Safe and Secure Saints
PSALM 46 “SAFE AND SECURE SAINTS” SEPT 9, 2007 SUMMER IN THE PS.
PSALM 46:1 - 47:1 NKJ PSALM 46:1 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN. A PSALM OF THE SONS OF KORAH. A SONG FOR ALAMOTH. GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. 2 THEREFORE WE WILL NOT FEAR, EVEN THOUGH THE EARTH BE REMOVED, AND THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS BE CARRIED INTO THE MIDST OF THE SEA; 3 THOUGH ITS WATERS ROAR AND BE TROUBLED, THOUGH THE MOUNTAINS SHAKE WITH ITS SWELLING. SELAH 4
THERE IS A RIVER WHOSE STREAMS SHALL MAKE GLAD THE CITY OF GOD, THE HOLY PLACE OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE MOST HIGH. 5 GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF HER, SHE SHALL NOT BE MOVED; GOD SHALL HELP HER, JUST AT THE BREAK OF DAWN.
6 THE NATIONS RAGED, THE KINGDOMS WERE MOVED; HE UTTERED HIS VOICE, THE EARTH MELTED. 7 THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR REFUGE. SELAH 8 COME, BEHOLD THE WORKS OF THE LORD, WHO HAS MADE DESOLATIONS IN THE EARTH. 9 HE MAKES WARS CEASE TO THE END OF THE EARTH; HE BREAKS THE BOW AND CUTS THE SPEAR IN TWO; HE BURNS THE CHARIOT IN THE FIRE. 10 BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD; I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE NATIONS, I WILL BE EXALTED IN THE EARTH! 11 THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US; THE GOD OF JACOB IS OUR REFUGE. SELAH
INTRO:
A MIGHTY FORTRESS
WORDS AND MUSIC BY MARTIN LUTHER, 1483–1546
ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY FREDERICK H. HEDGE, 1805–1890
OCTOBER 31, 1517, IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN PROTESTANT HISTORY. THIS WAS THE DAY WHEN MARTIN LUTHER, AN AUGUSTINIAN MONK AND A PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY, POSTED ON THE DOORS OF THE CATHEDRAL OF WITTENBERG, GERMANY, HIS 95 THESES (COMPLAINTS) AGAINST THE TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES OF THE MEDIEVAL ROMAN CHURCH. WITH THIS EVENT, THE 16TH CENTURY PROTESTANT REFORMATION WAS FORMALLY BORN.
THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION MOVEMENT WAS BUILT ON THREE MAIN TENETS:
• THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES.
• CLARIFYING THE MEANS OF SALVATION.
• THE RESTORATION OF CONGREGATIONAL SINGING.
“A MIGHTY FORTRESS” WAS WRITTEN AND COMPOSED BY MARTIN LUTHER. THE DATE OF THE HYMN CANNOT BE FIXED WITH ANY EXACT CERTAINTY. IT IS GENERALLY BELIEVED, HOWEVER, TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN FOR THE DIET OF SPIRES IN 1529 WHEN THE TERM “PROTESTANT” WAS FIRST USED. THE HYMN BECAME THE GREAT RALLYING CRY OF THE REFORMATION.
A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD, A BULWARK NEVER FAILING; OUR HELPER HE AMID THE FLOOD OF MORTAL ILLS PREVAILING. FOR STILL OUR ANCIENT FOE DOTH SEEK TO WORK US WOE—HIS CRAFT AND POW’R ARE GREAT, AND, ARMED WITH CRUEL HATE, ON EARTH IS NOT HIS EQUAL.
DID WE IN OUR OWN STRENGTH CONFIDE OUR STRIVING WOULD BE LOSING, WERE NOT THE RIGHT MAN ON OUR SIDE, THE MAN OF GOD’S OWN CHOOSING. DOST ASK WHO THAT MAY BE? CHRIST JESUS, IT IS HE—LORD SABAOTH HIS NAME, FROM AGE TO AGE THE SAME—AND HE MUST WIN THE BATTLE.
