heart of every man.
He is King forever,
He is King forever,
He is King forevermore!

God our fortress and our strength, the rock on which we can depend;
Matchless in his majesty, His power and authority;
Unshaken by the schemes of man, never-changing, Great I Am,
Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall; He is faithful through it all.
Crown him King forever,
Crown him King forever,
Crown him King forevermore!

Mighty God in mortal flesh, forsaken by a traitor's kiss;
The curse of sin and centuries did pierce the lowly Prince of Peace;
Lifted high, the sinless man, crucified, the spotless Lamb,
Buried by the sons of man, rescued by the Father's hand
To reign as King forever,
Reign as King forever,
Reign as King forevermore!

King Eternal, God of Grace, we crown You with the highest praise;
Heaven shouts and saints adore, you're Holy, Holy, Holy Lord!
What joy in everlasting life; all is love and faith is sight;
Justice rolls and praises rise at the Name of Jesus Christ,
King of Kings forever,
King of Kings forever,
King of Kings forevermore!

Words and Music by Aaron Keyes and Pete James
© 2016 Getty Music Songs, LLC (admin. by MusicServices.org), Common Hymnal Publishing (ASCAP), 10000 Fathers (ASCAP), Thankyou Music (PRS) (admin. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com). Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

Hymn of Steadfast Love: Oh the Deep, Deep Love

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me,
Underneath me, all around me is the current of Your love,
Leading onward, leading homeward, to Your glorious rest above. 

Chorus:      
Oh the deep, deep love, All I need and trust
Is the deep, deep love of Jesus.

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore,
How He came to pay our ransom through the saving cross He bore;
How He watches o’er His loved ones, those He died to make His own,
How for them He’s interceding, pleading now before the throne. 

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus, far surpassing all the rest,
It’s an ocean full of blessing in the midst of every test.
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus, Mighty Savior, precious Friend,
You will bring us home to glory, where Your love will never end. 

Original Words by Samuel Trevor Francis (1834-1925). Music, chorus, and alternate words by Bob Kauflin. © 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI). Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Ministries. From Come Weary Saints. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. North American administration by Integrity Music. International administration by CopyCare International. Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

Hymn of Purpose: There Is a Redeemer

There is a redeemer,
Jesus, God's own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One!

Refrain:
Thank you, oh my Father, for giving us your Son,
And leaving your Spirit, ’til the work on earth is done.

Jesus my redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Hope for sinners slain.

When I stand in Glory,
I will see His face,
There I'll serve my King forever,
In that Holy Place.

Melody Green © 1982 Birdwing Music/Cherry Lane Music Pub. Co. Inc. Used by permission. CCLI #2783020

Transition Inside

Scripture for Meditation: I Chronicles 16:19-22

When you were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,
wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,
he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,
saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”

Prayer of Blessing

Responsive Reading: One-Another Passages

Be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50).

Don't grumble among one another (John 6:43).

Be of the same mind with one another (Romans 12:6, 15:5).

Don't bite, devour, and consume one another (Galatians 5:15).

Don't envy one another (Galatians 5:26).

Gently, patiently tolerate one another (Ephesians 4:2).

Be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to one another (Ephesians 4:32).

Seek good for one another, and don't repay evil for evil (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

Out do one another in showing honor (Romans 12:10).

Love one another (John 13:34, Romans 13:8, 1 Thessalonians 3:12).

Through love, serve one another (Galatians 5:13).

Tolerate one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

Be devoted to one another in love (Romans 12:10).

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:10–11).

Prayer of Corporate Confession

Silence for Personal Confession

Assurance of Pardon: Ephesians 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 

Response: Thanks be to God.

Ministry of the Word

*All Scripture, English Standard Version. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission.