During the winter period in the western world, you can’t imagined the pain and health risks and damages exposed to by frostbite, snow blindness, hypothermia, trench foot, loneliness, mental sufferings and other calamities of an homeless man. This is in comparison to a believer without adherent to a local church, such as a new born innocent baby abandoned by the road side or dumped somewhere by a heartless-irresponsible mother. Every child has the right for love, parental and family warmth, in an atmosphere where they can be constantly nourish to grow and be taught about decency of life and living. Thank God for men and women of good heart who are out there to adopt the abandoned kids as their own to give them a home, good life and family to be orientated.
After the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the church becomes the next and greatest and eternal project of God on earth for mankind, meant to call out people to God, known as the holy nation or the nations of them that are saved or the bride of the Lord, to live and remain throughout all eternity in praises and worship before God day and night here and throughout all eternity.
The church is extremely precious to Christ and nothing comparable to merit her price than for the Lord of creation to give himself to purchase her to be her rightful head, and that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27.
The clergyman’s work is the most implicative, yet the most honourable and dangerous occupation, lest the minister or anyone be found guilty of misleading, misguiding, exploiting, scattering and offending any of the little ones for which sake the Lord gave his life. The labourers and workers are to be very careful not to incur the wrath of the project manager (God) on how they build and the quality of material they build with, for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; everyman’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. Some of the shepherds shall be cut off by the Lord to perish like dung- for their pernicious ways against the flock of God; while some of them shall be scarcely safe, yet as by fire, for their carelessness in the sheepfold. ‘Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;as I live, says the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;thus says the Lord God; behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them’. Ezekiel 34:7-10. Acts 20:25-25. 1 Corinthians 3:15. 2 Peter 2:1-3.
The church is the family of God of God on earth, upon whom his name is called. She is the vineyard of the Lord; he does keep it, he will water it every moment, lest any hurt it, she shall be kept day and night. ‘I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’. The universal church shall thrive and prosper under any circumstances to fill the face of the earth with fruit-for the whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea. She shall be victorious and triumphant under any assaults and oppositions to rule in the midst of her enemies; and nothing shall change all that the Lord has purposed concerning her. Christ has gone into the heaven to prepare a place for his church (his body) and will come back to take her into his Father’s house. He will do everything for the triumph and perfection of his church on earth in the midst of the intimidations and contradictions of sinners meant to weaken and weary her. The church is our mount Zion, congregation of the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, the assemblies of saints, the beloved of the Lord who shall dwell safely by him, the gospel church which the Lord has chosen and desired for his holy habitation, and he will dwell in it forever. It is city of God (but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect) which glorious things are spoken of, and from which the law and the word of God shall go forth, to teach us of his paths and ways- and many people shall go and say, come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.Isaiah 2:3. Isaiah 27:1-3. Matthew 16:18. Habakkuk 2:14. Hebrews 12:22-23.
If as a church of God in Christ Jesus, she is not indicating the mark and traits of true holiness, it is either she has been compromised by the enemy, or her origin was not from God. Holiness becomes (hallmark) the house of our God (Psalms 93:5) despite the abominable and despicable acts and the evil reports from the characters of the tares (children of Satan that are planted or sent into the churches to cause offences and to desecrate the temple and to defile the children of the kingdom) among the wheat; yet, out of Zion the perfection of beauty, shall our God shine; and they shall all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion, they shall be like the chaff which the wind drives away. ‘Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make your horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shall beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth’. Micah 4:11-13. Matthew 13:24-30.
Though the devil seeks and works to destroy the credibility of the church, yet God is worried and greatly concerned to defend the reputation of her whom he considered as his vineyard, for all the cares and labours that he bestowed upon it and for the little or nothing it is producing and giving back in returns, bringing disappointments and shame to his name in the place of praises and glory for all the labour and goodness bestowed upon it…A vineyard in a very fruitful hill and well fenced, and the stones thereof were gathered out, and planted with the choicest vine, a tower built in the midst thereof, and a winepress made therein; but instead that it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes. And now go to; I will tell you what I shall do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down; and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. Isaiah 5:1-7. John 15:1-6.
