Verse 1

What is our hope in life and death?

Christ alone, Christ alone.

What is our only confidence?

That our souls to Him belong.

Who holds our days within His hand?

What comes, apart from His command?

And what will keep us to the end?

The love of Christ, in which we stand.

Chorus 1

O sing hallelujah!

Our hope springs eternal;

O sing hallelujah!

Now and ever we confess

Christ our hope in life and death.

Verse 2

What truth can calm the troubled soul?

God is good, God is good.

Where is His grace and goodness known?

In our great Redeemer's blood.

Who holds our faith when fears arise?

Who stands above the stormy trial?

Who sends the waves that bring us nigh

Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?

Chorus 1

O sing hallelujah!

Our hope springs eternal;

O sing hallelujah!

Now and ever we confess

Christ our hope in life and death.

Verse 3

Unto the grave, what will we sing?

"Christ, He lives! Christ, He lives!"

And what reward will heaven bring?

Everlasting life with Him.

There we will rise to meet the Lord,

Then sin and death will be destroyed,

And we will feast in endless joy,

When Christ is ours forevermore.

Chorus 1

O sing hallelujah!

Our hope springs eternal;

O sing hallelujah!

Now and ever we confess

Christ our hope in life and death.

Tag

Now and ever we confess

Christ our hope in life and death.

Verse 1

My soul finds rest in God alone

My rock and my salvation

A fortress strong against my foes

And I will not be shaken

Though lips may bless

And hearts may curse

And lies like arrows pierce me

I'll fix my heart on righteousness

I'll look to Him who hears me

Chorus 1

O praise Him hallelujah

My Delight and my Reward

Everlasting never failing

My Redeemer my God

Verse 2

Find rest my soul in God alone

Amid the world's temptations

When evil seeks to take a hold

I'll cling to my salvation

Though riches come and riches go

Don't set your heart upon them

The fields of hope in which I sow

Are harvested in heaven

Chorus 1

O praise Him hallelujah

My Delight and my Reward

Everlasting never failing

My Redeemer my God

Verse 3

I'll set my gaze on God alone

And trust in Him completely

With ev'ry day pour out my soul

And He will prove His mercy

Though life is but a fleeting breath

A sigh too brief to measure

My King has crushed

The curse of death

And I am His forever

Chorus 1

O praise Him hallelujah

My Delight and my Reward

Everlasting never failing

My Redeemer my God

Verse 1

Oh, to see the dawn

Of the darkest day,

Christ on the road to Calvary.

Tried by sinful men,

Torn and beaten then

Nailed to a cross of wood.

Chorus 1

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Christ became sin for us;

Took the blame, bore the wrath,

We stand forgiven at the cross.

Verse 2

Oh, to see the pain

Written on Your face,

Bearing the awesome weight of sin;

Ev'ry bitter thought,

Ev'ry evil deed

Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Chorus 1

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Christ became sin for us;

Took the blame, bore the wrath,

We stand forgiven at the cross.

Verse 3

Now the daylight flees,

Now the ground beneath

Quakes as its Maker bows His head.

Curtain torn in two,

Dead are raised to life,

"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Chorus 1

This, the pow'r of the cross:

Christ became sin for us;

Took the blame, bore the wrath,

We stand forgiven at the cross.

Verse 4

Oh, to see my name

Written in the wounds,

For through Your suff'ring I am free.

Death is crushed to death,

Life is mine to live,

Won through Your selfless love.

Chorus 2

This, the pow'r of the cross,

Son of God, slain for us.

What a love! What a cost!

We stand forgiven at the cross.

(Repeat)

Selections From the Book of Proverbs Part 2: Take Courage

Proverbs 25:26

Proverbs 29:25

I. Courage

Proverbs 25:26 (ESV)

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Proverbs 29:25 (ESV)

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

"For the righteous to be cowardly…to be afraid of opposing his wickedness and basely to yield to him, this is…a discouragement to good men, and strengthens the hands of sinners in their sins…"

–Matthew Henry

"When a servant of God, of standing and influence, crouches and falls down under the wicked, the transparency of his profession is grievously tarnished. Satan thus makes more effective use of God’s people than of his own."

–Charles Bridges

"Thus ‘the scandalous falls of good men are like a bag of poison cast by Satan into the spring, from whence the whole town is supplied with water.’"

–Charles Bridges

Romans 2:24 (ESV)

For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

"A good man neglecting to assert himself and to hold his own in the face of sinners, is as useless to society and as harmful to the good cause as a spring that has been defiled…The mouth of the righteous should be “a well of life”, wholesome, refreshing, helpful; his conduct should be consistent and straightforward, fearless in upbolding the right (Isa. 51:12, etc.), uncompromising in opposing sin. When such a man…yields to the wicked, compromises principle, no longer makes a stand for truth and purity and virtue, he loses his high character, brings a scandal on religion, and lowers his own spiritual nature. It is this moral cowardice which Christ so sternly rebukes (Matt. 10:33)…"

–The Pulpit Commentary

II. The Fear of Man

Proverbs 29:25 (ESV)

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

The fear of man ensnares:

Christians into a denial of their Lord.

professed Christians into a guilty compromise with the world.

Christians into a guilty silence and inactivity.

those who are not Christians into the rejection of Jesus Christ.

those, who really think they have accepted Christ, into not making a public confession of Christ.

those who start out in the Christian life from going on in it, because somebody says some discouraging thing.

people to their eternal ruin.

–R. A. Torrey

"Whatsoever takes up the heart most, which they attribute more to than to God, that is their idol, their god. A man’s love, a man’s fear, is his god. If a man fear greatness rather than God, that he had rather displease God than any great person, they are his idols for the time…It was the ruin of Herod to have that applause given to him, and taken by him, ‘The voice of God, and not of man,’ Acts 12:22. So for any to be blown up with flatterers, that lift them up above their due measure, it is an exceeding wrong to them..."

–Richard Sibbes

"Rulers ought to be men of courage, Exod. 18:21: ‘The fear of man bringeth a snare,’ Prov. 29:25, and is often the cause why justice is perverted. Pilate feared Cæsar, John 19:12, 13, and therefore, against his conscience, condemned Christ."

–George Swinnock

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Psalm 56:4 (ESV)

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

As morning dawns and day awakes,

To You I bring my need.

O gracious God, my source of strength, 

in You I live and breathe.

Each hour is Yours, by wisdom planned,

Each deed empowered by sovereign hands.

Renew my spirit, help me stand--

be glorified today.

As day unfolds, I seek your will

in all of life's demands.

And though the tempter tries me still,

I cling to your commands.

Let every effort of my life

display the matchless worth of Christ.

Make me a living sacrifice--

be glorified today.

As sun gives way to darkest night,

Your Spirit still is here.

And though my strength fades like the light, 

new mercies will appear.

I rest in you-- abide with me, 

until our trials and suffering

give way to final victory--

be glorified today.

I rest in you-- abide with me, 

until our trials and suffering

give way to final victory--

be glorified today.

Be glorified I pray!