Prov. 8:22-2622The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. (Proverbs 8:22‑26); John 122Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; (John 1:22‑26). 1-2; Eph. 1:44According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4).
While as yet no world existed,
Ere began the stream of time,
While the depths and mountains were not,
From the ages He was Thine.
Yet e’en then, Thy heart was thinking
Of the unborn human race:
Us in Christ Thou then wert choosing,
To the glory of Thy grace.
Prov. 8:27-3127When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. (Proverbs 8:27‑31), Heb. 1:2-32Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:2‑3)
When were formed earth’s first foundations,
He was there before Thee then;
Always in Thy presence joying
In Thy love to sons of men.
He the heir, and by Him all things,
Mirror of Thy glory bright;
Sons of men were yet His pleasure,
With them then was His delight.
Gen. 3:1515And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15), John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16), 1 John 4:1010Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
And when sin had marred creation—
Foul the blot that stained it then—
In Thy love He still was sharer
To the fallen sons of men.
Fallen—yet Thy love would reach them,
Lost—and yet Thy love would save:
But the cost! oh, mighty question,
known alone to Him who gave.
Down from off the throne eternal,
Not for angels came He then;
That were wondrous; but e’en lower
Stooped He for the sons of men.
Low the station, yet He took it,
He Jehovah’s fellow still;
Scoffing, shame, reproach He bore it,
For it was the Father’s will.
From the place of sin He shrank not,
He the holy, He the pure,
When our sin Thou laidst upon Him,
In that dread and awful hour.
All alone, by God forsaken,
Loud the cry from Calvary’s hill,
As He took the cup and drank it,
For it was the Father’s will.
Death its sting did spend upon Him,
In the grave His body lay;
But its bands they could not hold Him,
Nought Thy mighty power could stay.
From the grave triumphant rising,
First-born from among the dead,
Now above all power exalted,
Sits He as the Church’s head.
On Thy throne we see Him seated,
Crowns of glory on His brow;
“All of one,” oh, wondrous story!
“Brethren,” He does call us now.
Yes, with all the glory on Him,
Thinks He of us even then;
For to glory He is bringing
All the ransomed sons of men.
John 14:26-27, 12:33
For a little while He’s left us,
And the path is rough and drear;
But His footsteps are upon it
And the Comforter is here.
Words of peace He spoke on leaving;
On our way they ever cheer;
Tribulation He did tell of,
But in Him we do not fear.
John 10 4:1-3; Rev. 3:11, 22:7-12.
For us now He is preparing
What was then His thought of love,
When He spoke of many mansions
In His Father’s home above.
And He’s coming, as He told us,
Quickly coming—that we know:
Then will dawn the bright “forever,”
Then will cease the walk below.
Lord e’en now we sing Thy praises,
As we strike the heavenly chord,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
To the Father of our Lord!
But a louder song awaits Thee,
And we’ll help to swell it then,
When in glory bursts the chorus
From the ransomed sons of men.
–A. M. M.