FASTING, REPENTANCE, AND SINGING PRAISE TO GOD The ninth chapter in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel, concerns a collective confession of sins, on the level of the whole nation, together with supplications to seek the grace of God. It is befitting of the people of God, as well as of every member of the church of the Lord Christ, to go back in history to remember the dealings of God with His believers (Deuteronomy 26: 5-9; Joshua 24: 1-3); the blessings of the Lord and His promises (6-15; Psalm 105); and, unfortunately, our stubbornness and our sins (16; Psalm 106). Through remembering the dealings of God along the history, the people were convinced of the necessity of repentance and confession; and perceived that they are people with a holy goal, consecrated to the account of the kingdom of God (2). Again they read the law (3), that reveals God’s gifts and promises. They confessed their sins, worshipped God, and praised Him (3-5). Led by Ezra to the perfect prayer, he concentrated their minds on God the Creator (6), He who set a covenant with Abraham and his descendants (7- 8)…………..The Exodus has been a preparation for the people to receive the law in Sinai But the people rejected the divine ordinances, and even attempted to return to Egypt (13-14) (16-17; Numbers 13: 14). Nevertheless, God forgave them their rebellion and their idol worship (18-19); and kept on teaching them by https://coptic-treasures.com/ His Spirit in Moses and others (20; Numbers 11: 16-17; Isaiah 63: 10-11). Ultimately, He brought them forth to the promised land with all its goods (21-25). The prayer also revealed the forgiveness of God, which would not be realized except as a response to a cry-out to enjoy the divine mercies; a cry-out that bears a true intention to repentance, namely to return to God; which was shown by Ezra and his people in this concern. ………. What binds the generations together, however, is the covenant (32), presented by God Himself. For once the covenant is set, the perpetual relationship between God and the people is realized. Yet, man is committed to abide to this covenant, and to renew it from time to time; not only on the individual level, but also on that of the whole congregation. That is the perpetual work of the church; to renew the covenant, written by God the Father, by the blood of His only begotten Son on the cross. As God remains faithful; the church is committed to exhort her children to be faithful, as well, in fulfilling the covenant. After a short interval after the Feast, came the great day of humiliation. Here the people, led by the Levites, separated themselves completely from anything contrary to the covenant; and delivered themselves to confess humbly before God. This chapter presents a magnificent prayer they raised, specially prepared for them. and was used by all. 1- A repentance and a return to God 1 - 3 2- A call to praise God 4 - 5 3- A collective praise of God 6 4- A divine promise to Abraham 7 - 8 5- The Exodus of the children of Israel 9 - 10 6- Crossing over the Red Sea 11 7- The divine care in the wilderness 12 https://coptic-treasures.com/ 8- God gives them the law 13 - 14 9- God cares for the people’s needs 14 10-The people’s rebellion 15 - 18 11-God’s multitudes of mercies 19 - 21 12- In the promised land 22 - 31 13-A confession of sins 32 - 37 14-The renewal of the covenant 38 1- A REPENTANCE AND A RETURN TO GOD: “Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads” (1) According to some, this text refers to “a day of repentance”. The “Feast of the Trumpets” was on the first day of this month; “the Feast of the Tabernacles” starts on the fourteenth day. continues for seven days, and ends on the twenty second day. On the twenty-third day, men separated themselves from their foreign wives, and their children from them. And on the twenty-fourth day, they consecrated a day for fasting and confession of sins, together with reading the law; and ended it by the renewal of the covenant. The month of ‘Chislev’, is considered as a moth of fasting (Zechariah 7: 5) The sackcloth, made of the hide of goats, covers the bare parts of the loins, during the time of sorrow and remorse. Putting dust on the heads is a sign of sorrow; referred to in Joshua 7: 6; Lamentations 2: 10; Ezra 27; 30; 2 Samuel 13: 19; Job 2: 12. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Some fast from eating meat, and other food items, and from drinking wine. Some fast by setting a watch for their mouth, not to utter any evil word; Some fast from anger, and evil desires; Some fast by liberating themselves from the bondage of possessions. Some fast from sleeping, by watching the night in prayer Some fast by repenting, to please God by their remorse Some gather all that together as one fast. Whoever vows to fast from all that, then started gradually to absolve for himself one after another, his fast will not be counted, and his sin will be great. + Without the purity of heart, fast will not be well received; …….. It is better for man to cleanse his heart, keep his tongue and his hands away from evil ……… It is not befitting of man to mix the honey with myrrh; ……….. If Fasting from bread and water, man should not mix his fast with blasphemy and curses; ………Your mouth is the door of your house, the temple of God; It is nit befitting to bring trash and mire out of the door through which the King enters. He who fasts from evil, and takes communion in the body and blood of Christ, Let him be aware that, it is the Son of the King who entered his mouth; So it is unbefitting for unclean words to come out of it. https://coptic-treasures.com/ (St. Aphrahat) “Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers” (2) It is amazing how, listening to the Holy Book and understanding it, have motivated them to have a life of joy with the Lord; and how having enjoyed the joyful fellowship with the Lord, they could not any more endure sin; they put on sackcloth, fasted, and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. They cut off every fellowship with the evil world, after their marriage to pagan wives destroyed their relationship with God. Their joy in the Lord that satisfied them, made them reject evil and uncleanness, and likening the people of this world. The Jews confessed their sins on the individual level before the priest, as well as on the collective level, and offered sacrifices on them. For as long as three hours the people stood up listening to the Holy Books and their interpretation; and three more hours in worshipping the Lord (3) In Ezra 9 we saw the leaders approach Ezra to say: “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the land; ………….. so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples those lands. Indeed the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass” . When Ezra heard this thing, he tore his garment and his robe, and plucked out some of the hair of his head and beard, and sat down astonished, for the leaders have fallen in this sin, and the people followed suit. