Wherewith shall I come before the Lord? And with what offering shall I bow myself before the most High? Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard that the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator cannot be worshipped with men's hands as tho' He needed anything, seeing it is He that giveth to all life and breath and all things, For in Him we live and move and have our being. Wherefore the Lord delighteth not in vain offerings. Neither respecteth He the prayers of them that be of a froward heart. For they that serve Him must serve Him with a pure heart and with a willing mind. And they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. Trust ye in the Lord and be fruitful in every good work. For to do good, forgetting not to communicate unto them that are in affliction, is sacrifice well pleasing unto God. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: And give unto God the glory due unto His name. The Lord our God is holy and all His ways are ways of righteousness and peace. Blessed is the man that walketh in the pathway of peace, in whose spirit there is no guile. He shall be steadfast and without fear, And the Eternal shall be His everlasting portion. The Spirit of the Lord shall dwell in him that is of a contrite heart, And shall abide in them that seek to do His holy will. Let the gladness of Thy service and the power of Thy presence be revealed unto our souls. That we may know through Thy Spirit the fulness of joy. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, They are the Sons of God. Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness; May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, Be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. 1 1 NINTH SELECTION A Very Present Help in Trouble IN THE ETERNAL IS EVERLASTING STRENGTH OD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Go The confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them afar off upon the sea. A Father of the fatherless, a strength to the needy in his distress; a refuge for the oppressed. Our dwelling place in all generations. He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds; He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names. He giveth beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. The Lord upholdeth all that fall. He raiseth up all that be bowed down. In the midst of trouble He will revive them; none of them that put their trust in Him shall be desolate. He shall swallow up death in victory, and wipe away all tears. 26 VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for thou shalt yet praise Him for the help of his countenance. When thou passest through the waters, He will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil. He shall preserve thy soul. It is He that shall forgive thine iniquities. And heal all thy diseases. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. For they that sow in tears, ere long shall reap in joy. So, then, be patient; God's word endureth for ever; yea, in eternity: Cast thy burden. upon the Lord; And He shall sustain thee. Wait thou on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord. Trust ye in Him for ever. For in the Eternal is everlasting strength. VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE 27 Return unto thy rest, O my soul, return unto thy rest. And the Lord will deal bountifully with thee. He will never leave thee nor forsake thee; He, watching over Israel, is with thee whithersoever thou goest. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. For this God is our God for ever and ever. He will be our guide even unto death. |