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  A SONG OF PRAISE
  by Ralph Erskine
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Summary: God's merciful judgments and wonders are a testament to His
faithfulness and strength, and He will ultimately triumph over His
enemies and bring salvation to all people.

Topics: "Gods Judgment", "Victorious Salvation"
Scripture References: Isaiah 25:1-9

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DESCRIPTION
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Ralph Erskine preaches about God's merciful judgments, highlighting His
faithfulness, protection of the poor and needy, and His power over
enemies and tyrants. He emphasizes God's saving benefits, describing a
banquet of abundance and the removal of darkness and death, bringing
comfort and joy to His people. Erskine concludes with the victorious
salvation God provides, inspiring songs of praise for His redemption and
the ultimate triumph over evil and death.

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CONTENT
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SECTION I.

God's Merciful Judgments

1 Thou, O Jehovah, art my God,

Thee as mine own I claim;

I'll therefore celebrate abroad

And praise thy glorious name:

For thou hast wonders manifold

Perform'd in recent dress;

Shap'd to thy counsels, which of old

Are truth and faithfulness.

2 In heaps and rubbish laid thou hast

Strong cities fenc'd afore;

And strangers' palaces laid waste,

To be rebuilt no more.

3 Thy stoutest foes shall therefore yield

The glory thine to be;

And nations fierce resign the field,

And fear to cope with thee.

4 For thou in straits a strength to poor

And needy ones hast been;

From blowing storm a refuge sure,

From scorching heat a screen.

And that in times of greatest dread,

When furious tempests fall,

And blasts of tyrants fierce exceed

The storm that beats the wall.

5 The ruffling noise of strangers rude,

Thou shalt abate with ease,

As in dry plots a shady cloud

Does scorching heat surcease:

On tyrants proud thoul't be aveng'd,

That are so dreadful now;

Their jovial trebles shall be chang'd

And doleful basses low.

SECTION II.

His saving Benefits.

6 Lo! in this mount the Lord of hosts

A banquet shall prepare,

For all that tread on Zion's coasts,

And people ev'ry-where.

He'll with fat things and wines suffice,

Fat things of marrow full,

Wines well refin'd, from off the lees,

To glad and cheer the dull.

7 And in this mount he'll raze the vail,

The face o'er-cov'ring shade,

Of darkness cast o'er people all,

And o'er all nations spread.

8 He'll swallow up in victory,

Grim death, the king of fears

From faces all the Lord most high

Will wipe away the tears;

What base contempt, and vile reproach,

Were on his people laid,

From off the earth he'll quite dispatch

For so the Lord hath said.

SECTION III.

His victorious Salvation.

9 That day shall songs be utter'd thus,

"Behold this is our God;

We stay'd for him, and now he'll us,

With his salvation load:

This is the Lord Redeemer kind,

For whom we, long did wait;

We will be glad, with joyful mind,

In his salvation great."

10 For here shall rest our conqu'ring God,

And Moab be o'erthrown;

11 The gates of hell shall down be trod,

12 The trump of triumph blown.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ralph-erskine/a-song-of-praise/
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