Keep Silence Before Him

The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. Habakkuk 2:20.
From the sacredness which was attached to the earthly sanctuary, Christians may learn how they should regard the place where the Lord meets with His people. There has been a great change, not for the better, but for the worse, in the habits and customs of the people in reference to religious worship. The precious, the sacred, things which connect us with God are fast losing their hold upon our minds and hearts, and are being brought down to the level of common things. The reverence which the people had anciently for the sanctuary where they met with God in sacred service has largely passed away. Nevertheless, God Himself gave the order of His service, exalting it high above everything of a temporal nature.
The house is the sanctuary for the family, and the closet or the grove the most retired place for individual worship; but the church is the sanctuary for the congregation.
In the name of Jesus we may come before Him with confidence, but we must not approach Him with the boldness of presumption, as though He were on a level with ourselves. There are those who address the great and all-powerful and holy God, who dwelleth in light unapproachable, as they would address an equal, or even an inferior. There are those who conduct themselves in His house as they would not presume to do in the audience-chamber of an earthly ruler. These should remember that they are in His sight whom seraphim adore.
Those who assemble to worship Him should put away every evil thing. Unless they worship Him in spirit and truth and in the beauty of holiness, their coming together will be of no avail.
It is your privilege, dear young friends, to glorify God upon the earth. In order to do this, you must direct your minds away from things that are superficial, frivolous, and unimportant, to those that are of eternal worth.
The Faith I Live By p. 189
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Prayer Requests
—- pray for my brother. he has soft tissue sarcoma. his name is John thank you D
—-urgent prayers are needed as they’re taking Paizlee for emergency neuro surgery. Stephanie
—-Keep praying for Lou. She is now on antibiotics for an unknown reason. Eileen
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Dear Friends
Music is one of our favorite pasttimes when Esther Marie are together. We love it so much that sometimes we sing our conversations just for fun. When she was younger we often spent our evenings playing the piano and singing in harmony. Sometimes we even convinced Ronnie Jay to join us. We sang the old songs such as “Redeemed,” “Nothing Between,” “Jesus Loves Me,” and others. How we love to sing those old songs even today. The words and music are filled with so much meaning. Even Ron’s favorite song, Jesus loves me, has not-so-familiar verses that touch the heart. “Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide: He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. Jesus, take this heart of mine, Make it pure and wholly Thine; On the cross You died for me, I will love and live for Thee.”
I have read, “Music is as much an act of worship as is prayer.” So true, when both words and music are noticed and meditated upon.
Through uplifting music, we can be blessed. Paul advises, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Col 3:16
David bids us, “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” Ps 34:3; 96:1-6
There are many types of music to choose from. How much we need a guide that we may know which to choose. We must ask ourselves, “Does this music draw me closer to God through its words, its melody, its rhythm? What is more noticeable, its message or its beat? What is its lasting effect upon me?” Paul’s guide applies to music as well, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:8
May we choose our music well, that we “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Rom 12:21 May we declare as did David, “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.” Ps 9:1 May we draw closer to Him as we meditate upon the song’s words is my prayer.
Rose