“Victory Known” ( Psalm 98: 2, NEB ) by Carley Evans

“O victory in Jesus,

My Savior, forever.

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.”(E.M. Bartlett © 1939)

David, the psalmist whom God declares is a man after His own heart, tells us to “sing a new song to the Lord, for He does marvellous deeds; His right hand and holy arm win Him victory. The Lord makes His victory known; He displays His righteousness to all the nations. He remembers His constancy, His love for the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth see the victory of our God.” (Psalm 98:1-3, NEB)

David emphasizes five key concepts in this song: God’s power, His righteousness, His constancy, His love, and His victory.

E.M. Bartlett sings of the victory of God from a slightly different viewpoint. Now God’s victory is also our victory, but this triumph remains essentially God’s victory. God seeks us out before we know Him; He purchases us and plunges us to victory “beneath the cleansing flood” which is His shed blood, not ours.

David and Mr. Bartlett emphasize God’s constancy, not ours.

“God be praised, He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, stand firm and immovable, and work for the Lord always, work without limit, since you know that in the Lord your labour cannot be lost.” (1 Corinthians 15:57-58,NEB)

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