Because of the gross iniquities that are found in the place of righteousness; and the increasing wickedness found in the place of justice; incomprehensible scandalous promiscuities and impurities and all sexual uncleanness found in the place of purity and holiness; ungodliness and idolatry that are found in the place that godliness and of the worship of God in spirit and in truth; the heathen and the adversaries of the Lord has found occasion to speak evil of his glorious holy name and to utter great reproach against the bride of the Lord, purchased and set apart by his precious blood, to the end that the ungodly world of men should see no reason to become a converted and faithful member of a local and universal body of Christ -the church. Judgement shall soon begin from the house of God to purge and to make an end, for the Lord shall be jealous for his house and for his people. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remained in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. Everything shaken shall be removed and those unshakably (in a determined manner) rooted and grounded in the Lord may remain.
The hectares of lands bought and the strong pillars erected, including the bricks and cements made to make a roofing construction is just a structure we set up to gather people under to worship the Lord who does not dwell in the temples and houses made with hands. Nonetheless, when we decides and purpose to set aside and sanctify such a place, under such roof to the Lord’s name for gathering and worship unto him, it becomes a holy place, consecrated for holy assemblies, a place where divine personality, presence and name must be sanctified in holiness–such place(s) becomes the house called by his name -the house of God; and it should never be made as the den of thieves. ‘Trust you not in lying words, saying, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these……behold you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, hates, murder and commit adultery , and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom you know not; and come and stand before me in this house which is called by name, and say, we are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, says the Lord. But go you now to Shiloh where I set my name at first (Eli’s church or temple of worship, where his entire family and priesthood were cut off), and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. Jeremiah 7:4-16.
His name is Jehovah shammah- the Lord is there. Where two or three are gather together in his name, the Lord is there among them. Such place of gathering becomes his holy place where God ought to be feared and reverence: and all flesh be silent before him. But what we are witnessing in most churches today is disheartening that many of them are for show business, fashion parade of latest mode and personality displayed, where the Lord ought to be lifted up to increase. Some churches are like the building where performances can be presented (theatre) full of noise, stupid, unbiblical and senseless and funny acts of worldly entertainment for exotic dances and jestings which are not convenient, but the fact is that many of the worldly Theatre houses are even more solemn than many churches out there today. Ephesians 5:4.
The church is not a cemetery, neither is it a comedy ballet home. Yes, we can have a living or Pentecostal church as they speak (Pentecost signal the birth the birth of the church) but does that give us the liberty to be disorderly and full of irrelevant and unedifying noises when we come together? Do people really learning when they are making their consensual noises during preaching and teaching either on Sundays or during any worship gathering? ‘And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness.And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. Ezekiel 33:31-32.
Unto the Lord shall the gathering of his people be…but many don’t understand this as they think they are in the church for community’s sake, pastor’s sake, mom’s sake, dad’s sake, wife’s sake, husband’s sake, business sake, boy friend’s sake, girl friend’s sake, job’s or contract sake, financial aid and the wrong motives and influences are endless for the reason people go or don’t go to church.
In the Diaspora, many called it the Congolese church, Nigerian church, Ivorian church, Chinese church, Sri-Lanka church, Ghanaians church, Jamaican church, Guyana church, Latino church, Spanish church, American church, Ethiopian church, Kenya church, Indian church, black church, white church etcetera. The true church is without border and colour, beyond denomination segregation and ethnicity obstruction, sincerely open for all men and women from different cultures, nations, tribes, blood, language, colour and kindred that are washed in the blood of the Lamb and professed salvation in the name of Jesus Christ; born of water and the Spirit. Their admission into the church is not by any membership form they have purchased from the church treasurer or any monthly pledges they pledge to be given. The latter can come later as they grow to understand their involvement and necessity of participating freely in the kingdom economy advancement. ‘For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28.
‘These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou may know how thou ought to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth’ 1Timothy3:14-15.
