God’s Garden of Beauty
Audio MP3

God’s garden of beauty is graced by a flower,
  Of sweetest perfume, bright and fairer than morn,
In him He delighted o’er Earth had a bower,
  Or ocean or depth or a fountain was born.

His fragrance was life and his riches abounding,
  He topped all creation in wisdom and love,
The Logos of God to whom favour redounding,
  God blessed him for ever His Heavenly dove.

Transplanted to Earth mid the thorn and the nettle,
  Of sorrow and suffering of pain and of woe,
The odour of life unto life from each petal,
  He diffused through the world for his people to know.

Our garments are scented with attar of Heaven,
  The knowledge of God and the gift of His grace,
Thanks be to the Father to us He has given,
  The incense of triumph, the sweets of His peace.

Transplanted again by the side of the river,
  That flower and multiplied seed shall then show,
The odour of life unto life to whomever,
  Shall come to the waters his savour to know.

They sing every nation and shout all creation,
  The bride and the Bridegroom their gifts do bestow,
Release from oppression and free full salvation,
  The blessings of God from His garden do flow.

Errors, falsities, may satisfy temporarily the craving of those who have never yet tasted of the truth, the water of life; but nothing can give permanent, lasting satisfaction except the truth; and our Lord himself, the Word, the Logos, the message of the Father, full of grace and truth, is the embodiment and representative of this satisfying water of life. Whoever receives the Lord as his redeemer and Leader and Teacher, through whom all the gracious promises of God are to be fulfilled; whoever receives this water of life receives a satisfying portion, and will never be found looking for truth in other directions, It will satisfy his longings as nothing else could do and so abundantly as to leave no appetite for strange waters. 

--Song in the Night, January 3
 

The Four Attributes of God
Audio MP3

Descriptions of God’s four attributes are found in these Scriptures:

Psalm 89:14 identifies these four attributes in the sequence given in Revelation 4:7. Generally these attributes are referred to as Power, Justice, Love, and Wisdom.

God’s sovereignty is represented as a throne, where Power (the exercise of Righteousness) and Justice are the back corners, while—fortunately for us—Lovingkindness and Wisdom are out in front to lead the way. Ezekiel adds that these four attributes are both active and in complete harmony.

One attribute shifts its descriptive symbol: ox to cherub to calf. The ox and calf are both clean animals approved for sacrifice. Cherubs—in antiquity often represented by oxen—were atop the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant in the Tabernacle and Temple; thus they are associated with ­Justice.

Why does the first named attribute change as we advance through these Scriptures (Ezekiel 1:10 begins with love, Ezekiel 10:14 with justice, and Revelation 4:7 with power)? Perhaps it is because God first manifested love when he created man to be the recipient of his love. Then, four thousand years after the fall in Eden, the sacrifice of God’s son occurred to satisfy justice. Finally, God’s power will be shown in the resurrection and blessing of all the families of the earth forever!

—James Parkinson