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Marrying pagan wives was considered a marital treason against the Lord Himself; for the people represented the bride committed to unite with Him through the holy life. While Ezra plucked out some of the hair of his own head and beard, Nehemiah, on the other hand, “contented with (those who have done this), cursed them, struck some of them, and pulled out some of their hair” (Nehemiah 13: 25). The reform of this situation started in Ezra 10: 3, when they made a covenant with their God to put away all those wives and those who have been born to them. But it so seems that this talk is about some other men who married pagan wives and were not previously known, or those who, after they separated from their foreign wives in the days of Ezra have received them again. Now, those present, confessed that their fathers have fallen in this sin before them, for which they suffered chastisement; They, however, did not learn from the lesson of their fathers, but sinned before God as their fathers did. + In his psalm, David says: “I acknowledged my sin to You; and my iniquity I have not hidden; ………..and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32: 5). Behold, you see that whoever proclaims his sin is qualified to be forgiven. For Satan, then, cannot accuse us, if we accuse ourselves; which benefits us in our salvation. But if we delay, Satan will accuse us, and we shall be delivered to chastisement. (The scholar Origen) + The righteous acknowledges his weakness, and the wise knows it; whereas the foolish does not. Indeed the wise moves to repent his sins, whereas the foolish finds pleasure in them. The righteous accuses himself; whereas the wicked gives excuses The righteous hastens to https://coptic-treasures.com/ come forward to confess his sins, before anyone accuses him of them; whereas the wicked intends to cover them up. From the beginning, the former hastens to proclaim his evil deed, whereas the later intends, by his much talk, to accuse the others to cover up his own evil deeds (St. Ambrose) + On one aspect, do not commend yourself, and do not push others do that. Don’t listen to the unbefitting talk. Do your best to hide your own exalted talents. ………….And on another aspect, if you fall into a sin, hasten to accuse yourself; and do not wait until others accuse you; You would then be like someone who starts his defense before the judge by accusing himself; or like the righteous ‘Job’ who did that before all the people of the city (Job 31: 34). (St. Basil the Great) + When you commit a sin, do not wait until someone accuses you, but even before standing before the judge, it is befitting of you to condemn what you did. For then, it would only concern reforming the harm you have done and confessed………… Peter has committed a great sin by denying his Lord; but before anyone would accuse him, he hastened to confess his sin , and bitterly wept (Matthew 26: 69-75; Mark 14: 66-72). By that he cleansed the sin of his denial. (St. John Chrysostom) https://coptic-treasures.com/ + Blessed is he who acknowledges his sin; as Paul did, saying: “I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle; because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15L 9). If the apostle Paul presents such a confession, how much more is it befitting of me, a sinner? (St. Jerome) “And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for one–fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God” (3). They dedicated the whole day to return to God; they stopped their daily work, and spent one fourth of the day to listen to the Word of God; and the other fourth to praise and to worship God. None of them complained being bored because of the long day. ………. Confession of the sin by a contrite heart, together with continuing to read the law, and to listen to it, stirred up in them the spirit of thanksgiving to God. It is as though the tears of sorrow on their sins, mixed with those of joy for the mercies of God, the Forgiver of sins……….. Whenever man confesses his sin and offers a true repentance with a contrite heart; his soul would exult by the forgiveness of his sins. + It is of great benefit to read in the Holy Book; It makes the soul prudent; directs the Spirit toward heaven; moves man to give thanks to God; destroys the evil desire for the earthly things; and exhorts our minds to contemplate deeply in the other world. + It is not possible for whoever enjoyed the activity of the Word of God, to remain in his present lowly condition; but he would rather seek to have two https://coptic-treasures.com/ wings by which to soar up high, to discover the unlimited light of the good things. + It is written: “In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking” (Proverb 10: 19). I wish my talk would be only to preach Your Word, and to praise You; For then, I would not only avoid sin, however much is my talk, but I shall earn a good reward. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 2- A CALL TO PRAISE GOD:. “ Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the LORD their God: (4) The stairs probably refer to those leading up to the platform mentioned in 8: 4. They cried out with a loud voice; for feeling the heavy burden of their sins, The Levites called the people to give thanks to God; and all stood in the presence of the Lord, seeking with their whole hearts to dedicate their life to Him. In this praise it is noticed: a- They perceived the glorious name of the everlasting God, exalted above all blessing and praise (9: 5). https://coptic-treasures.com/ b- God is the only Creator, who cares for all the heavenly and the earthly creation (9: 6); “in whom all things consist” (Colossians 1: 17); “Who upholds all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrew 1: 3); For our sake He created the world, and for our sake He cares for it. It is therefore befitting of us to consecrate ourselves to Him who created and cares for us. On another aspect, if our God is the Almighty, and the Keeper of the world, He would be capable of solving all our problems; and nothing would be impossible for Him. c- God chose Abram (7); intended to give the inheritance to his descendants; and fulfilled His promise (8). He seeks from everyone to enter with Him into the new covenant through the cross. d- Caring for His enslaved people (9), He led them by Himself, shadowing upon them as a cloud by day, and lighting the way before them by a pillar of light by night. He feels our sufferings, and intends to liberate us, and to take us away from the servitude of the devil, and to bring us forth into His heavenly inheritance; accompanying us in the wilderness of this world. In the wilderness, all along forty years, they were in need on nothing (21); their feet were nor swollen by long walking; and, according to the apostle: “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4: 19). “And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God forever and ever!; Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise” (5) https://coptic-treasures.com/ The repetition of the words “The Levites”, made some believe that, following a collective assembly of the whole people, the congregation were divided into eight groups, each under the leadership of a Levite. When the law was read by Ezra all were