Psalm 22

Some notes around our midweek meeting which took place Wed 20/5/20.

Next week we are looking at Psalm 23 but after that we will be doing some studies in Philippians by way of a change!

STUDY QUESTIONS:

What’s going on in this Psalm?

Who are the characters in this Psalm?

What are the main scenes and what happens in them? Can you give them titles?

Where is the turning point in this Psalm?

Do you think David being forsaken by God is real or imagined?

What might it mean / feel like / look like / be to be forsaken by God?

Is he forsaken completely and permanently?

Is verse one a cry of despair or a prayer of faith or…?

Where might we see hope even in v1?

When does the Psalmist pray (v2)?

How does God respond?

Have you ever felt forsaken by God or as if he did not seem to hear or help?

(Look at the words like “but” and “yet”)

What mismatches / contrasts does the Psalmist feel?

How do verse 3-5 encourage confidence in God?

What arguments does the Psalmist use with God?

What is the basis of his prayer for help?

What metaphors and imagery are used in the Psalm? With what meanings and to what effects?

Like me, are you slightly unclear what a “potsherd” is? (v15)

Is there anything else in the Psalm you’re not sure you understand?

What does the Psalm tell us about God?

What does the Psalm tell us about Christian experience / what the life of a believer might include?

What might vv9 and 10 mean for how we seek to bring up our children?

Who is affected by the vindication of the sufferer in the Psalm?

How would you relate the Psalm to Jesus?

Why do you think Jesus quoted this Psalm?

When Jesus quotes this Psalm, do you think he means to refer just to the verse he quotes or more of the Psalm? What in particular?

How does the Psalm reflect events in the life of Jesus?

Does the final verse of the Psalm provide an echo of the cross? (Or of the cross and resurrection?)

Any other comments or questions about this Psalm?

Theme sentence?

Aim sentence?

Praise and prayer in the light of this Psalm?

* * *

OUTLINES:

Wilcock:

(1) The sufferings of Christ (vv1-21)

(2) The glories that would follow (vv22-31)

* * *

Kidner:

The Psalm of the Cross

(1) Vv1-21: The power of darkness

V1 – why?

Vv3-5 – yet thou…

Vv6-8 – but I…

vv12-18 - Ravening and roaring

vv19-21 – but thou…

(2) vv22-31: The spread of joy

vv22-26 – the votive feast

vv27-31 – the boundless kingdom

* * *

Motyer:

The One and the Many: One Suffering, Many Worshipping

A: Perplexity in suffering (vv1-10)

An Unanswered Cry (vv1-5)

Unrewarded trust (vv6-10)

B: Prayer for Divine Nearness (vv11-21)

C: Praise on a universal scale (vv22-31)

Festival time for Israel (vv22-26)

Festival time for the world (vv27-31)

* * *

Expositor’s Bible:

Anguish and Joy

A: God’s abandonment, rule and praise of Israel (vv1-5)

B: Public spectacle (vv6-8)

C: God’s covenantal responsibilities (vv9-11)

C’: Abandonment and prayer for covenantal favour (vv12-21)

B’: Public praise (vv22-24)

A’: God’s presence and rule: the praise of Israel and the nations (vv25-31)

* * *

NOTES:

An individual lament with the community drawn in to thanksgiving

The suffering servant brings deliverance to the nations

The humility of the sufferer (not seeking vengeance here, though other Psalms do include this element)

The inclusion of the nations

The mocking of enemies will give way to the praise of the people

Nothing in David’s life really fits this description of suffering and death - Acts 2:30f – being a prophet, David foresaw and spoke of the Christ

Title: the word for doe or hind (‘ayyeleth) is very like the word for help (‘eya), which seems appropriate – see v19

Notice the contrasts in the Psalm – the “yet”s and “but”s e.g. v3, v6, v9

Vv1-21 – a throbbing alteration of I / me sections with increasing length vv1-2, 6-8, 12-18 with thou sections of increasing urgency and immediacy vv3-5, 9-11, 19-21

V1 – Kidner suggests the Psalmist’s concern here is likely practical not theoretical – why have you forsaken me to this predicament and don’t seem to be rescuing me any time soon? – The cry does not suggest a lack of faith or a broken relationship but disorientation at the lack of God’s familiar protective presence as the Psalmist’s enemies close in

V1 – groaning = roaring, a strong word, also used of the lion in v13 – the Psalmists enemies roar at him and he roars to God for salvation

V8 – cf. the way Jesus is scorned when on the cross – Mt 27:39, 43

V8 – could be an imperative – commit it to Yahweh – commit = roll it (onto), turn it over to, entrust it to

Vv11-21: Trouble is near (v11), enemies are rampant (vv12-13), suffering is intense (vv14-15), wickedness is unrestrained (vv16-18). A renewed appeal and sudden sense of response (vv19-21).

