WHERE THE BATTLE RAGES

17. SABBATH REST   Now God spoke on that very First Day Soon created this vast array  Six days work He completed  His power not a jot depleted   Then proclaimed a day of rest      The Seventh Day forever blessed That Sabbath ran through all the years Though in time its meaning blurred   When entered in the Promised Land Scarcely any did understand  A greater promise yet remained A rest they never had obtained   That which all the prophets craved To return and rest in being saved Ease for every sin-sick soul  A sacred peace the Devil stole   Then Jesus came and on the Cross Cancelled sin and purged our dross Paid the price we could not pay  And rose again a new First Day!    Upon that morn a garden tomb  Was made the New Creation's womb Creator working once again To build a world loosed from pain   So those that labour and are pressed...

13. THE FALLBACK VERSE   When all in life is said and done I oft do turn to Solomon Look to find that one proverb Will anxious thought fully curb   With sparks of trouble fully fanned And I just can’t understand When I against the unknown strive Nothing beats that Three and Five!   When my radar screen is black On that sure word I will fall back A verse that stands out clear and stark Never fails to hits the mark   So when the winds around you gust On Him you can still simply trust And though all comprehension fail He’ll ever guide you in your way.  

6. IT IS FINISHED   Nervous chatter, laughter terse  Jewish sniggers, Roman curse  The priests of God stand aloof Of sin-dead hearts the fullest proof He's all alone, despised of men  Suffers what’s beyond our ken Tis the fate that He did choose Dying here as King of the Jews Sun’s proud head now is bowed Ushers in a mournful drowse Beasts at rest and birds asleep A wary watch all Nature keeps Till air is rent by one last cry   Proclaims His end at last is nigh Pierces that light diminished Thunders out that it is finished Then with Heaven’s hosts aghast The Lord of Glory breathes His last.

23. SONS OF ISSACHAR   Now of men I know three kind  And not a fourth did ever find The first you'll spot in any queue   Those who plainly have no clue  Signs of times they never read  'Live today' their only creed Plough they on in daily grift   Only ever downward drift    Which brings me to the second sort  And these at least have taken thought  Have a ken for current times   For our plight can sound the chimes  Yet so oft they take a dismal view Refuse to see a clear way through   Prone to mope and full of gloom   Merely prophets of our doom    For this life we need the third  By these alone our hearts are stirred  Those who know and see a way Can lead us to a better day  Will be to men a guiding star  Just like those sons of Issachar  But sad to say there are so few Who know what Israel ought to do....