together; and with giving praise, the congregation were divided into groups. If fasting is bound to repentance and the confession of sins, it should also be bound to praising God, the Forgiver of sins, and glorifying Him on His compassionate dealings with us and with our fathers. When they cried out with a loud voice, they probably have fallen down to the ground with a contrite heart; hence the Levites told them to stand up and bless the Lord with the spirit of joy and exultation. In this praise they remembered God’s dealings with them, the flood of His grace upon them, and upon their fathers, through the creation, in crossing over the Red Sea; in the wilderness, and Sinai; in invading Canaan; in the era of the judges, through the prophets; and ultimately in the present time. According to some, the Levites told the people to stand up to praise the Lord with a kindled spirit, and a fiery heart; for singing praise while sitting, bears a kind of disrespect, if there is no medical cause to sit down. + It is befitting for the heart of the Christian and his mouth, not to cease praising God; He should praise Him not only in the time of joy, and grumble against Him in that of affliction. (St. Augustine) 3- A COLLECTIVE PRAISE TO GOD: https://coptic-treasures.com/ “You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven,the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. the host of heaven worships You” (6) “The hosts of heaven”, refers to the angels (1 king 22: 19; Psalm 103: 20-21; 148: 2). They should start by glorifying God who, alone, dwells among His people; the Creator of heavens with all their hosts; and the earth with everything on it. The heavenly and the earthly creation would thus join together to sing praise to God; all forming together a musical choir, presenting a symphony with joy and gladness. According to some, there is a third heaven, as it came in 1 Corinthians 12: 2.), that the Old Testament refers to three heavens: the first where the birds fly; the second, where the stars are; and the third, where the throne of God is found, which is also called “the heaven of heavens”. + O High One, the unsearchable, who sits on the chariot, Give me, I pray, Your Word to preach to the whole earth, that You are omnipresent. O, Hidden One, higher than the high creatures bearing Your throne; I wish You choose me to sing Your praise among the earthly creatures, faithful to You; O Eternal One, who alone knows Himself; How could my tongue not serve You, by praising Your goodness? O Fearful One, whom the sun could not behold him; Let the mind meditate in You, and utter praise for the greatness of Your glory; https://coptic-treasures.com/ O, who is carried by the cherubim, about whom the earthly creatures cannot speak; Speak in me, for the sake of Your mercies; O Mighty One above all the heavenly ranks; move my voice to utter a sweet glorification; As my mouth is unable to glorify You, Create for me a new mouth that can; Let me have the chosen lip You promised to grant Your prophets, lo utter about Your divinity, with love and wisdom; The world is so small; Where can man go to seek You? Yet You are close to him who seeks to get attached to You. (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi) 4- A DIVINE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM: “You are the LORD God, who chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and gave him the name Abraham” (7) God changed the name ‘Abram’, namely (God is glorified) to ‘Abraham’, namely (Father of a multitude) (Genesis 17: 4-5). In praising God we count His dealings with all humanity, as though with the present church, and even with everyone of its members.. He started here by Abraham whom they cherish as the spiritual father of all believers, whom God https://coptic-treasures.com/ changed his name from being ‘just a father’, to being ‘the father of all’, namely, his heart is so wide to accommodate the multitude. That is how every believer beseeches God to grant him what He did to Abraham, a kind of love to embraced all mankind if possible. By this the believer is qualified to enjoy the blessings of the new covenant in the worthiness of the blood of Christ. + It was not possible for Abram when he still bore the old name of his physical birth to receive the covenant of God and the sign of the circumcision. But once he has forsaken his land and his kinsmen, he responded to a more holy relationship, he received at the time. First God said to him: “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham” (Genesis 17: 5). Then he instantly received the covenant with God, and the circumcision as a sign of faith; something that he could not receive while still being in his father’s house, and while his name was still ‘Abram’. (The scholar Origen) + God changed Abram’s name, adding to it only one letter, to become ‘Abraham’; namely from being just a ‘father’, to become an exalted “father of a multitude”, a chosen father.. (St. Ambrose) https://coptic-treasures.com/ “You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, And the Girgashites— to give it to his descendants. You have performed Your words, for You are righteous” (8) “Faithful”, was rarely used with individuals, like Moses (Numbers 12: 7) Abraham was faithful in believing that God will grant him a son (Genesis 19: 6); and in his serious intention to offer his son a sacrifice to God (Genesis 22). “For you are Righteous”, here refers to the holiness of God and His faithfulness, in spite of our unworthiness (Isaiah 6: 1-5; Luke 5: 80. God, faithful in His promises; wishes to pour the spirit of faithfulness in His believers, so that the believer would hear the divine voice bless him, saying: Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25: 23) 5- THE EXODUS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL: “You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red Sea” (9) God allowed for their fathers to be humiliated by bondage in the land of Egypt, to let them cry out to God, who, alone could hear the moans of the heart, and its hidden cries; and grant them an amazing salvation. https://coptic-treasures.com/ It was said: “The Lord said: ‘I have surely seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians , and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land” (Exodus 3: 7-8) A great difference between the cries of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cries of the children of Israel. About the former it was written: “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave” (Genesis 18: 20) + The cry of the children of Israel here is not like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, whose evil was without shame or fear. (St. Augustine) . You showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants, and against all the people of his land. for You knew that they acted proudly against them. so You made a name for Yourself, as it is this day” (10) The signs and wonders here concern the events of the exodus; in particular the ten plagues (Exodus 7: 3; Deuteronomy 4: 34; 6: 22; 7: 19)……….. If God allowed for them to be humiliated by Pharaoh; He could have saved them from it in an instant; but