Ivory Palaces

Ivory Palaces was the favorite hymn of a dear friend who is now with the Lord.  It's a beautiful song full of meaning.

My Lord has garments so wondrous fine; and myrrh their texture fills;

Its fragrance reached to this heart of mine with joy my being thrills.

The Lord is clothed in glory, and he wants to cover us with his garments of righteousness.  In Zechariah 3, God commanded that the filthy garments be taken away from Joshua the high priest and that he be clothed in clean garments.  He wants to do that for each one of us also, taking away our sins and filling our hearts with his Holy Spirit.  

His life had also its sorrows sore, for aloes had its part;

And when I think of the cross he bore, my eyes with teardrops start.

He paid the penalty for our sins and as Hebrews 4 says, "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."  He bore the pain and sorrows of all the world and was despised, rejected of men, and acquainted with grief.  

His garments, too, were in cassia dipped, with healing in a touch;

In paths of sin had me feet e'er slipped--He's saved me from its clutch.

As the song says, "Without Him, I could do nothing.  Without Him, I'd surely fail.  Without Him I would be drifting, like a ship without a sail."  The salvation and strength we have is in Jesus alone. 

In garments glorious He will come, to open wide the door;

And I shall enter my heaven'ly home, to dwell for evermore.

The Bible says that mortal man cannot imagine the good things God has prepared for those who love Him.  "In my Father's house," Jesus said, "Are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe,

Only His great eternal love made my Savior go.

  -Henry Barraclough