AND THO THIS WORLD, WITH DEVILS FILLED, SHOULD THREATEN TO UNDO US, WE WILL NOT FEAR, FOR GOD HATH WILLED HIS TRUTH TO TRIUMPH THRU US. THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS GRIM—WE TREMBLE NOT FOR HIM; HIS RAGE WE CAN ENDURE; FOR LO! HIS DOOM IS SURE—ONE LITTLE WORD SHALL FELL HIM.
THAT WORD ABOVE ALL EARTHLY POW’RS—NO THANKS TO THEM—ABIDETH; THE SPIRIT AND THE GIFTS ARE OURS THRU HIM WHO WITH US SIDETH. LET GOODS AND KINDRED GO, THIS MORTAL LIFE ALSO; THE BODY THEY MAY KILL; GOD’S TRUTH ABIDETH STILL—HIS KINGDOM IS FOREVER.
FOR TODAY: DEUTERONOMY 33:27; 2 SAMUEL 22:2; PSALM 46; ISAIAH 26:4
BREATHE A PRAYER OF THANKS TO GOD FOR REFORMERS SUCH AS MARTIN LUTHER, WHO LAID THE FOUNDATIONS FOR OUR EVANGELICAL FAITH. PRAISE HIM ON THIS REFORMATION DAY FOR THIS TRUTH—
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EXPL: WONDERFULLY PLACED BETWEEN PSALM 45 AND PSALM 47
PSALM 45, GOD IS REVEALED TO US AS BEING THE GREAT KING.
PSALM 47, GOD IS REVEALED TO US AS BEING THE ALL POWERFUL, & OVER THE NATIONS.
PSALM 46 TELLS US THAT GOD IS GOD, V. 10 SAYS, “BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.
THIS PSALM WAS WRITTEN AFTER HEZEKIAH HAD PRAYED AND GOD SENT ONE ANGEL TO DESTROY 185,000 ASSYRIANS.
THIS PSALM IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE SECTIONS….
GOD’S PROTECTION
GOD’S PARADISE
GOD’S POWER
GOD’S PEACE
GOD’S PRAISE.
AND TEACHES US THAT WHENEVER DISASTER…WHETHER NATURAL DISASTER OR TERRORIST DISASTER….AND ALL HOPE SEEMS LOST…GOD HAS ALL THINGS UNDER CONTROL. GOD CAN AND WILL HANDLE ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO HIS PERFECT WILL…ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TO TRUST AND LEAN AND DEPEND ON HIM BECAUSE HE IS OUR REFUGE, OUR HIGH TOWER, OUR SOLID ROCK OUR MIGHTY FORTRESS.
PROP: THE LESSON IS…ULTIMATELY WE ARE SAFE AND SECURE IN THE SAVIOR. GOD KNOWS HOW TO PROTECT HIS PEOPLE.
INTER: IF GOD PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE, HOW SHOULD WE LIVE AS HIS SAINTS?
TS: AS WE LOOK AT THE PSALM…WE WILL LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE AS SAFE AND SECURE SAINTS.
MP I. WE ARE FEARLESS V. 2-3.
ILL: WHAT AMERICANS ARE AFRAID OF
THE SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT MAGAZINE, USA WEEKEND, RAN A COVER STORY IN ITS AUGUST 22–24, 1997 ISSUE, ENTITLED “FEAR: WHAT AMERICANS ARE AFRAID OF TODAY.” IN A SCIENTIFIC POLL, THE MAGAZINE UNCOVERED THE THINGS AMERICANS FEAR MOST:
• 54% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF BEING IN A CAR CRASH.
• 53% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF HAVING CANCER.
• 50% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF INADEQUATE SOCIAL SECURITY.
• 49% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY FOR RETIREMENT.
• 36% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF FOOD POISONING FROM MEAT.
• 35% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF GETTING ALZHEIMER’S.
• 34% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF PESTICIDES ON FOOD.
• 33% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF BEING A VICTIM OF INDIVIDUAL VIOLENCE.
