Foundations, 5 -- The Builder.

unless the LORD builds the house

those who build it, those who build it

labor in vain

unless the LORD guards the gate

those who guard it, those who guard it

stay awake in vain 

// ps 127 // is 42

who is near you? the Lord is near you
the Lord of pity, the trampled beauty
he will not leave you, will not forsake you
he brings forth justice
hes not discouraged

i rise up early and lay my head late

he gives rest

he gives rest

i eat the bread of my toil’s anxiousness

he gives sleep

he gives sleep

ive greatly labored but have not achieved

he is your reward

he is your reward

i chose a path but my feet were misled
i host the banquet but i am not filled
i have twice given but have not once received

he will repay you

he will repay you

ive greatly suffered and seen no relief
ive seen a mother abandon her baby
ive seen a lover betrayed and i am she

he groans out for you

he groans out for you

Ive called you righteous
I will take your hand
this I promise
my own covenant
you will see, o blind men
release the captives
come out of the dungeon
those who sit in darkness
I will march out
I will cry out
I will lead you
these things I will do

Foundations, 4.

"How Firm a Foundation" has been one of my favorite hymns since the it was taught to me at children's BSF, where my mom would drag my easily bored second grade self.  This and "To God Be the Glory" are the only two things that I remember from BSF.  Out of all that they tried to teach me anyway--I also remember an old lady songteacher with a peppery frizz head of hair who smelled like cats and butter, my boredom and refusal to go on Tuesday weeknights, and my brother's variations on the themes, the only other fruits of BSF for my unregenerate child self.

But over the years, its verses have stayed with me.  This too, is grace.  The true words are trusty to fill me with confidence in desert seasons such as this past week since finding out on Wednesday, such as Lent around the corner, and such as... oh just... all of life, you know, no big deal.

For one, we sing, but the bulk of it is from the perspective of God speaking to us, singing over us.  Not of any worthy words we can offer to Him.  My faithfulness, He says, not your faith, will be your sustenance.

He commands His own to buck up, fear not.  Because His sustaining self is there with us, here by us,  Emmanuel, to uphold and strengthen and purify--to prove Himself.  The desert is His task and He is the one who will find our way home.

He is trustworthy, the desert rocks cry.

How Firm a Foundation from The Line via Michael

I haven't come across a fair cover on the interwebs until this one. Give it a spin and send other good renditions my way!

Desert, 3.

5. Resolved, to sing to the LORD a new song, for My Help and My Deliverer drew me up from the desert pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a solid rock, making my steps sure; He put a new song in my mouth and He will surely always renew the song of the redeemed.

Desert, 2.

The North American Review, January 1834, remembers William Cowper's bouts of temporary insanity:

"Spent in heavy insensibility, ... he felt for himself a contempt not to be expressed or imagined ... he felt as if he had offended God so deeply that his guilt could never be forgiven... Madness was not far off, or rather madness was already come."

The article ultimately described not the poet's madness, but how God prevented Cowper--from destroying himself (Psalm 124).

***

It would hurt to get disciplined by this desert branch.
It would prob draw blood.
Photo taken in Arizona, February 2010.

***

Among William Cowper's first compositions after his first descent into despair was "There is a fountain,"  which celebrated that, and how, God could remove the stain of even the guiltiest sin.

there is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins.

and sinners plunged beneath that flood

lose all their guilty stains!

lose all their guilty stains!

lose all their guilty stains!

and sinners plunged beneath that flood

lose all their guilty stains!

Desert, 1.

My desert valley dried my bones and drove me to a spring.

In foolish desperate hopes that there even was a fountain,
I'd have settled for muddy water, or laudanum.

I'd have settled for water, but He poured out His blood.

There is a fountain.

***
Praise for the Fountain Opened

the dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day.

and there have i, though vile as he,

washed all my sins away!

washed all my sins away!

washed all my sins away!

and there have I, though vile as he,

washed all my sins away!

Click to listen.  Aretha Franklin does it good.

Foundations, 3.

Stand firm and root deeply in the promises of God:

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Because of who You are,
Because You loved me first,
all things (must) work for my good.

Foundations, 2.

How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord

Lord the ground is shifting beneath me
Rugs, ashes, tile, asphalt
Crawl, tear, and tangle like stormy waves

is laid for your faith in his excellent Word

but Your Word o Lord stands forever
my heart is willing
Your directions feel far

What more can He say than to you He has said?

hide me in all that cannot be sifted or shaken
that I might hear
the deafening still silence of Your Godness

to you who for refuge to Jesus has fled

that I might fear You
sleep soundly in You tonight
love You into tomorrow
every day
until the day
and every day
thereafter