CW 639: God Has Spoken by His Prophets
How do we know the will of God? Sometimes things happen in our lives that are difficult for us to understand. We don’t know why God allows certain trials and hardships to occur. Or we may be facing a difficult decision and would like God to tell us what to do. In those times we may want a direct answer from God. Wouldn’t it be great if God would speak to us directly? God has not promised that he will speak to us directly, but he has promised he will speak to us through his Word.
God Has Spoken by His Prophets is a hymn that praises God for revealing his Word to us through the Prophets and the Apostles. The Bible is an amazing blessing that our God has given to us. In it, we learn his will. We learn of our sinfulness and that we can do nothing to save ourselves. We also see the beauty of the Gospel that while we were still sinners God sent his one and only Son to offer his perfect life as a sacrifice for our sins. We praise God for this glorious gift and praise God for the Prophets he spoke his Word to us.
Verse 1: God has spoken by his prophets, spoken his unchanging Word, each from age to age proclaiming God, the one, the righteous Lord. In the world’s despair and turmoil one firm anchor holds us fast: God is King, his throne eternal, God the first and God the last.
If there is one constant in this world it’s that things change. The world is constantly changing: one season flows into another, people are born, grow, and die, and nations rise and fall. In all this change, there is one thing that does not change: the Word of God. God’s Word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This verse also reminds us that as we face times of despair and turmoil we can cling to God’s Word. In the Word, we find hope and comfort. In the Word, we find the unalterable truth that God loves us and will never leave us or forsake us. Praise be to God for giving the sure and certain foundation of his Word.
Verse 2: God has spoken by Christ Jesus, Christ, the everlasting Son, brightness of the Father’s glory, with the Father ever one; spoken by the Word incarnate, God from God, before time was; Light from Light, to earth descending, he reveals our God to us.
God’s Word is a record of his love for us. From the first verses of Genesis to the last verses of Revelation we see God’s great and abounding love. We see this love most fully in Christ. God sent his one and only Son to humble himself and be born of a virgin. Christ lived a perfect life in our place and then offered that perfect life as a sacrifice to pay for our sins. Jesus was able to do this because he was both true God and true man. God’s Word is the only place we learn of the sacrifice of Christ. It is only with the revelation of the Word that we can come to faith and believe in Christ as our Lord. God’s Word is clear that salvation is found in Christ alone. Praise be to God that he has given us the written Word that so clearly shows us our Savior.
Verse 3: God is speaking by his Spirit, speaking to our hearts again, in the ageless Word declaring his own message, now as then. Thro’ the rise and fall of nations one sure faith is standing fast: God abides, his Word unchanging, God the first and God the last.
Verse 3 reminds us that God speaks to our hearts through his Word. As we read the Word of God, we see the heart and mind of God. We learn God’s will and how he desires us to live our lives. God’s Word serves as a steady and constant guide for our lives. God’s Word never changes. The truths of sin and salvation were true in the Garden of Eden, and they remain true in our world today. God’s will does not change. As we walk through this world, we will face trials and dangers on every side. We will be tempted and hard-pressed. As we face this dark world we can cling to the unchanging truth of God’s Word. God’s Word is powerful, and it will remain forever.
God Has Spoken by His Prophets is a beautiful reminder of the power of God’s Word. Unlike every other book that has ever been written God’s Word has the power to change lives. It has the amazing power to bring those who are spiritually dead and make them alive in Christ. In a world that is constantly changing God’s Word remains an unchanging foundation of life and truth. We praise God for the blessing of his Word. We marvel at how he has preserved his Word during the long centuries since the creation of the world. We cling to this unshakeable foundation as we continue our pilgrimage in this life and look forward to our crown of glory.