• 32% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF BEING UNABLE TO PAY CURRENT DEBTS.
• 30% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF EXPOSURE TO FOREIGN VIRUSES.
• 28% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF GETTING AIDS.
• 25% ARE “AFRAID” OR “VERY AFRAID” OF NATURAL DISASTERS.
OTHER FINDINGS:
• IS THE WORLD A SAFER PLACE THAN WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP? NO, SAY 9 IN 10 AMERICANS.
• 4 IN 10 PEOPLE FEEL UNSAFE TAKING A WALK ALONE AT NIGHT WITHIN A HALF-MILE OF HOME.
• 1 IN 4 WOMEN THINKS SHE HAS BEEN FOLLOWED BY A STRANGER IN THE PAST YEAR.
• 1 IN 5 FEARS BEING CAUGHT IN A BOMBING IN A PUBLIC PLACE.*[2]
THE TEXT SAYS ELOHIM IS OUR SHELTER, OUR SHIELD, OUR STRONG ROCK WHO IS HERE AND NOW WILLING AND READY TO HELP, ENCLOSE AND COVER US FROM THE TIGHT PLACES OF LIFE. WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES BET. A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, HELPLESS, GOD IS READY TO ASSIST AND AID.
IMP. GOD IS OUR STRENGTH; EVEN WHEN THE WORLD IS OUT OF CONTROL GOD IS IN CONTROL BECAUSE HE HAS PERMANENT STRENGTH. AND THE ENEMIES OF THE WORLD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THREE…”FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPRIT.
THE LORD TOLD JOSHUA…BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE, DO NOT BE AFRAID, NOR BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO
PS. SAID, SOME TRUST IN CHARIOTS, SOME IN HORSE BUT WE WILL REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD.
PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY…GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR BUT OF POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND.
APP: HAVE FAITH IN GOD, DON’T FEAR BUT BUILD UP YOUR FAITH IN GOD.
HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND DON’T WORRY.
GOD IS OUR HELP IN TROUBLE; IF YOU WORRY, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN.
DON'T LIE AWAKE AT NIGHTS WORRYING ABOUT HOW TO SUCCEED; JUST STAY AWAKE DAYS.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT KNOWING PEOPLE; JUST MAKE YOURSELF WORTH KNOWING.
DON'T WORRY WHAT THE WORLD IS COMING TO; BE CONCERNED WHAT IT HAS ALREADY COME TO.
WORRYING DOESN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING BUT WRINKLES; SOMETHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT.
ONLY HE WHO CAN SAY, "THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE," CAN SAY, "OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID?"
-- ALEXANDER MCCLAREN, CHRISTIAN READER, VOL. 32, NO. 3. SEE: PS 28:8; 46:1; 118:13; 2 CO 12:9.
ILL:
II. WE ARE JOYFUL V. 4-5
THERE IS A RIVER WHOSE STREAMS SHALL MAKE GLAD THE CITY OF GOD, THE HOLY PLACE OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE MOST HIGH. 5 GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF HER, SHE SHALL NOT BE MOVED; GOD SHALL HELP HER, JUST AT THE BREAK OF DAWN.
THERE WAS NO RIVER IN JERUSALEM, BUT THERE WAS A SPRING…THE SPRING OF GIHON THAT WAS CHANNELED …..1777 FT LONG…INTO THE CITY TO BRING WATER …AND COVERED SO IT COULD NOT BE TAINTED BY THE ENEMY. AND THE WATER ENSURE THAT THEY WOULD BE SECURE. IT ALSO POINT FORWARD TO THE RIVER IN GLORY …THE RIVER THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE THRONE OF GOD.
IMP. GOD IS OUR SECURITY, FOR HE IS THE LIVING WATER. THE RIVER POINTS TO THE WORD OF GOD AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD.
