There is a hymn I love to sing each new year to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, the words of which say:
Should nothing of our efforts stand
No legacy survive
Unless the Lord does raise the house
In vain its builders strive
To you who boast tomorrow’s gain
Tell me what is your life
A mist that vanishes at dawn
All glory be to Christ!
All glory be to Christ our king!
All glory be to Christ!
His rule and reign we’ll ever sing,
All glory be to Christ!
One man who fought tooth and nail against the truth of this hymn was Pharaoh. For good or ill the notion has taken me to examine each book of the bible consecutively in the minister’s monthly instalment of the Gilcomston Record, and you cannot read the book of Exodus without being confronted with the battle of the gods – Pharaoh and YAHWEH. We meet YAHWEH in the burning bush of Exodus 3, and when Moses and Aaron visit Pharaoh for the first time, asking him to “let my people go” Pharaoh’s responds: “Who is YAHWEH that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know YAHWEH and moreover I will not let Israel go.” – Exodus 5:2.
Pharaoh rejects the sovereign reign of God most high, preferring to place himself on the throne. There then ensues a mighty conflict of wills – Pharaoh’s against YAHWEH’s – but actually, it is not a contest at all. That’s the point. YAHWEH has no equal. He alone is God and King. Again and again YAHWEH clearly states what he will do: “The Egyptians shall know I am YAHWEH when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” – Exodus 7:5. And he does precisely that. All glory goes to Christ the king, not Pharaoh.
In this new year may we offer no contest to YAHWEH. Instead may the joyful song of our hearts proclaim all glory be to Christ our king! Better is one day in His court than a thousand elsewhere.
A Happy and Christ-filled New Year to you!