As I sought to choose hymns for the evening service at church I desired to choose one that suggested the text, II Peter 2:1-9. I struggled to pick a song that spoke anything signifcantly about judgment. My wife said so simply, “Who wants to sing about that?” Well, of course she is right, but people of the church did not always fear to sing about death and the consequences of rejection of Christ. Having laid the foundation for strong faith in chapter one, remembering what makes for salvation and godly living, Peter sets out in chapters 2 and 3 to guard the believers against two threats to strong faith: one within the church, namely false teachers, and the other outside the church, namely, mockers. Early in chapter 2 reminds me very much of Jude who says in verse four of his short epistle, “Certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation.” If their judgment is so certain, I wonder, why should we even discuss it? It is a warning to others for God says through Ezekiel, “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have spoken, saying, “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?” ‘Say to them,”As I live!,” declares the Lord God, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?”‘” (33:10-11) The following poem comes in lieu of the hymn that I did not find:
From hell to save my Savior came To raise the dead and heal the lame He taught of His Father full breadth Of both eternal life and deathSecond coming differs from this Bought ones ascend to heaven’s bliss While those who refused life in Him Face an eternity that’s grim
Saints, pray and preach to your last breath Hold them back who stagger to death Prov.24:11 O, Sovereign Lord lend us Your aid Show us ones whose sin debt is paid
O, Sinners heed Christ’s pleading call Ezek.33:11,Rom.10:13 Of rescue that goes out to all Call for mercy with all your might Escape your end of flame and fright
Jesus is the Savior and Judge On His justice there is no smudge Receive from Him payment for sin Or ever hurt without, within
CreatorWorship 