He allowed for the ten plagues for the sake of Pharaoh and his servants, in the hope that they might come to perceive their faults and repent. God showed such a longsuffering on the wicked, that Pharaoh himself was committed to confess that God is Righteous, and that he and his men have done wrong to Him………… In an amazing wisdom, in longsuffering, with love for mankind, God dealt with them. https://coptic-treasures.com/ If God has shown such longsuffering on the tyrant Pharaoh, how much more would He show toward His people, to make them return to Him with repentance? + We used to sing in the praise, saying: [God is faithful and just]. We therefore, should believe that Pharaoh became cruel for the sake of God’s longsuffering, and not because of his own power. This fact we clearly know from what he said when he was punished; when justice committed him to proclaim: “The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked” (Exodus 9: 27)…….. How could a Christian complain that God is oppressive; if the wicked king say that He is righteous? (Father Caesarius, bishop of Arl) 6- CROSSING OVER THE RED SEA: “ And You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors you threw into the deep, as a stone into the mighty waters” (11) God turned the sea which represented a hurdle before their escape from Pharaoh, into a tool for their salvation; having divided it , made it a wall on their right and left sides, blocked its waves and violent currents; whereas their pursuers perished in the same sea. God moves nature to the account of His believers; sometimes contrary to its own laws. The psalmist says: “He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters stand up like a heap” (Psalm 7*; 13). And the apostle says: “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were https://coptic-treasures.com/ under the cloud; all passed through the sea” (1 Corinthians 10: 1); and, “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned” (Hebrew 11: 290. And the prophet Isaiah says: “Thus says the Lord who makes a way in the sea, and a path through the mighty waters; who brings forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise. They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick)” (Isaiah 43: 16-17). As God liberated them from the bondage of Pharaoh; He also liberated them from the Babylonian captivity; both of which were to prepare them for the liberty to be enjoyed when the Savior brought us forth from the servitude of the devil to the glorious liberty of the children of God. + Even though, to keep the Egyptians from following His people, or to flee from the sea, “God took off their chariot wheels to keep them from following His people; so that they drove them with difficulty” (Exodus 15: 25); yet they did not fear God whose might they saw. (St. (Mar) Ephraim the Syrian) + That people of God, liberated from the wide and great Egypt, were themselves buried in the water of baptism, ………By the same secret of the Red Sea, namely by the water of baptism, they were consecrated by the blood of Christ; whereas there enemies, the Egyptians, namely the sins, perished when they followed them.. (St. Augustine) https://coptic-treasures.com/ 7- THE DIVINE CARE IN THE WILDERNESS: Here he concentrates on the heart which is strengthened by the contemplation in the divine glory, and the perpetual divine grace. By which it cries out inside, seeking the divine help. “Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, and by night with a pillar of fire, to give them light on the road which they should travel” (12) “You led them by day with a cloudy pillar” (Exodus 13: 21-22; Numbers 14: 14; Deuteronomy 1: 33). Their salvation did not stop at crossing over the Red Sea, and the perdition of Pharaoh; but God accompanied them all along their way, leading them and shading them from the heat of the sun by day by a cloudy pillar; and by a pillar of fire, to give them light to scatter the darkness by night. In His love, God intends to accompany His believers day and night, to lead and to guide them, until He brings them forth to the heavenly Canaan. 8- GOD GIVES THEM THE LAW: . “You came down also on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments” (13) In the midst of the wilderness God granted them the law; delivered it to the prophet Moses, to let the people be conformed to what is befitting of them being https://coptic-treasures.com/ the heavenly bride, that should bear the features of her Groom. Even though the commandment for them appeared to be difficult, yet it exposed their sins, and prepared them or be led to Christ the Savior, who gives the commandment an exalted sweetness, and grants us His righteousness.; “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10: 4). + The shining of the coming of Christ, the law of Moses was enlightened by the splendor of truth, and by lifting up the veil that covered the letter of the law, and locked it up; for everyone who believes in Him, and hides in himself the good things. https://coptic-treasures.com/ + The law and the commandments were given, to save the people from harm; And when liberty keeps herself by righteousness, (the man of dust) is raised up high, being justified; That is why Moses brought the two tablets down from Mount Sinai, to let the world live by the spiritual law; And as the life of men is dear to God, He taught them how to live with righteousness; And loving them even more, He sent His own Son to bring them up from the fall they were in. + The enlightening law that came down on Mount Sinai to scatter the darkness of paganism from the creation, used every way to prove that there is a Creator of the world ….The people were holding to the law as a light source.. (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi) comparing between delivering the law to Jacob’s daughter through the prophet Moses on Mount Sinai, and the descent of the Word of God Himself to be enjoyed by the daughter of the peoples, St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi says: + The former despised Him, with such majesty and splendor; and the later pure one, with ignorance, followed the Son; https://coptic-treasures.com/ He did not come down to her by angels, as He did on Mount Sinai, and was not proclaimed to her by the trumpets of the heavenly hosts; Nor by the mist, the cloud, or the flames of fire; Nor by filling the place with smoke; But the Son of the Most High came down on earth with humility; He appeared to humanity in swaddles, hunger, thirst, labor, and need; He was tempted in the desolate wilderness by the devil; and was called the ruler of the demons by the non-believers; The winds of doubt blew on Him from every direction; and was criticized because He ate together with the sinners; He was reviled because He mixed with the tax-collectors; and was told to pay tribute to the king; He had no place to lay His head His head; was girded with a towel like a slave; and washed the feet of the men of dust He created by His own hands; He was sold by those who accompanied Him; and was denied by those who followed Him; He was interrogated by the ruler like a criminal; He was scourged like a transgressor, while