It is so disheartening and unfortunate that many do not know how to behave or conduct themselves in the presence of God or in the places called by his name, but it’s none of the worshippers fault as long as the head is sick, the whole body is sick and the heart is faint. What do you expect from a church whose pastor or shepherd is not called and anointed by God, but he’s exploiting the church as means to an end? He will be a flattering preacher; through covetousness shall he with feigned words make merchandise of his simple and ignorance congregation. What do you expect from the pastor called by men? He shall be ruled by men, as men’s pleasers, instead of him leading the sheep; it’s going to be the other way round –the sheep will guide and dictate to the shepherd. These are they that made other gods for themselves and golden calf for the people they are over as Jeroboam the king of Israel did after the death of Solomon, going to any evil length in search for strange power, fame and success. They make anyone their deacon and elder as long as they are supporting the church financially, though such are not biblically qualified, neither are they right standing and not in any meaningful or fruitful relationship with God. 1 Kings12: 25-33.
What do you expect from a preacher called and sent by God? He will preach the word in season and out of season. He will correct and rebuke in love, with all authority and scriptures. He will speak that which related to sound doctrine and will openly rebuke them that sin, that other may fear and learn. He will speak the undiluted word of God, as he that has been put to trust with the gospel, not as pleasing men, but God which tries his heart. He will work hard to serve the sheep with the best part of the meal- the strong meat. His pursuit, labour, satisfaction and joy is to see them stand fast in the Lord and strong in his grace-for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:5-8.
You must ask God for the knowledge of the ground you are worshipping him. It is very sad that many places of gathering today in the name of the Lord are nothing more than the synagogues of Satan, a demonic and polluted ground where some evil objects are buried to bewitched the crowd, a place where the pastor is using magical charms to minister, an amusement place where the voices of the hearers are louder than the voice of the speaker, a dance hall or club house where the pure praises of God has been polluted with exotic and acrobatic dances and spiritual songs are mixed with worldly tone, a social gathering, where some will even drink alcoholic wine and smoke cigarettes before or after the church service, a town hall for cultural activities, a carnal and porn places by the way some would dress worldly, loosely and godlessness to the church is disgusting. When the stony heart is truly broken and transformed, godly dressing and other things shall follow as well. Wearing and changing of good and moderate clothes to the church is great but the heart should first be changed as we are not going to the church to make a fair show of clothes and flesh, revealing our sexuality in the place of spirituality. God expects us to change our heart and not garment: yet, not every cloth is befitting in the presence of God as we can see many today with the attire of harlots (seductive and transparent dresses) and other disgusting habiliment in the house of God….And God said unto Jacob, arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fled from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean and change your garments. Genesis 35:1-4. Proverbs 7:10.
It is strange to see people busy with their smart phone during the church services, not for bible commentaries and passages, but to text and chat with friends in God’s house and there is no pastor or usher to put them to shame, lest they should stop coming to church the next Sunday. Some are so distracted and disturbing, while some are so tired and sleepy headed. Worshippers should be taught and learn not to be unruly and to sit straight and serious throughout the church service. Our kids are God’s blessing and heritage; they should be allowed to become nuisance in the church. The liberty we tend to enjoy in the presence of his Spirit is not the licence to distract the worship or become a nuisance in the assembly of the saints. Our liberty in the presence of God is the freedom to pour out our heart to God our refuge in worship, praise and reverent supplicating, intercessory or warfare prayer. Habakkuk 3:20.
True church is a spiritual school but many don’t like to be told what to do and taught how to live. Those who abhor learning from God’s truth should cease going to church because it is ground and pillar of truth where regularly for life changing, teachings, corrections, reproofs and instructions in righteousness shall be regularly coming out. Thus says the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain. Zachariah 8:3. Proverbs 1:28-30.
The church is the assembly of the regenerated and transformed believers and any unregenerate soul visiting church means that such is tired of sin and are ready to be saved- sinners shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous, neither the wicked in the congregation of the just, for the Lord knows the ways of the righteous, but the ways of ungodly shall perish.
It is not like we have sinners running some churches today, while others are sitting comfortably for years, having fun and going along well with the children of the kingdom without conversion. Some of these men will go to the extent of defining the scriptures not, to be preached because it is exposing their evil works and sinful ways of life and many stomach and pockets pastors are succumbing to such pressure to retain their favour to keep enjoying their dainties –their end is destruction, for their God is their stomach and they mind earthly things (oh Lord, gather not my soul with sinners; and let me not eat of their dainties). Jeremiah 8: 22. Psalms 1:5-6. Psalms 141:4-5.
There are three major or regular places you can always be sure to find a real child of God. You will always found such either in his house, job place or in the church – I was glad when they say let us go into the house of the Lord. It is his chief joy and labour of love to serve and praise the Lord in the house of God. Church is the house of God’s children and they shall always be found in his presence to seek his face and shall not forsake the assemblies of one another as preference above any other places of interest, attraction or habitation…one thing have I desired of the Lord; and that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; that I behold his beauty and enquire in his temple. Psalms 27:4.
Is your name written in the book of life in heaven? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Is Jesus your personal Lord and Saviour? Are you walking with the Lord and serving him day and night twenty four-seven with your soul, spirit and body which are God’s? Mere church attendant or membership is not the means of salvation and it can’t take you to heaven without an upright and holy life in a repentant soul and in your daily walk and relationship with God by faith in Christ Jesus. His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. I will make mention of Rehab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, this and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when he writes up the people, that this man was born there. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee. Psalms 87.
The church is the assemblies of them that hear the word of God and do it, called to be saints and are all brethren –brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as father; and the younger men as brother. The elder women which believed should be treated as mothers and the younger as sisters in the Lord and should not be sexually ravished or taken advantage upon; but should be treated with all purity- God has not called us unto uncleanness but holiness; and whosoever despised, despised not men but God who has also given us his Holy Spirit.
It is a pity that many people are walking barefooted on hot coals as they come to the church to take advantage of divine love and compassion to manipulate the people of God and to satisfy their lusts and covetousness – the Lord shall judge his people and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God – judgement must begin at the house of God and if the righteous be scarcely saved, where shall the sinners and the ungodly appear? Ephesians 3:15. 1Timothy5:1-2. 1 Peter 4:17-18. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.
You need to pray and be led to a good bible believing church and never be the part of any problem but a solution in any church for the Son of man shall soon send his angels to gather out of his kingdom (church) all things that offend, and them which do iniquity (tares among the wheat) and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Iron sharpens iron – no believer is saved to stay at home; if not, he become an individual whose life is scattered and needed to be gathered together – whosoever will not be gathered unto Christ, shall be scattered abroad. If we would find Christ, we must get into fellowship with his people; we must come to the ordinances with his children. Where Christ is, there shall his servants be.
Each member in the body of Christ (believer) is gifted according to the purpose and the will of the Spirit of God. Those gifts are imparted to be exercised mainly in the church to edify one another and to save souls of the ungodly world of men; bringing them into the church afterward that they might be added to the family of God. Since the church is compared to the body of a living being, and every part in our body (hands, legs, nose, eyes and ears) has their particular work for the growth of the whole body; and there is no member of the body that can be independent of itself successfully without the support of the other members of the same body, it is obvious that the saved believers are expected to be involved in their local family church to serve one another in love in the service, worship and fellowship which should whole-heatedly be done as unto the Lord because they are called by the Lord to serve one another in love. 1 Corinthians 12:12-30. Colossian 3:23-25. Matthew 13:36-43.
Do I have the right to leave a local church to another when I know that the Lord is calling me somewhere else to fulfil his will with the confirmation from other brethren? Yes, I do! Do I have the right to leave the local church when my will cannot be imposed on them? No, I don’t, but to be submissive one to other in the fear of God. Do I have the right to leave the local church because I will not be subjected to church disciplined for any wrongdoing on my part? No, I become a rebel that dwells in the dry land if I do so.
Do I have the right to leave a church whose ways, doings or practices, preaching and teachings are unbiblical? Yes, I do because the blind cannot lead the blind! Do I have the right to leave the church whose head is sick, where the pastor is not living according to the word preached? Yes, I do because, if he is not taking heed to himself and the scriptures, how can he save himself and his hearers? 1 Timothy 4:16.