V14 – bones dislocated, as perhaps they would be by crucifixion – or the idea might be something like separate themselves, come apart, stick out

V15 – potsherd – a broken piece of pottery

V15 – cf. Jn 19:28 – Jesus thirsts on the cross

V17 - The counting of Jesus bones – John 19:36 – none of Jesus’ bones broken

V18 – Mt 27:35-36 – the casting of lots for Jesus’ clothing

Turning point v21: the alternate cries and prayers give way to praise and the vision broadens to God’s perfect rule – a rapidly expanding circle

V22 quoted in Hebrews 2:12 – Jesus unashamed to be called our bother says, v22

Vv25-26 – a major answer to prayer might be followed by a sacrifice and a feast- Lev 7:16; Dt 12:17-19

V29 – lit. the fat ones, the rich and prosperous, who would be tempted to think themselves self sufficient

Vv1, 31 - It is as if the Psalm begins and ends with cries from the cross, not only the cry of dereliction but also “It is finished!” – Jn 19:30

Emotional Unbelief

I have only so far read the introduction to Alec Ryrie's, Unbelievers: An Emotional History of Doubt (William Collins, 2019).

It is of course far too early to say how persuasive is his central thesis that modern Western atheism is largely a product of anger and anxiety working on Christendom given the fuel of the Protestant Reformation.

However, Ryrie is surely correct that most of us hold most of our beliefs and attitudes not as a result of a series of conscious logical steps, but by a kind of emotional intuition influenced by the society we inhabit.

In the Middle Ages in England, atheism seemed almost crazy and impossible. In Britain today it seems quite likely, especially to the more educated / Middle Class, perhaps. Certainly practical atheism seems pretty normal. It is plausible to live as if God did not exist, or as if it did not matter, or as if we could not know.

None of this on its own establishes whether belief or unbelief is true, but it warns us that most of the atheism we encounter will be strictly speaking irrational.

Ryrie suggests the emotional shape tends to come first. Some of us then like to dress it up in philosophical arguments to make it seem justified. The ideas matter, but rather less than we sometimes imagine.

This is something the pastor will recognise. Arguments against the reliability of the New Testament documents can certainly seem more persuasive if you're keen to sleep with your girlfriend.

Service Notes for 17/5/05

Order of Service / Notes (music, readings etc.) for our Sunday Service

17/5/20

The Sixth Sunday of Easter

Sermon on Genesis 8 - 9

God-willing our church services will be live on Facebook on a Sunday at 9:30am at: https://www.facebook.com/malloyd

After that you can catch up there or on the churches Facebook pages or Warbleton Church You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBFrhqP5nL6QnmkZKfP5yw

Before the service, we will play Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Words: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/19

Video with words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTKIqmdfHSk

ORDER OF SERVICE:

Let’s begin our service by considering a vision from the book of Revelation, chapter 4.

  

Opening Prayer

Confession

Some words from Isaiah chapter 54.

Then we say together: 

Lord God,

we have sinned against you;

we have done evil in your sight.

We are sorry and repent.

Have mercy on us according to your love.

Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.

Renew a right spirit within us

and restore us to the joy of your salvation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Absolution

May the Father of all mercies

cleanse you from your sins,

and restore you in his image

to the praise and glory of his name,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Song: Speak, O Lord, as we come to You

Words: https://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/speak-o-lord/

Video with words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubRlJj8xkds

Bible readings

Psalm 66v7-end

After each reading the response is:

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

Genesis 8v20-9v17

Acts 17vv22-31

Sermon

Sermon Outline

The Rainbow - a sign of a covenant

1.     A Covenant of Life

2.     A Covenant for a Fallen World

3.     A Covenant of Accountability

4.     A Covenant of Sacrifice

The Cross – a sign of a new and better covenant

     

But more than a sign

Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Prayers

The Collect of the Day

God our redeemer,

you have delivered us from the power of darkness

and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:

grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,

so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in God’s new creation,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Blessing

After the service we will play O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

Words: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/432

Video with music and words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt69WDtYNLo

You may wish to supplement the service with any hymns or songs of your choice. You might go for something relevant to the Bible readings or the sermon (the covenant mercy of God) or the Easter Season.

Please feel free to hang out in the comments, like and share etc.

Reformed Cessationist Spirituality

Just for the sake of argument, what resources would you suggest on a Reformed Cessationist Spirituality?

What I mean is this, what does real prayer and ministry of the Holy Spirit mean and look like and feel like if God does not speak today outside his Word?

If prayer is talking to God not listening to God, what does healthy meditation and contemplation look like?

Given our total commitment to the Word of God written, what place silence?

P.S. The Bible (especially the Psalms), The Prayer Book and Valley of Vision, I have. What else?

