MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
May 22, 2024
The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – Part 12
THE ‘NINTH’ WAY OF ESCAPE. ASCEND HIGHER ON THE WINGS OF SONG
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding that the will of the Lord is. . . . Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.” Eph. 5: 15-17, 19, KJV.
“By faith that works by love” (Gal. 5:6), refocus your whole attention instantly to the Savior and Example of the Model Man. Whatever the circumstances surrounding you, firmly and steadfastly focus the eye of your MIND by the enabling grace imparted by the Holy Spirit, on this all-powerful truth: Jesus Christ, the incarnated Creator and “second Adam,” was “in ALL POINTS tempted like as WE are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4: 15).
Thus indeed, “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is COMMON TO MAN” (1 Cor. 10:13). Again, “Though He were a Son [of God] yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect [by suffering temptation, steadfastly resisting, never yielding nor compromising, not even in thought], He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him [by following His example].” Heb. 5:8, 9. It is in this special sense and setting that He is “the Author and Finisher” of “the faith once delivered to the saints, “ who, in “patience, keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12). As part of his “unnumbered schemes,” Satan’s temptations come in all forms, including provocations. One powerful “way of escape” this is to immediately sing to yourself, (paying less attention to whether you are in tune) the “songs of Zion,” or “heavenly Canaan,” which may be actual Psalms or “old time religion” hymns, or more modern songs with scripturally-sound lyrics, set in music that will not grieve the Holy Spirit and your guardian angel. Note:
“When others are impatient, fretful, and complaining because self is not subdued, begin to sing some of the songs of Zion. While Christ was working at the carpenter’s bench [in Nazareth, proverbial for wickedness], others would sometimes surround Him, trying to cause Him to be impatient; but He would begin SINGING some of the beautiful Psalms, and before they realized what they were doing, they had joined with Him in singing, influenced, as it were, by the power of the Holy Spirit which was there.” E. G. White, Sons & Daughters (devotional), p. 88.
For more examples, Christ often sang Psalms 66 and 68, both composed by David (3BC 1148; 4T 533). David composed 2 Samuel 22 while being hunted by King Saul (4SG-a 93). David composed Psalm 3 in darkest trial when he fled from Absalom, his own son. (PP 741-2; Ed 165). Psalm 46, composed by David (Ed 165; PK 203), was sung by the godly Protestant Reformer, upon receiving discouraging news (LS 258). The popular Psalm 91, is entitled “The Shield of Omnipotence” (8T 120), etc. Read them all, and if you possess the talent, compose
your own melody so you can sing them to yourself, and maybe share them with others.
If we are truly “preparing” to be with Jesus “wherever He is” in “the place He went to prepare for us” (John 14:1-3), we should be singing the “songs of Canaan and heavenly Zion” now during our antitypical journey in this wilderness of sin, if we would finally cross the antitypical Jordan river into the heavenly promised land of eternity.
If we are planning to join the grand song of victory of the eternally-redeemed, assisted by the angelic choir, we must first be overcomers here on earth, “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Pet. 1:4) by “the way of escape” of heavenly music and song! As “by constantly beholding one becomes changed into that image, so does by constantly singing and listening! “Choose ye this day” for tomorrow is not given!
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.