embracing a pillar, and clothed in the attire of shame by the wicked people; They twisted a crown of thorns and put it over his head; and He was smitten He was asked, ‘Prophesy, who is it that struck You? (Luke 22: 63) He came out carrying the tree of the cross on His shoulders; and was nailed on it by the wicked; https://coptic-treasures.com/ “For His clothing, they cast a lot” (Matthew 27: 35); and was offered a sponge with bitter vinegar to sip; His side was mercilessly pierced by a spear; was embalmed, wrapped, and buried. (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Serougi) 9- GOD CARES FOR THE PEOPLE’S NEEDS: “You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, and commanded them precepts, statutes and laws, by the hand of Moses Your servant” (14) Your holy Sabbath: (Exodus 8: 11; 31: 13-17; Deuteronomy 5: 15). It so seems that the Jews did not keep the Sabbath of the Lord in the land of captivity; and even after they returned to Jerusalem. ……… After talking about the divine statutes and judgment in a general way, He talks here about the commandment of keeping the Sabbath in particular, and calls it “Your Holy Sabbath”. If the word ‘Sabbath’ means (comfort), God gives His commandment, to have comfort in His people, being the heavenly father, whose children enjoy His feature of holiness; for them to have comfort in and by Him; for He is their comfort, peace, joy, and glory. “God rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done” (Genesis 2: 2), was a prophecy, looking at Christ, being physically worn out on Friday, to find comfort from the labor of the cross on Saturday. When they offered him bitter vinegar on the cross, He tasted it , and said: “It is finished” (John 19: 30); the https://coptic-treasures.com/ passion and the way of the cross was completed; …………Yet, the Sabbath did not put an end to Christ’s work, for He came to preach to the souls held prisoners in Hades; ……All the dead felt Him, and with His life-filled teaching, He dealt with the souls that rebelled against the teaching of the righteous ‘Noah’. ……….Jesus became a fetus, to be received by the fetuses (John the Baptist in his mother’s womb); And died to be received by the dead ………….. Elizabeth was barren; so was Hades. And from two barren bosoms, He was received by Adam and John the Baptist -- Adam from Hades, and John from Elizabeth. What our Lord did among the dead on the Sabbath was beyond description, and unutterable by the tongue. Hades was ridden by awe the day He entered it; the way a city is, before a king who comes to liberate those who are in its prisons.. On that very day (the Sabbath) our Lord had comfort from the passion of the cross to consummate the work of salvation; for the goal of His coming was to liberate the captives from the pit of perdition. Coming from the Father to the Virgin Mary; and from her to the mange; crucified between evildoers; endured, by His own free will, all what was prophesied by the prophets; He went through all that for the sake of that work He consummated on the Sabbath in Hades (the twenty-third message). + On the sad Sabbath, the Son of the free was among the dead; and on Sunday, He was celebrated in a procession by the heavenly hosts. Friday scattered the apostles by the sword; and Sunday brought them gladness, and gathered the disciples together. Yesterday, the apostles were hiding underground; and today they came out to watch with amazement Yesterday was defeat, scattering, and hiding; and today there are running, gathering, and preaching. https://coptic-treasures.com/ (St. (Mar) Jacob El-Seougi) 10- THE PEOPLE’S REBELLION: . “You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought them water out of the rock for their thirst, and told them to go in to possess the land which You had sworn to give them” (15) Go allows for us, in the wilderness of this world, to get hungry and thirsty, in order to experience the sweetness of satisfaction. He would never let us be in need of anything; He is our satisfaction in this world, and that to come. “Bread from heaven” (Exodus 16: 4; 10-35; Psalm 78: 24; 15: 40; John 6: 51, 32, 58). “Water out of the rock” (Exodus 17: 6; Numbers 20: 8; Psalm 105: 41). + The divine gifts did not soften their hearts. To make this clear by examples from all the nations:. Consider the gifts given to the Jews, (on their exodus from Egypt) Haven’t all seen how the creation served them; and haven’t they got new and unique ways of life?1 In the wilderness, they did not have to go the market, but got everything free; ……...they did not have to work the land for plantation, nor to use a https://coptic-treasures.com/ plow, nor to sow seeds; nor needed rain, wind, sun rays, etc.; They did not thresh wheat grains, nor used a winnow to separate the wheat from straw; nor needed a grinding stone, nor an oven; nor brought wood or fire into a house, nor needed any tools for weaving textiles, for building houses, or making shoes; etc. ………….. But the Word of God was everything for them. They had a banquet not prepared by human hand; without labor or strife; for that was the nature of the Manna, always new, and fresh + Christ came to be everything for you: the table, the clothing, the house, the Head, and the Origin. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3: 27). Do you wish to know how your clothing and food came to be?: Christ says: “As I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me” (John 6: 27) He came to be your dwelling place: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood, abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6” 56) To show that He is our origin, and our foundation, He says: “I am the vine, you are the branches” (John 15: 5) To show that He is your Brother, Friend, and Groom; He says: “No longer do I call you servants, but I have called you friends” (John 15: 15). Again the apostle Paul says: “For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11: 2); and, “… that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8: 29) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Not only Have we come to be His brethren, but His children as well; saying: “Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given Me” (Isaiah 8: 18). We have not only become His children, but “Now we are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12: 27) If the things I referred to are not enough to prove His love and compassion shown by Him toward us; He presents to us another thing more important, that He is our Head (Ephesians 1: 22-23). (St. John Chrysostom) ““But they and our fathers acted proudly, hardened their necks, and did not heed Your commandments” (16) They hardened their necks; an analogy to a stubborn bull resistant to its owner. + The unfaithful stubborn people most probably despised Moses, and almost stoned him to death; but in longsuffering he prayed for them to the Lord (Number14: 13). (Cyprian the martyr) + Every sin implies a disregard of the divine law; by which man exalts himself above the knowledge of God.. (St. Basil the Great) https://coptic-treasures.com/ “They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion; they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them” (17) “They