[185]. Poem Message – Mouths That Sham Rejoicing

[185]. POEM MESSAGE – MOUTHS THAT SHAM REJOICING

When I was young we generally could trust what people said to us. There was a great deal of honesty back then (1950s) but that has evaporated. People tell us barefaced lies and that is now the way of the world. That makes the Christian life even more distinctive from the outside world. Christians are not goodies-goodies, but those who are redeemed by the One who is the Truth.

It seems to be a behaviour from many that they tell you what they think you want to hear rather than what the truth really is. They are liars and pretenders, and are false in witness. We can’t expect any better for that is how things now are. Christians must not deal that way with each other, but it happens sadly.

In churches there are so many that sing words of commitment and worship, but they are not committed and they do not worship. They are pretenders.

The old hymns were often a challenge to our souls. For example, this one –

“All to Jesus I surrender

All to Him I freely give”

And this one too –

“Take my life and let it be

Consecrated Lord to Thee.”

It is worthless to sing that when you don’t believe it, or you don’t intend acting on the words.

The poem is about mouths that sham rejoicing. With the modern stuff called “Christian songs” there is no commitment or depth in the Christian life and people can mouth the words without challenge.

The Lord knows the heart and therefore the insincerity of so much that happens in “worship” and living. Worship is not about me; it is about the Lord.

The third stanza of this poem opens up the problem which must be fixed so that the final stanza can be owned sincerely. The final one starts with – “THEN you’ll sing your praise with joy;

With heart and mind accord.”

My hope in this poem is that each will search his own heart with honesty and come humbly to the Lord in uprightness and not in hypocrisy.

{{Jeremiah 7:9-10 Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have not known, THEN COME AND STAND BEFORE ME IN THIS HOUSE, WHICH IS CALLED BY MY NAME, AND SAY, ‘We are delivered!’ - that you may do all these abominations?}}

{{Matthew 15:8-9 “THIS PEOPLE HONOURS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME, but in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’”}}

The poem is about those who pretend to rejoice but it is not for real. It is all pretence. And may fool men but it does not fool God.

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MOUTHS THAT SHAM REJOICING

Praise the Lord with heart and mind,

Not merely with the voice.

Look closely, and you may find

You truly don’t rejoice.

Mouthing words without the heart,

Is nothing but a sham.

Words alone can set apart

A heart whose door you slam.

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Praise the Lord with heart and mind.

The mind will seek the Lord.

Words without the mind are blind,

Repetitive discord.

Honesty of heart will seek

The treasures of our King.

Strong the praise from hearts so meek,

In gladness true, will ring.

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Sing not the words of God’s praise

If your life is not right.

Pretend not, your voice to raise.

For you are in God’s sight.

Mouthing empty words is fake.

With God renew your walk.

Sin you hold you must forsake,

And with God you must talk.

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Then you’ll sing your praise with joy;

With heart and mind accord.

Tongue and voice you will employ,

To praise the blesséd Lord.

Those who put God first will live

Lives, that for God resound.

Praise and honour they will give;

Their songs to God abound.

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22 February 2022 Ronald Ferguson Metre = 7-6 throughout ABABCDCD