Deuteronomy 16:11. “And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levitie that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place His name there.”
REJOICE. Back to “The Place” they are coming again – With a song from their hearts and gifts in their hands. Coming to remember deliverance in the past – Coming to give God their very best – And to rejoice!
Along with them come their sons and their daughters – The whole household rejoicing with holy laughter. They have been given an inheritance by God Himself – They owe all to Him alone as the Source of their wealth – And they rejoice!
Not alone but part of a great company – Sharing blessings together – enjoying harmony As a nation that has been blessed with divine favor With sacrifices to give God and His goodness to savor – And to rejoice!
For those days of feasts in holy convocation – They stopped and considered how God blessed the nation. Coming to give as each one is able – Coming to remember at the Passover table – And to rejoice!
We come together as one in the Lord – We are His children; we honor His Word – Not for ourselves but in worship to Him – And yet we are blessed, redeemed and forgiven – And we rejoice!
“O God of my salvation, and Giver of every good and perfect gift: knowing the blessings of the past, and assured that Thou art aware of every event in the future, I rejoice here before Thee as one who has been brought into a near place. There are so many reasons for joy and yet I confess that often my mind is focused on causes for sadness or uncertainty. Before Thee this morning I pray that I will look above and beyond these matters over which I have no control, and rest in confidence and joy, in Thee alone. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
“…But at the place where the Lord thy God shall choose to place His name in [Deuteronomy.16:6].” “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee [Deuteronomy.18:18].” “… as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee [Deuteronomy.27:3].” THE PLACE #2. There is a Place, where you shall go; There is a Prophet, Him you hear; There is a Promise God has given; When all your blessings do increase. From human-kind to us is raised. The land ahead - His holy home. Your tithes, your offerings, all your due This Prophet sent from God draws near, A land of Promise, though not seen, Is brought to Him who showed His grace- To God alone, we thank and praise. Where He and we share – not alone.
To you - unmeasured, boundless, free; Because this Prophet from above, That land so fair, the Promise says, Because God’s love, in fullness great, Has come from God His truth to speak. Lies just beyond that final turn. Has granted blessings unto you, that He Like one of us, in boundless love The honey, milk, the promises Might there, your thanks accept. God’s Word to us He does repeat. Are there for us from Him we learn.
Thus to The Place that He shall choose, This Prophet came from God to us The Promise makes it very plain, With heartfelt thanks you must return. The Voice of God, without mistake. The Lord our God before us goes. There, where He with us communes, That we, His brethren always must, We now by faith the Promise claim, We fitly bring thank-offerings in. The will of God in flesh translate. And through God’s Word all this we know.
To the Place of His dear name, This we do, that men around The land ahead, seems very far, In faith obedient, draw we near. Thus, to This Prophet, too will turn. Until the years of life be spent. Our young, our old - it’s all the same, That they too know that life abounds, And then the promises so clear, The Place of meeting for all is here. When they, This Prophet no more spurn. Make all life’s labors gladly lent.
The Place is where He meets His own, This Prophet, Savior, Priest and King, If only we made each day count, His royal dues from us receive. Has from our hearts true worship drawn. In each day faithful we had been. The Place from which on holy throne, Now to His holy Name we bring, But still the Promise brings about In truth, we worship who believe. All glory, honor, praise in awe. A daily gladness - fulfilled then.
The Place revives our flagging soul, This Prophet’s word, His voice, His name The Promise is God’s presence true, The Place renews our hearts again. In all its full authority. The Promise is God’s leading. Because the Place, is where we’re told, Has drawn us, saved us, made us His claim, The Promise means He’ll see us through, Our Blessed Lord meets there with men. And made us His, eternally. Man’s promise far exceeding.
“O Father, the all-providing God who guides, protects, provides for and comforts us: We are thankful that thou dost go ahead of Thy people and leads us in a clear path. We have a tendency to look to each side as we move along. Help me to keep in front of me that fact that the promises of God are “Yea” and “Amen.” They are true, they will happen, there is no doubt that what has been promised will be fulfilled. Each day Thou hast given a little taste of the honey and a good drink of the milk. When I take what has been provided from this land flowing with milk to strengthen and sustain and honey to give joy, it makes this foretaste of heaven a good land. Thank You in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”