refused to obey” (1 Samuel 8: 19; Jeremiah 11: 10) They were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them” (Psalm 6: 22) You are God, ready to pardon: (psalm 130: 4; Daniel 9: 9) Amazingly, man often, would rather return to bondage to his violent tyrant fellow man, than to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God, the Maker of wonders. Here, he refers to what came in the book of Numbers, when the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying: “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why had the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?. So they said to one another, ‘Let us select a leader and return to Egypt” (Numbers 13: 14) + I, the sinner, perpetually need treatment + Every time we receive Him (in Communion), we proclaim the death of the Lord. And by His death we proclaim the forgiveness of sins. If shedding blood is for the sake of the forgiveness of sins, it would be perpetually befitting of me to receive Him, to forgive my sins. https://coptic-treasures.com/ “Even when they made a molded calf for themselves, and said, ‘This is your god That brought you up out of Egypt,’ and worked great provocations” (18) Having rebelled against God their Savior, and forgot the wonders He has done among them, they wallowed in corruption, and in great provocation they made for themselves a molded calf (Exodus 32: 4-8; Deuteronomy 4: 16), a god for themselves, and counted it as the one who brought them out of Egypt. By their own free will they hardened their necks against God their Savior, and bowed them to the golden statue, the calf of Ebis, to enslave themselves to it. https://coptic-treasures.com/ + He who wallows in the mire pit, and sink in it, would fall in the nets of treason; for the people sat to eat and drink, and sought to have gods made for them. (St. Ambrose) 11- GOD’S MULTITUDES OF MERCIES: “Yet in Your manifold mercies You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, to lead them on the road; nor the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way they should go” (19) The word ‘mercy’ bears the meaning of deep compassion toward our beloved or those who are in need of our support. “You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst” (20) “Your good Spirit: God granted the seventy elders the same Spirit He granted to Moses, to let them carry together with him the same burdens; By that Spirit, they prophesied, and began to ordain the issues of the people who were increasing in evil and ungodliness (Numbers 11: 24-25). . “Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness; they https://coptic-treasures.com/ lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out , and their feet did not swell.” (21) They lacked nothing” (Deuteronomy 2: 7; 8: 4) Their clothes did not wear out” (Deuteronomy 29: 5) + Their clothes did not wear out with time; and their feet did not swell because of long walking. There is no mention of any physician or medications among them; yet they lost their natural weakness, as is written: “He brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes” (Psalm 105: 37)……….. The heat of the sun did not harm them, because there was a cloud that shaded them and provided them with a movable environment protecting their bodies…………… They did not need flames to scatter the darkness of the night, because they had a pillar of fire that performed two jobs: gave them light, and guided them to the right way in the wilderness, better than any human guide could do ……..They walked in the sea, as though on dry land, against the laws of nature ; ……… and when their enemies tried to follow them, the sea returned to its nature. So it became a chariot to the former, and a tomb to the later……….. The irrational sea played the role of the most clever judge: it was once a guard, and another time an avenger, both controversial roles on the same day. (St. John Chrysostom) https://coptic-treasures.com/ + The wicked unbeliever, even if we suppose that he is clothed with a heavenly body, he would remain naked; because he does nothing to earn the clothing of the inner man. (St. Dedymus the blind) 12- IN THE PROMISED LAND: “Moreover You gave them kingdoms and nations, and divided them into districts So they took possession of the land of Sihon, The land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan” (22) Saying: “Divided them into district”, probably refers to the region across the Jordan; for He led them all along the journey in the wilderness; and let them take possession of kingdoms and nations East and West of the Jordan. It was not easy for a people with no military experience since their first day in the land of Egypt, where they were no more than shepherded the sheep, to get continuous conquests on peoples and nations more experienced in war; they possessed even the land of ‘Sihon’, the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of the Og king of Bashan. Sihon: An Ammorite king who, attempting to prevent the Jews from passing through his land, on their way to the promised land, was defeated, and his land was given as a heritage to the tribes of Israel (Numbers 21: 21-29). He came to be an example of anyone who dares to oppose God and His people. And as said by the psalmist: “He defeated many nations , and slew mighty kings – Sihon king https://coptic-treasures.com/ of the Ammorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan; and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people” (Psalm 135: 10-12). Hashbon: the capital of Sihon king of the Ammorites. It was originally a possession of the Moabites; then was taken by the children of Israel under the leadership of the prophet Moses (Numbers 21: 25-26). Known nowadays as ‘Hasban’, is located on the border line between the two tribes of Gad and Reuben. Og” king of Bashan, a descendant of the Raphites; was of long stature, a mighty man of valor, and had a huge iron bed. He was slain by the children of Israel in Edrei, and they occupied his land.. “You also multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land which You had told their fathers to go in and possess” (23). “So the people went in And possessed the land; You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, The Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings And the people of the land, that they might do with them as they wished” )24) By that God’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled, and his descendants entered into the promised land (Genesis 22: 17; 26: 4; Exodus 32: 13; Deuteronomy 1: 8; 10: 22) . “You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 9: 3; Judges 1: 4) together with their kings (Deuteronomy 7: 24; Joshua 11: 12, 17).. https://coptic-treasures.com/ “And they took strong cities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all goods, cisterns already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and grew fat, and delighted themselves in Your great goodness” (25) This list of lands, cities, houses, etc. conforms to the list mentioned in the covenant of Sinai, and its renewal as it came in (Deuteronomy 6: 10-11; Joshua 24: 13). “the strong