The devil’s work is to isolate any willing ignorant or prideful heart from the family of God’s people, by the offenses and misconducts of the leaders and worshippers-blessed is he that will not be offended in Christ. It is evil, dangerous and a shame for anyone who claimed to be born again without an affiliated local church, a good and healthy circle of spiritual family where they belongs to –such are spiritually homeless and needs to be adopted into a spiritual family’s home. 1 Corinthians 11:22.
As a believer and worshipper of God, it is very dangerous in spiritual warfare and pilgrimage to fight and travel alone. Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? Iron sharpens iron; a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. The prayer of two in unity of spirit shall not go unanswered as the Lord promised; and they shall put ten thousands of the alien armies to flight, while a man who is alone shall only defeat one thousand. We must seek the Lord’s face for a good, sound biblical church membership, where we can be identified and accepted as a beloved. Where we can be nourished constantly for gradual spiritual growth and fellowship with the brethren is not forsaken- not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.. Proverbs 27:17.Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Ephesians 1:6. Hebrews 12:25.
There are different works and offices that each and every one that are called and saved into the kingdom of God is expected to do in the local church. None should be good for nothing in the church like a part of a body that is lamed or amputated. It is individual’s responsibility to see where they are best fitted in the body or to ask the under-shepherd (pastor) to help locate where they belongs to in the house…I had rather be a doorkeeper (usher) in the house of the Lord, than to dwell in the tents of the wicked. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh cries out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also fills the pools. They go from strength to strength; every one of them in Zion appears before God. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalms 84: 1-10.
Where do we learn of God’s way and go from strength to strength? The church! There has the Lord ordained the ministers of the gospel to faithfully dispense their ministries for the edification of the body of the body Christ and for the perfecting of the saints. Till we come in the unity of faith, and unto the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro by every winds of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Ephesians 4:10-14. Psalms 73:1-17.
What cities of God are to be spread abroad through prosperity and his storehouse which we are commanded to bring all the tithes that there may be meat in his house? The church! Zachariah 3:17. Malachi 3:10.
Where is God’s house we are to go with burnt offerings; to pay our vows, to bring an offering and come into his courts with praise? The church! Psalms 66:13: 97:8.
Where is the gate which we are to enter with thanksgiving in our hearts leading to? The church! Psalms 100:4.
What is the place referred to when the word ‘the zeal of thine house’ has eaten me up was spoken, when Christ cast out men and women that sold and bought with cords of whip in the temple, and overthrew the table of money changers, and the seat of them that sold doves in the temple? The church! Matthew 21: 12-13.
Where ever the church is, whether in an apartment of seven people’s capacity (Romans 16:5) or in a space of a million capacities, wherever two or three gather in his name, the Lord is there. Apart from the day of the Lord which is now the first day of the week (Sunday) when the believers are expected to gather together to break bread and fellowship and to worship the Lord, they are expected to come together for bible study and other weekly activities for the proper running of the kingdom and family’s work and spiritual health care which individual are expected to be committed therein in the fervency of spirit, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11.
Hymn: Glorious things of thee are spoken. Author John Newton. 1779.
Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God. God, whose word cannot be broken,
formed thee for his own abode. On the Rock of Ages founded, what can shake thy sure repose? With salvation’s walls surrounded, thou may’st smile at all thy foes.
2 See, the streams of living waters, springing from eternal love, well supply thy sons and daughters and all fear of want remove. Who can faint while such a river, ever flows their thirst to assuage? Grace, which like the Lord, the giver, never fails from age to age.
3 Round each habitation hovering, see the cloud and fire appear, for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is nearby. Thus, deriving from their banner light by night and shade by day, safe they feed upon the manna, which God gives them when on their way.
4 Savior, since of Zion’s city, I through grace a member am, let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in your name. Fading are the world’s best pleasures, all its boasted pomp and show; solid joys and lasting treasures, none but Zion’s children know.