JOHN 4:6-14 6 NOW JACOB'S WELL WAS THERE. JESUS THEREFORE, BEING WEARIED FROM HIS JOURNEY, SAT THUS BY THE WELL. IT WAS ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR. 7 A WOMAN OF SAMARIA CAME TO DRAW WATER. JESUS SAID TO HER, "GIVE ME A DRINK." 8 FOR HIS DISCIPLES HAD GONE AWAY INTO THE CITY TO BUY FOOD. 9 THEN THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA SAID TO HIM, "HOW IS IT THAT YOU, BEING A JEW, ASK A DRINK FROM ME, A SAMARITAN WOMAN?" FOR JEWS HAVE NO DEALINGS WITH SAMARITANS. 10 JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID TO HER, "IF YOU KNEW THE GIFT OF GOD, AND WHO IT IS WHO SAYS TO YOU, 'GIVE ME A DRINK,' YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM, AND HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU LIVING WATER." 11 THE WOMAN SAID TO HIM, "SIR, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DRAW WITH, AND THE WELL IS DEEP. WHERE THEN DO YOU GET THAT LIVING WATER? 12 "ARE YOU GREATER THAN OUR FATHER JACOB, WHO GAVE US THE WELL, AND DRANK FROM IT HIMSELF, AS WELL AS HIS SONS AND HIS LIVESTOCK?" 13 JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID TO HER, "WHOEVER DRINKS OF THIS WATER WILL THIRST AGAIN, 14 "BUT WHOEVER DRINKS OF THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM WILL NEVER THIRST. BUT THE WATER THAT I SHALL GIVE HIM WILL BECOME IN HIM A FOUNTAIN OF WATER SPRINGING UP INTO EVERLASTING LIFE."
JN 7 - JOHN 7:37-39 37 ON THE LAST DAY, THAT GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST, JESUS STOOD AND CRIED OUT, SAYING, "IF ANYONE THIRSTS, LET HIM COME TO ME AND DRINK. 38 "HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME, AS THE SCRIPTURE HAS SAID, OUT OF HIS HEART WILL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER." 39 BUT THIS HE SPOKE CONCERNING THE SPIRIT, WHOM THOSE BELIEVING IN HIM WOULD RECEIVE; FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS NOT YET GIVEN, BECAUSE JESUS WAS NOT YET GLORIFIED.
APP: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TIMES OF REFRESHMENT , R AND R, BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD…LOVE, JOY AND PEACE…
APPL: CHRISTIAN JOY VS. THE WORLD’S JOY - THE CHRISTIAN IS SATISFIED FROM WITHIN. THE MEN OF THE WORLD BORROW ALL THEIR JOY FROM WITHOUT. JOY WHOLLY FROM WITHOUT IS FALSE, PRECARIOUS, AND SHORT. FROM WITHOUT IT MAY BE GATHERED, BUT LIKE GATHERED FLOWERS, THOUGH FAIR AND SWEET FOR A SEASON, IT MUST SOON WITHER AND BECOME OFFENSIVE. JOY FROM WITHIN IS LIKE SMELLING THE ROSE ON THE TREE, IT IS MORE SWEET AND FAIR, AND I MUST ADD, IT IS IMMORTAL.
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ILL: JOY IS A FLAG - PRINCIPAL RAINY, OF WHOM A CHILD ONCE REMARKED THAT SHE BELIEVED HE WENT TO HEAVEN EVERY NIGHT BECAUSE HE WAS SO HAPPY EVERY DAY, ONCE USED A FINE METAPHOR ABOUT A CHRISTIAN’S JOY. “JOY,” HE SAID, “IS THE FLAG WHICH IS FLOWN FROM THE CASTLE OF THE HEART WHEN THE KING IS IN RESIDENCE THERE.”
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ILL: SOME TIME AGO, A NEWSPAPER IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON, CARRIED THE STORY OF TATTOO, THE BASSET HOUND. TATTOO DIDN'T INTEND TO GO FOR AN EVENING RUN, BUT WHEN HIS OWNER SHUT HIS LEASH IN THE CAR DOOR AND TOOK OFF WITH TATTOO STILL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, HE HAD NO CHOICE.
A MOTORCYCLE OFFICER NAMED TERRY FILBERT NOTICED A PASSING VEHICLE WITH SOMETHING THAT APPEARED TO BE DRAGGING BEHIND IT. AS HE PASSED THE VEHICLE, HE SAW THE OBJECT WAS A BASSET HOUND ON A LEASH.
"HE WAS PICKING THEM UP AND PUTTING THEM DOWN AS FAST AS HE COULD," SAID FILBERT. HE CHASED THE CAR TO A STOP, AND TATTOO WAS RESCUED, BUT NOT BEFORE THE DOG REACHED A SPEED OF TWENTY TO TWENTY-FIVE MILES PER HOUR, AND ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES.
(THE DOG WAS FINE BUT ASKED NOT TO GO OUT FOR AN EVENING WALK FOR A LONG TIME.)
THERE ARE TOO MANY OF US WHOSE DAYS ARE MARKED BY "PICKING THEM UP AND PUTTING THEM DOWN AS FAST AS WE CAN." WE MUST RUTHLESSLY ELIMINATE HURRY FROM OUR LIVES.
-- JOHN ORTBERG. LEADERSHIP, VOL. 17, NO. 4.
SEE: PS 46:10; MT 11:28-30; LK 10:40.
MP III. WE ARE VICTORIOUS V. 6-11
THE HEART OF THE TEXT POINTS TO ISRAEL IN THE MIDST OF HER ENEMIES….BUT…DESPITE MILTARY CAMPAIGNS GOD FIGHT FOR ISRAEL…HE GIVES HIS VOICE AS A GIFT; THAT BRINGS THUNDER AND DESOLATION; HIS VOICE DISSOLVES THE ENEMIES OF THE EARTH. AND HE INVITES US TO TAKE A SET, SIT BACK AND WATCH HIM WORK …AS YHWH THE DIVINE WARRIOR.
IMP. GOD IS OUR SHELTER AND HE TAKES CARE OF THE ENEMY…VISIBLE AND COMPLETELY
PSALM 91:1-11 NKJ PSALM 91:1 HE WHO DWELLS IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY. 2 I WILL SAY OF THE LORD, "HE IS MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS; MY GOD, IN HIM I WILL TRUST." 3 SURELY HE SHALL DELIVER YOU FROM THE SNARE OF THE FOWLER AND FROM THE PERILOUS PESTILENCE. 4 HE SHALL COVER YOU WITH HIS FEATHERS, AND UNDER HIS WINGS YOU SHALL TAKE REFUGE; HIS TRUTH SHALL BE YOUR SHIELD AND BUCKLER. 5 YOU SHALL NOT BE AFRAID OF THE TERROR BY NIGHT, NOR OF THE ARROW THAT FLIES BY DAY, 6 NOR OF THE PESTILENCE THAT WALKS IN DARKNESS, NOR OF THE DESTRUCTION THAT LAYS WASTE AT NOONDAY. 7 A THOUSAND MAY FALL AT YOUR SIDE, AND TEN THOUSAND AT YOUR RIGHT HAND; BUT IT SHALL NOT COME NEAR YOU. 8 ONLY WITH YOUR EYES SHALL YOU LOOK, AND SEE THE REWARD OF THE WICKED. 9 BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE THE LORD, WHO IS MY REFUGE, EVEN THE MOST HIGH, YOUR DWELLING PLACE, 10 NO EVIL SHALL BEFALL YOU, NOR SHALL ANY PLAGUE COME NEAR YOUR DWELLING; 11 FOR HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER YOU, TO KEEP YOU IN ALL YOUR WAYS.
APPL: BE STILL..CEASE AND DESIST…DO NOTHING RASH IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM;
KEEP THE FAITH AND RECEIVE HIS PEACE…
KNOW THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL
KNOW THAT THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS…IT’S THE LORD
KNOW THAT HE WILL BE EXAULTED IN THE EARTH
KNOW THAT HE UNDERSTANDS OUR FRAME
KNOW THAT HE WILL GET THE GLORY AND THE PRAISE.
KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE VICTORY…..OUR GOD …IS ONE OF SECURITY AND STRENGTH…
GOD IS MEEK AND MILD..BUT MIGHTY
GOD PROTECTS BUT IS POWERFUL…
CLOSE: THE BLESSEDNESS OF REFUGE….CONSIDER ….. THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY CAN BOAST OF HAVING THE SAFEST CITY IN WHICH TO LIVE; BRICK, NJ. LOCATED ABOUT 70 MILES NW OF WOODBURY…BETWEEN TOM’S RIVER AND ASBURY PARK..THERE IS BRICK.
BUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ALSO BEARS THE BURDEN OF HAVING THE NUMBER 5 MOST DANGEROUS CITY; CAMDEN NJ. CAMDEN RANKS NUMBER 5
BEHIND
- ST. LOUIS, MO
- DETROIT, MI
- FLINT, MI AND
- COMPTON, CA
THE KINGDOM OF GOD….THE BODY OF CHRIST…THE CHURCH OF GOD IS THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD….AND THE MOST DANGEROUS….BECAUSE HE FIGHT FOR US;
HE COMES AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF GOD
HE HAVE A STRONG ARM AND POWER IN HIS HAND….
HE IS HOLY BUT HE ALSO HELPS US….
CONCLUSION: GOD IS A VERY PRESENT HELP.....
GOD HELPS US AS CLOSE FRIEND.....
GOD HELPS US AS A COMFORTER......
GOD HELPS US AS A BURDEN BEARER....
GOD HELPS US AS A SHIELD AND A BUCKLER....
GOD HELPS US AS A MIGHTY FORTRESS....
GOD HELPS US A SORROW-REMOVER....
GOD HELPS AS DEATH CONQUEROR....
SATAN’S WATERLOO
FROM AN OLD CLIPPING, HERE IS THE WAY THE NEWS OF THE VICTORY AT WATERLOO ARRIVED IN ENGLAND. THERE WERE NO TELEGRAMS OR TELEPHONES IN THOSE DAYS, OF COURSE, BUT EVERYONE KNEW THAT WELLINGTON WAS FACING NAPOLEON IN A GREAT BATTLE, AND THAT THE FUTURE OF ENGLAND WAS IN GREAT UNCERTAINTY. A SAILING SHIP SEMAPHORED (SIGNALED WITH CODED FLAGS) THE NEWS TO THE SIGNALMAN ON TOP OF WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL. HE SIGNALED TO ANOTHER MAN ON A HILL, AND THUS NEWS OF THE BATTLE WAS RELAYED BY SEMAPHORE FROM STATION TO STATION TO LONDON AND ALL ACROSS THE LAND. WHEN THE SHIP CAME IN, THE SIGNALMAN ON BOARD SEMAPHORED THE FIRST WORD: WELLINGTON. THE NEXT WORD WAS DEFEATED, AND THEN THE FOG CAME DOWN AND THE SHIP COULD NOT BE SEEN. “WELLINGTON DEFEATED” WENT ACROSS ENGLAND, AND THERE WAS GREAT GLOOM ALL OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE. AFTER TWO OR THREE HOURS, THE FOG LIFTED, AND THE SIGNAL CAME AGAIN: WELLINGTON DEFEATED THE ENEMY. THEN ALL ENGLAND REJOICED.
THERE WAS THAT DAY, WHEN THEY PUT THE BODY OF THE LORD IN THE TOMB, THAT THE MESSAGE APPEARED TO BE CHRIST DEFEATED.… BUT THREE DAYS LATER, THE FOG LIFTED.*
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SEE: ISA 53:12; JN 16:33; REV 17:14.
IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
HORATIO G. SPAFFORD, 1828–1888
GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, AN EVER PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. (PSALM 46:1)
INNER PEACE THROUGH AN IMPLICIT TRUST IN THE LOVE OF GOD IS THE REAL EVIDENCE OF A MATURE CHRISTIAN FAITH. ONLY WITH THIS KIND OF CONFIDENCE IN HIS HEAVENLY FATHER COULD HORATIO SPAFFORD EXPERIENCE SUCH HEART-RENDING TRAGEDIES AS HE DID AND YET BE ABLE TO SAY, “IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.”
SPAFFORD HAD KNOWN PEACEFUL AND HAPPY DAYS AS A SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEY IN CHICAGO. HE WAS THE FATHER OF FOUR DAUGHTERS, AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, AND A LOYAL FRIEND AND SUPPORTER OF D. L. MOODY AND OTHER EVANGELICAL LEADERS OF HIS DAY. THEN, A SERIES OF CALAMITIES BEGAN, STARTING WITH THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE OF 1871 WHICH WIPED OUT THE FAMILY’S EXTENSIVE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS. WHEN MR. MOODY AND HIS MUSIC ASSOCIATE, IRA SANKEY, LEFT FOR GREAT BRITAIN FOR AN EVANGELISTIC CAMPAIGN, SPAFFORD DECIDED TO LIFT THE SPIRITS OF HIS FAMILY BY TAKING THEM ON A VACATION TO EUROPE. HE ALSO PLANNED TO ASSIST IN THE MOODY-SANKEY MEETINGS THERE.
IN NOVEMBER, 1873, SPAFFORD WAS DETAINED BY URGENT BUSINESS, BUT HE SENT HIS WIFE AND FOUR DAUGHTERS AS SCHEDULED ON THE S.S. VILLE DU HARVE, PLANNING TO JOIN THEM SOON. HALFWAY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, THE SHIP WAS STRUCK BY AN ENGLISH VESSEL AND SANK IN 12 MINUTES. ALL FOUR OF THE SPAFFORD DAUGHTERS—TANETTA, MAGGIE, ANNIE AND BESSIE—WERE AMONG THE 226 WHO DROWNED. MRS. SPAFFORD WAS AMONG THE FEW WHO WERE MIRACULOUSLY SAVED.
HORATIO SPAFFORD STOOD HOUR AFTER HOUR ON THE DECK OF THE SHIP CARRYING HIM TO REJOIN HIS SORROWING WIFE IN CARDIFF, WALES. WHEN THE SHIP PASSED THE APPROXIMATE PLACE WHERE HIS PRECIOUS DAUGHTERS HAD DROWNED, SPAFFORD RECEIVED SUSTAINING COMFORT FROM GOD THAT ENABLED HIM TO WRITE, “WHEN SORROWS LIKE SEA BILLOWS ROLL … IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.” WHAT A PICTURE OF OUR HOPE!
WHEN PEACE, LIKE A RIVER, ATTENDETH MY WAY, WHEN SORROWS LIKE SEA BILLOWS ROLL—WHATEVER MY LOT, THOU HAST TAUGHT ME TO SAY, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.
THO SATAN SHOULD BUFFET, THO TRIALS SHOULD COME, LET THIS BLEST ASSURANCE CONTROL, THAT CHRIST HATH REGARDED MY HELPLESS ESTATE AND SHED HIS OWN BLOOD FOR MY SOUL.
AND, LORD, HASTE THE DAY WHEN MY FAITH SHALL BE SIGHT, THE CLOUDS BE ROLLED BACK AS A SCROLL: THE TRUMP SHALL RESOUND AND THE LORD SHALL DESCEND, “EVEN SO”—IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.
CHORUS: IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL, IT IS WELL, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.
FOR TODAY: PSALM 31:14; 142:3; GALATIANS 2:20; 1 PETER 4:19
ASK YOURSELF IF YOU CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY, “IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL,” NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BE THAT SURROUND YOU.
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[1]Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 326
[2]Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 295
[3] AMG Bible Illustrations. electronic ed. Chattanooga : AMG Publishers, 2000 (Logos Library System; Bible Illustrations Series)
[4]Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979
[5]Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 252
[6]Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 202