cities” refer to Jericho, Lechish, and Hazor. The cisterns already dug: As rain was scarce most of the year; every house was provided with a well or a cistern to store the rain water (2 kings 18: 31; Proverbs 5: 15). In the year 1200 BC, dams were erected to store the rain waters that fall on the hills of Judah. The most prominent trees of Palestine are Olive trees, Fig trees, Apple trees, Almond and walnut trees, berries, and pomegranates (Deuteronomy 8: 8; 2 kings 18: 32); Beside the palm trees that grow in the Valley of the Jordan. On entering into Canaan, God warned His people against cutting any fruit tree; for they had enough crops of everything to satisfy them and bring gladness to their life. . https://coptic-treasures.com/ “Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against You, cast Your law behind their backs and killed Your prophets, who testified against them to turn them to Yourself; and they worked great provocations” (26) Concerning casting the law behind their backs, and killing the prophets, working great provocations, see (1 kings 18: 4; 19: 10, 14; 2 Chronicles 24: 20-23; Jeremiah 26: 20-23); According to the early tradition, God continued to give, and Israel continued to deny. + “No prophet is accepted in his own country” (Luke 4: 24). As did Anathoth the home land of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 11: 24); and as it happened with Isaiah and the rest of the prophets, who were not accepted by the people of circumcision ………While we, who do not belong to the covenant, received Moses and the prophets who proclaimed Christ, by our whole hearts, contrary to the Jews who rejected Christ, and the testimony to Him. (The scholar Origen) . “ Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies, who oppressed them; and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to You, You heard from heaven; https://coptic-treasures.com/ and according to Your abundant mercies You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hand of their enemies” (27) You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hand of their enemies; mighty men of valor, like Gideon, Jephtah, and Samson, . “But after they had rest, They again did evil before You. Therefore You left them in the hand of their enemies, So that they had dominion over them; Yet when they returned and cried out to You, You heard from heaven; And many times You delivered them according to Your mercies” (28) The book of the Judges provides us with a record of the continuous and repetitive circles of God’s salvation work, and of the people’s revolts, once they have affliction; and when they cry out to Him, He sends to them a judge to deliver them; and so on, + The sin is so heavy that it need great mercies (St. Jerome) “And testified against them, that You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly, and did not heed Your commandments, but sinned against Your judgments, ‘which if a man does, he shall live by them. And they https://coptic-treasures.com/ shrugged their shoulders, stiffened their necks, and would not hear” (29). “ Yet for many years You had patience with them, and testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands” (30). “ Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; For You are God, gracious and merciful” (31). 13- A CONFESSION OF SINS: 2 “Now therefore, our God, The great, the mighty, and awesome God, Who keeps covenant and mercy: Do not let all the trouble seem small before You That has come upon us, Our kings and our princes, Our priests and our prophets, Our fathers and on all Your people, From the days of the kings of Assyria until this day” (32) After such a long history of God’s dealings with His people -- even though he did not refer to the periods of reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon -- he brings us forth to the present time. He mixes the past with the present, to make his talk more practical and living. For God, the Mighty and the Keeper of the covenant, who worked in history, still works (Deuteronomy 7: 9; 1 kings 8: 23; 2 Chronicles 6: 14). https://coptic-treasures.com/ Since the Assyrian invasion, the situation became serious. Successive afflictions came upon all categories, from the kings, to the rulers, the priests, the prophets, and the common people. + Faith bears two integral aspects: love and fear. I don’s fear my father, the way I fear a vicious wild beast; which I fear and hate; while my father I fear and love him at the same time……. My fear of punishment, is actually a love for myself through my fear. He who fears to disobey his father, therefore, loves himself…….Blessed is he who has the faith, for he bears both love and fear. (St. Clement of Alexandria) “ However You are just in all that has befallen us; For You have dealt faithfully, But we have done wickedly” (33) With the bitterness of affliction, Nehemiah confesses that God is righteous; and that what dwelt upon all is a natural fruit of iniquity.. “Neither our kings nor our princes, Our priests nor our fathers, Have kept Your law, Nor heeded Your commandments and Your testimonies, With which You testified against them” (34) Again, Nehemiah confesses that all could be consecrated; for within their hands are all the possibilities. But all refrained to heed God’ commandments and testimonies.. https://coptic-treasures.com/ “ For they have not served You in their kingdom, Or in the many good things that You gave them, Or in the large and rich land which You set before them; Nor did they turn from their wicked works” (35) Man often gets preoccupied with the blessings given to him By God, more than with God Himself, the Giver of the blessings; We often trust in our possessions and wealth than in Him who gave them to us. The good things of God refer to His goodness; for what He gives us is because of His goodness, namely His love. However, as the Good God Himself has come to us in flesh, and dwelt among us; by getting united with Him, we enjoy the spirit of goodness, and come to be an icon of Him. The large and rich land, He has set before them, refers to heaven, wide to accommodate all believers; and rich to pour upon them an abundance of the fruit of joy and peace. “Here we are, servants today! And the land that You gave to our fathers, To eat its fruit and its bounty, Here we are, servants in it!” (36) He who feeds upon sin and drinks it, will fall into its net; his will be dissolved and weakened; to find himself a servant of it in humiliation. Being not able to free himself of it, he even longs for it. ………….No wonder, for whoever is addicted to drugs, the more he uses it the more he comes to be its captive; and the more his longing for it will increase. + Everyone: a Jew, or a Greek, rich or poor, one of authority or a common man, an emperor or a beggar, “ whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” https://coptic-treasures.com/ (John 8: 34). Once man recognizes his servitude, he knows how to acquire liberty. He who is born free, then is captivated by the barbarians, he becomes a slave; and when someone who hears about him, and has compassion on him, goes to the barbarians and gives them a ransom to redeem him; he would truly take away oppression from him, and bring him back to liberty,…….. Therefore, you should not boast in yourself when you are redeemed; and you who redeemed, should not boast either; but both of you should run to the true Redeemer, who calls those in sin “its servants”/ Man fears to fall into captivity, brought over him by his iniquity. Why? …….Did He err, He who said: “Let the dead bury their own dead” (Matthew 8: 22)? ….. No! for all those under sin are dead; dead in their ministry, and ministers (servants) in their death. (St. Augustine) “And it yields much increase to the kings You have set over us, Because of our sins; Also they have dominion over our bodies and our cattle At their pleasure; And we are in great distress” (37) Who are those kings, set upon our bodies, and our cattle, but our evil desires and sins, before which we open the doors of our minds and hearts; to deliver to them the leadership of our inner man, and to let them enslave us according to their will. ………..According to the Evangelist St. John, Jesus said: “Most assuredly I say to you: Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8: 34). https://coptic-treasures.com/ + He is a slave! Not to another man, but to sin! Who would not be terrified by such words?....... Our Lord God grants us – You and I – to talk about this liberty with befitting words, and to search for it; in order to avoid falling into its servitude. How miserable is such servitude! ……… When man suffers under a wicked boss, he would seek to change him; ……To whom will the slave of sin resort? With whom will he seek salvation? Where will he flee? For he carries his mistress (namely the sin) wherever he goes…….. The evil conscience cannot flee from itself; There is nowhere it can go. Man cannot withdraw from himself; for the sin he commits is within him; he commits it to get some temporary carnal pleasure; but the pleasure will pass on, and the sin will stay; the sting will remain behind! ……..What a wicked servitude! Let us then all flee to the Lord Christ; and complain against sin to Him, being our Savior. Let us seek to be sold, for Him to save us with His blood; For the Lord says: “You have sold yourselves for nothing; And you shall be redeemed without money” (Isaiah 52: 3). You will be saved with no price on your part; So He says, because He has already paid it, not by money, but by His precious blood; otherwise we would remain needy slaves. (St. Augustine) + In case the carnal desires overcome us, and we came to be slaves in this battle, we shall not be carriers of the sign of liberty, nor that of power; and we shall be excluded from the strife against the spiritual hosts, as https://coptic-treasures.com/ unqualified slaves, with all the confusion that may cause; “For whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8: 34). The apostle warns us against being ‘adulterers’ (1 Corinthians 10: 8); and says: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man” (1 Corinthians 10: 13), because if we do not try to perceive the power of the mind, we shall not be qualified to enter into a stronger strife against evil on a higher level, if we fail to submit our weak body that resist the Spirit. + Even though the holy Baptism grants us complete liberty; yet man has absolute freedom of will; either to get himself enslaved again to evil desires, or to remain free to keep the commandments. https://coptic-treasures.com/ In case an evil thought sticks to the mind, it would be our own doing, and not against our will for the Book says that we are given authority to “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10: 5). For those who bring the evil thought into captivity, it would then be a sign of their love of God, and not of sin………The existence of evil thought is not a sin by itself, but the sin lies when the mind enter into a friendly and amiable relationship with it.; We would never have a long conversation with what we hate from our whole heart; unless we happen to have a hidden fellowship with it. Otherwise, why are we slothful toward it? (Father Mark the hermit) 14- THE RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT: . “And because of all this, We make a sure covenant and write it; Our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.” (38) Having presented a collective repentance, the people were committed to renew the covenant with God. Having confessed that they, like their fathers before them, have broken the covenant again and again, and did not show faithfulness, analogous to God’s faithfulness and longsuffering on them; they sought to put the covenant in writing, to sign and seal it by their leaders, Levites, and priests; to testify against them in the future if they break it again. God granted their fathers the promised land, and drove away before them peoples and nations, to let them live in a perfect liberty. But, even though they were already in the promised land, sin shackled them in the bonds of servitude https://coptic-treasures.com/ anew. Man, therefore, was nit in need of changing his location, as much as of renewing his depths, to enjoy the glorious liberty of he children of God. ------------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM NEHEMIAH 9 LET ME RETURN TO YOU, O GREAT IN MERCIES + Grant me, O Lord, to fast from everything; For You are my satisfaction; I shall never live in need; As long as You fill all my void; Acquiring You, I shall be in need of nothing more. + Let me arise from my slothfulness, and sit at Your feet together wit Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus; To hear Your voice, and to enjoy the sweetness of Your commandment; For”Your yoke is easy, and Your burden is light” (Matthew 11: 30). Your commandment kindles my whole depths with the fire of Your love; Together with the whole creation I partake of singing Your praise O Creator, great with Your love; O Savior, who opens the gates of heaven before us; How shall we pay Your abundant goodness back? https://coptic-treasures.com/ + Going back to the past, I see all history within Your hands; You gave my father Abram a new name; By which he got the fatherhood of all believers. And Sarai became the mother of them all; Grant me love for everyone Make me worthy of carrying Your icon, O Love! + You let my fathers in need of nothing; You poured mercies over them; You gave them more than what they asked, and beyond what they sought; You were always longsuffering on them; But they paid You back with murmur and denial; Your cross takes my denial away from me; Your cross carries me into Your bosom; Your cross liberates me from the servitude of sin. + You saved Your people from the bondage of Pharaoh; And liberated them from the captivity of Babylon; And behold, You liberate them now from the bondage of the devil; By You, I deny the devil and all his hosts; By You I enjoy Your righteousness, and live with You; By You I enjoy unceasing conquests. https://coptic-treasures.com/ + Let me return to You, and be attached to You; Let Your Holy Spirit lead me; Let Him perpetually renew my depths; Let Him lift me up from glory to glory; Until the day I encounter You.
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