Why don't we grow and change?

I would genuinely love you thoughts and help on this!

Maybe you can plot your Christian growth on a wonderful upward curve. But that is not my experience. Sure, I have grown and changed no doubt, but many of my issues are still with me.

By the grace of God I am not what I was. And I am not what I shall be.

But how do we change and grow? How can growth be quicker, fuller, more lasting and fruitful and so on? Is there any method to holiness and Christian living or do we just let go and let God?

We are evangelicals. So our answer is normally more Bible truth. Good!

But we are also already sound. We may need our theoretical beliefs to be refined, but mostly it is all there in Calvin. If you have been an Evangelical believer for 20 years, faithfully attending an evangelical church, reading your Bible and evangelical books, probably your greatest need is not new evangelical info.

Well, we are forgetful. We need reminding! Yes! Good!

But it is more than that, is it not?

We must not only know the truth (assent to it) - or even somehow keep it in mind - but throw in our lot with it: love it, seek it, will it, long for it, pursue it. Follow the Truth with enthusiasm.

So how do we cultivate the love and will as well as the info?

How do we move from intellectual assent and vague desire to change?

What role will power and self control and habit and plodding?

What role a plan? Steps?

What role community?

You will say it is as matter of prayer and the power of the Spirit. Yes, good, right. But what and how shall I pray? What means might he use?

Ministerial Success

There is much here that is very helpful on the FIEC website on an (apparently) Fruitless Ministry:

https://fiec.org.uk/resources/a-fruitless-ministry

I agree with that.

But my problem, if I may say so, has never been mainly an inability to give a theological account of the causes and cures of ministerial success or the true success that is to be sought and how it is to be evaluated.

So often we know these things. We have even counselled others with them. But how do we cause them to affect how we feel and live? How do they touch our souls?

The messages we must believe and recall are pretty simple. They would include:

God is sovereign 

Faithfulness IS success

The fruit is sometimes hidden and long term and in any case is NOT YOUR BUSINESS but God's

Abide in the vine

You are my Son whom I love. With you I am well pleased. 

Well done my good and faithful servant. 

Many will say to me, did we not preach sermons in your name and I will say to them away from you, I never knew you. 

We must dwell on these things prayerfully and thoughtfully in the presence of Jesus. Let us pray for his grace not only to know them but to feel and live them set free from chasing feeling good about ourselves or our ministry from preaching to full rooms, or getting affirming feedback, or book deals or positive statistics or....

But that still doesn't make it easy. We are so addicted to a middle class suburban or University church model of ministry that if you are not St X or All Souls, Y, or Holy Trinity, Z it feels like church life is not really flourishing and going places as you might dream. Unless we can afford three youth and childrens' employees, a men's worker, a woman's worker, a church counselling service and social outreach, we are not really the full package.

We must learn to dream of the Kingdom of God, not of our ideal church and ministry.

May God have mercy on us and show us his kindness although we be foolish slow learners!

Although weakness is hard for us, thankfully, God loves it! His way is death and resurrection. Cross then crown. Suffering then glory.

If a ministry is dying, you know a resurrection is coming! Perhaps not there in that form, but nothing is ever lost in God's kingdom. No Word is wasted. No seed falls to the ground and is unfruitful - but some kind of death is always needed. Otherwise, there is just show: a fleeting blossom of colour, no fruit.

If a ministry is really all glory and glitz, you know Jesus has fled already and a death is coming.

Psalm 21

Some questions, outlines and notes prepared for our midweek meeting on Psalm 21:

Churches Midweek Meeting 13/5/20

Psalm 21

STUDY QUESTIONS:

Can you spot any connections / similarities / differences between Psalm 21 and Psalm 20?

Can you remember what situation we imagined as the setting of Psalm 20? What was going on in it?

What setting might we imagine for Psalm 21? What is going on in it?

Where does victory come from according to this Psalm? Cf. 20:7

What does the passage tell us about God?

God’s king?

God’s people?

God’s enemies?

The blessings God's gives?

The basis of those blessings?

?

Does the vengeance in this Psalm trouble you? Why / why not?

Given that you and I are not ancient kings in Israel facing war, how might be apply this Psalm to ourselves?

How would we relate this Psalm to Jesus?

Any other questions or comments?

Given that some of this Psalm’s ideas and themes appear elsewhere, can you say anything about what its distinctive contribution might be? Why do we need this Psalm in the Bible?

Sum up:

Theme sentence: the main point of the Psalm?

Aim sentence: how does God want us to respond to this Psalm? What should we do or think or believe or feel or not in the light of this Psalm?

How might this Psalm prompt us to praise and prayer?

