SONGS – PSALMS – SCRIPTURE

COMFORT, COMFORT NOW MY PEOPLE

By Chester L. Alwes

"Comfort, comfort now my people. Tell of peace!" so says our God.

"Comfort those who sit in darkness, mourning under sorrow’s load."

To God’s people now proclaim that God’s pardon waits for them.

Tell them that their war is over, God will reign in peace forever.

For the herald’s voice is crying, in the desert far and near;

Calling us to true repentance, since the kingdom now is here.

O that warning cry obey, now prepare for God a way;

Let the valleys rise to meet him, and the hills bow down to greet him.

Straight shall be what long was crooked and the rough places plain.

Let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign!

For the glory of the Lord now on earth is shed abroad.

And all flesh see the token that God’s word is never broken.

Save me, O God, because I have come to you for refuge. I said to him, "You are my Lord; I have no other help but yours."

The Lord himself is my inheritance, my prize. He is my food and drink, my highest joy!

He guards all that is mine. He sees that I am given pleasant brooks and meadows as my share! What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who counsels me; He gives me

Wisdom in the night. He tells me what to do.

I am always thinking of the Lord; and because he is near, I never need to stumble or to fall. Heart, body, and soul are filled with joy. For you will not leave me among the dead; you will not allow your beloved one to rot in the grave. You have let me experience the joys of life and the exquisite pleasures of your own eternal presence.

Why am I praying like this? Because I know you will answer me, O God! Yes, listen as I pray. Show me your strong love in wonderful ways, O Savior of all those seeking your help against their foes. Protect me as you would the pupil of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings as you hover over me.

But as for me, my contentment is not in wealth but in seeing you and knowing all is well between us. And when I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face to face. (1 Corinthians 13 verse 12 - In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see him in his completeness, face to face.)

Lord how I love you! For you have done such tremendous things for me. The Lord is my fort where I can enter and be safe; no one can follow me in and slay me. He is a rugged mountain where I hide; he is my Savior, a rock where none can reach me, and a tower of safety. He is my shield. He is like the strong horn of a mighty fighting bull. All I need to do is cry to him-oh, praise the Lord-and I am saved from all my enemies!

He reached down from heaven and took me and drew me out of my great trials. He rescued me from deep waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy , from those who hated me-I who was helpless in their hands. On the day when I was weakest, they attacked. But the Lord held me steady. He led me to a place of safety, for he delights in me.

You have turned on my light! The Lord my God has made my darkness turn to light. Now in your strength I can scale any wall!

What a God he is! How perfect in every way! All his promises prove true. He is a shield for everyone who hides behind him. For who is God except our Lord? Who but he is as a rock? He fills me with strength and protects me wherever I go.

You have given me your salvation as my shield. Your right hand, O Lord, supports me; your gentleness has made me great.

Many times you have miraculously rescued me, the king you appointed. You have been loving and kind to me and will be to my descendants.

None who have faith in God will ever be disgraced for trusting him. But all who harm the innocent shall be defeated.

Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk. Lead me; teach me; for you are the God who gives me salvation. I have no hope except in you. Overlook my youthful sins, O Lord! Look at me instead through eyes of mercy and forgiveness, through eyes of everlasting love and kindness.

The Lord is good and glad to teach the proper path to all who go astray; he will teach the ways that are right and best to those who humbly turn to him. And when we obey him, every path he guides us on is fragrant with his loving kindness and his truth.

Where is the man who fears the Lord? God will teach him how to choose the best.

He shall live within God’s circle of blessing, and his children shall inherit the earth.

Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises. (John 15: verses 9 to 15: I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love. When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my Joy. I demand that you love each other as much as I love you. And here is how to measure it-the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends; and you are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you slaves; now you are my friends, proved by the fact that I have told you everything the Father told me.)

My eyes are ever looking to the Lord for help, for he alone can rescue me. Come Lord, and show me your mercy, for I am helpless, overwhelmed, in deep distress; my problems go from bad to worse. Oh save me from them all! See my sorrows; feel my pain; forgive my sins.

Oh let it never be said that I trusted you in vain! Assign me Godliness and Integrity as my bodyguards, for I expect you to protect me.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? When evil men come to destroy me, they will stumble and fall! Yes, though a mighty army marches against me, my heart shall know no fear! I am confident that God will save me.

The one thing I want from God, the thing I seek most of all, is the privilege of meditating in his Temple, living in his presence every day of my life, delighting in his incomparable perfections and glory. There I'll be when troubles come. He will hide me. He will set me on a high rock out of reach of all my enemies. Then I will bring him sacrifices and sing his praises with much joy. Listen to my pleading, Lord! Be merciful and send the help I need.

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me, O my people." And my heart responds, "O Lord, I am coming."

Oh do not hide yourself when I am trying to find you. Do not angrily reject your servant. You have been my help in all my trials before; don’t leave me now. Don’t forsake me, O God of my salvation. For if my father and mother should abandon me, you would welcome and comfort me.

Tell me what to do, O Lord, and make it plain because I am surrounded by waiting enemies. Don’t let them get me, Lord! Don’t let me fall into their hands! For they accuse me of things I never did, and all the while are plotting cruelty. I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see his goodness to me here in the land of the living.

Don’t be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you.

Never envy the wicked. Soon they fade away like grass and disappear. Trust in the Lord instead. Be kind and good to others; then you will live safely here in the land and prosper, feeding in safety. Be delighted with the Lord. Then he will give you all your hearts desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it and you will. Your innocence will be clear to everyone. He will vindicate you with the blazing light of justice shining down as from the noon day sun. Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act. Don’t be envious of evil men who prosper. Stop your anger! Turn off your wrath. Don’t fret and worry-it only leads to harm. For the wicked shall be destroyed, but those who trust the Lord shall be given every blessing. Only a little while and the wicked shall disappear. You will look for them in vain. But all who humble themselves before the Lord shall be given every blessing, and shall have wonderful peace.

The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. If they fall it isn’t fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand.