The Silences of heaven

Genesis 15.13  "four hundred years" Israel’s corporate life began with four
centuries of silence and oppression, when Egypt gave them the doubled
task, and Heaven grew strangely still, giving them neither voice nor
vision.

Is it but one of the chance repetitions of history that Israel’s
national life should end, too, with four hundred years of silence?
for such is the coincidence, if, indeed, we may not call it something
more.

It is, however, just such a coincidence as the Hebrew mind, quick to
trace resemblances and to discern signs, would grasp firmly and
eagerly.

It would revive their long-deferred and dying hopes, overlaying the
near future with its gold. Possibly it was this very coincidence that
now transformed their hope into expectation, and set their hearts
listening for the advent of the Messiah.

Did not Moses come when the task was doubled? And was not the four
hundred years silence broken by the thunders of the Exodus, as the I
AM, once again asserting Himself, "sent redemption to His people?"

And so, counting back their silent year’s since Heaven’s last voice
came to them through their prophet Malachi, they caught in its very
silences a sound of hope, the footfall of the forerunner, and the
voice of the coming Lord.

But where, and how, shall the long silence be broken? We must go for
our answer and here, again, we see a correspondence between the new
Exodus and the old to the tribe of Levi, and to the house of Amram
and Jochebed.

Expositor’s Bible, Luke's Gospel 1

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Requires, your own 'old' piano for homework.

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Hymn 35 in the Little Flock Hymn Book

035, 1903, 1932, 1951, 1962, 1973, 2001.	Rubie, Edward C, 1846-1942, see also 'Poems', local in Sidcup, C.M.
1
O God of love, how measureless	Ps. 139.17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Thy thoughts to us are shown!	Ps 40:5 Thou, O Jehovah my God, hast multiplied thy marvellous works, and thy thoughts toward us: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee; would I declare and speak [them], they are more than can be numbered.
More precious they than tongue can tell,	Ps. 19.10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb
Their fulness none have known.	Rom 11.34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
2
We can but bless Thee for the light	Ps 36.9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light
In which Thou art revealed,	2Cor 4.6 God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
The favour of Thy countenance	Ps 4:6 Lift up upon us the light of thy countenance, O Jehovah.
To those Thy love has sealed.	Eph 4.30 the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption
3
We boast in Thee, Thou source of good,	Rom 5.11 we are making our boast in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ
Thy glory fills our sight;	Heb 2.9 we see Jesus... crowned with glory and honour
Now reconciled through Jesus' death,	Rom 5.10 we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son
We praise with great delight.	Ps 106.47 to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise
4
Our hearts are more than filled with joy;	Ps 126.1-3 When Jehovah turned the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing: then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them. Jehovah hath done great things for us; and we are joyful.
Our cup indeed runs o'er;	Ps 23.5 my cup runneth over
And, Father, in Thy presence now	Lu 1.74,75 might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him
We worship and adore.	Jude 1.25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen

Recorder Case, Great Bass, Bass, Tenor, Treble and Descant

I searched in vain for a case to hold a full set of recorders, from Descant down to Great Bass. I fitted out a Peavey electric guitar case as seen in the photograph. The case is about 49" long 16" wide and 6" deep.

I know this is off-message, but seeing as it is a sort of world premier,  I wanted to show it could be done.

Annotated hymn from the Little Flock Hymn Book

034, 1951, 1962, 1973, 2001.	Chater, Edward Henry 1845-1915, see also 'Poems', 8.8.8.8.8.8.
1
The Saviour, Jesus, who is He?	Mt 22.42 What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?
The mighty God, a Man become!	1Tim 3.16 God was manifest in the flesh
A Saviour now for such as we,	Heb 7.26 For such an high priest became us
To bring to God the wand'rers home.	1Peter 2.25 ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls
His blood was shed upon the tree,	John 19.34 one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water
To cleanse from sin and make us free.	1John 1.7 the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin
2
In this poor world thou'lt find no rest;	Isa 57.20 the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest
Then from Thy fruitless strivings cease!	Ex 14.13 Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD
Thou'lt find it in the Saviour blest	Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
There shall thy soul have perfect peace.	Eph 2.14 For he is our peace
The Saviour, Jesus, who is He?	Titus 2.13 the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
The One who gave himself for me!	Gal 2.20 the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me

The Guest

Love

Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,

Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack

From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,

If I lack'd anything.

A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here:

Love said, You shall be he.

I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,

I cannot look on thee.

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,

Who made the eyes but I?

Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame

Go where it doth deserve.

And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame?

My dear, then I will serve.

You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat:

So I did sit and eat.

George Herbert 1593-1633

The Visitor

"I will come in to him".     Revelation 3:20

Come in, O come! The door stands open now;

I knew Thy voice; Lord Jesus, it was Thou;

The sun has set long since; the storms begin;

'Tis time for Thee, my Saviour; O come in!

Come, even now. But think not here to find

A lodging, Lord, and converse, to Thy mind:

The lamp burns low; the hearth is chill and pale;

Wet through the broken casement pours the gale.

Alas, ill-order'd shews the dreary room;

The household-stuff lies heap'd amidst the gloom;

The table empty stands, the couch undress'd;

Ah, what a welcome for the Eternal Guest!

Yet welcome, and to-night; this doeful scene

Is e'en itself my cause to hail Thee in;

This dark confusion e'en at once demands

Thine one bright presence, Lord, and ordering hands.

I seek no more to alter things, or mend,

Before the coming of so great a Friend:

All were at best unseemly; and 't were ill

Beyond all else to keep Thee waiting still.

Then, as Thou art, all holiness and bliss,

Come in, and see my chamber as it is;

I bid Thee welcome boldly, in the name

Of Thy great glory and my want and shame.

Come, not to find, but make, this troubled heart

A dwelling worthy of Thee as Thou art;

To chase the gloom, the terror, and the sin,

Come, all Thyself, yea come, Lord Jesus, in!

Handley Carr Glyn Moule (born Fordington, Dorchester, 23 December 1841; died 8 May 1920, Cambridge) was a

theologian, writer, poet, and Bishop of Durham from 1901-1920.