Songs in the Night…

 

The Bible tells us that the Lord gives us songs in the night. A few nights ago I woke up singing this one by Shane and Shane…

Lord of Hosts, You're with us

With us in the fire

With us as a shelter

With us in the storm

You will lead us

Through the fiercest battle

Oh, where else would we go

But with the Lord of Hosts

Such a beautiful background melody for my spirit as I go about my day. Such a wonderful reminder and a very gentle nudge from the Spirit of God to let me know that whatever I am facing at any given moment my Jehovah-Shammah is facing it with me. 

That same morning I read these words:

All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE."—Ezekiel 48:35

Ezekiel prophesied to a people who were captives in a foreign land. They had heard reports that their country had been wiped out and the temple destroyed. Now here in this strange land they hear a message from God telling them that the city and its temple would be rebuilt and the twelve tribes united.  The most important characteristic of this city would be that the Lord would be there dwelling among His united people.  The new name of that new city would be Jehovah Shammah—“THE LORD IS THERE.”  

Every one of us can feel at times similarly to how these captives must have felt…displaced, forgotten and hopeless. God, however, had not forgotten them. He gave them His word to let them know that not only was He right there among them now, but He would also be even more present in the future. 

Beloved..God has not forgotten us either. As believers we are temples of the living God. He is with us now and He will be with us in our eternal home that He is preparing for us. 

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.—John 14:1-3

I am so thankful that He is near….that His Presence goes with me.  The Lord my God is my refuge and my strength…my very present help in times of trouble. He is the One who knows everything about me and yet has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. There is no where I can go where He is not right there with me. 

The presence of God in our lives makes everything glorious.  May He always dwell at the very center of our hearts and may our worship today bring us into His Presence. May His beauty be upon each of us today and establish the work of our hands.  

Please consider the following precious truths…

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.—2 Corinthians 4:6-7

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.—2 Corinthians 3:18

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me,"

Even the night shall be light about me;

Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,

But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.—Psalm 139:7-12

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,

And in the night His song shall be with me—

A prayer to the God of my life.—Psalm 42:8

I call to remembrance my song in the night;

I meditate within my heart,

And my spirit makes diligent search.—Psalm 77:6

Unless the LORD had been my help,

My soul would soon have settled in silence.

If I say, "My foot slips,"

Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up.

In the multitude of my anxieties within me,

Your comforts delight my soul.—Psalm 94:19

The LORD your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."—Zephaniah 3:17