* * *

OUTLINES:

Kidner:

The Day of Rejoicing

Vv1-7: The king and the Lord – the king’s faith

Vv8-12: The king and his enemies – the congregation’s address to him

V13: The Lord alone

* * *

Motyer:

Royal Rejoicing: Present Glories, Victories to Come

A1: Yahweh’s strength, the king’s joy (v1)

B1: Blessings granted and enjoyed (vv2-7)

B2: Blessings and victories anticipated (vv8-12)

A2: Yahweh’s strength; his people’s song (v13)

* * *

Expositor’s Bible:

The Rule of God through His King

A: The King’s joy in the LORD’s Strength (v1)

B: God’s Gifts to the King (vv2-6)

C: The King’s Response (v7)

B1: The People’s Expectations of the King (vv8-12)

A1: The People’s joy in the LORD’s Strength (v13)

* * *

NOTES:

Jubilant – maybe a coronation ode, or anniversary of coronation song, or a song for a royal feast, or a victory hymn – possibly liturgical responses / parts as ? Ps 20

Cf. v2 and 20:4 – The prayer of Ps 20 answered?

Both Psalms end in a single verse of prayer and praise directly addressed to God

They have similar forms, alternating between first person plural (we) and third person singular (he)

They both speak of victory / salvation (20:5; 21:1, 5) and of the Lord’s anointed king (20:9; 21:1, 8)

Vv1 & 13: O LORD … strength - inclusio

Vv1-7 – thanksgiving

Vv8-12 – confidence

Response of faith to God’s promises, hope, joyful anticipation

Vv1-7 – The king himself speaking of himself in the third person or someone speaking on his behalf? – only God and the king are really in the picture in these verses

The king is treated as the commander in chief of God’s armies and rewarded for his victories (as representative of the people) – consequent blessings – the chief blessing being the presence of God – Abrahamic and Davidic blessings – welfare, prosperity etc.

V1 – “victories” is again the same word as salvation as in Psalm 20

Vv3a-6b – chiastic structure outlined in Expositor’s Bible p231

V3 – You welcomed him – cf. the encounter with death in 18:5 and the encounter with the wicked in 17:13, which are expressed with the same word

On David’s crown see 2 Samuel 12:30; Ezekiel 21:25-27

V4 – could maybe be a hyperbole for long life or many descendants but in the context of the whole Bible, an everlasting hope – cf. the promises to the Messiah about an eternal kingdom in 2 Samuel 7

These things are true of the Messianic King Jesus without exaggeration

Vv8-12 – the verbs may be describing future events or present tense descriptions of God’s customary actions for his anointed

V6 – For you make him blessings for ever – you give him blessings and you make him a means of blessings – plurals of amplitude: all manner of blessings, every possible blessing to the fullest extent

Vv6 & 9 – appearance and appearing = face, personal presence

V8 – maybe something like find out / find out about your enemies

V9 – an oven of fire – an earthenware pot heated for use by being filled with combustible material and set alight – an intense all consuming heat – fire suggesting the holiness of God

V9 – we might paraphrase, one look from you would be enough

V9 – a hint of the Second Coming of Christ? Cf. 2 Thess 1:7b-9

V11 – a unique way of speaking of an evil plot – natah = to turn, bend, stretch, stretch out or extend

V12 – lit. you make them like a shoulder

Again, the Psalm teaches that the king depends and ought to depend on the King

EFS / ERS again

I assume I would have read this at the time as it was on my bookshelves, but the review article was until today suspiciously clear of annotations.

https://churchsociety.org/blog/entry/churchman_autumn_2017

Review Article: Your Will Be Done: Exploring Eternal Subordination, Divine Monarchy and Divine Humility (Latimer Study 83) London: Latimer Trust (2016) by Michel J. Ovey
Mark Smith with response from Nick Tucker

Mark Smith summarises the argument in some detail and gives Mike Ovey's book two cheers. It is clearly not Arian and it gives a fresh and stimulating account of divine Sonship.

However:

 "We may certainly say that the incarnate Son submits to the Father as man; we may go further, and suggest that this submission reflects *something* of the way the Son relates in eternity to the Father. But the shape that such a "submission" might take in the eternal and unchanging life of the one God is pretty hard to conceive of, let alone dissect systematically. This is precisely why, on the whole, the church fathers had little interest in exploring the question of the Son's eternal submission. They generally neither condemn it, not explicitly affirm it - they just don't go there. They are instead content to define the distinct relation of the Son to the Father in terms of the Son's begottenness (that is, his mode of eternal generation from the Father), and to leave it at that - lest in saying any more they unwittingly import ianppropriately creaturely or temporal concepts into the Godhead (cf. Gr. Naz. Or. 29. 30; Aug. De Trin. I-IV). In this way, whilst Ovey's position is not straightforwardly contrary to the patristic witness, it does rather go against the grain of pro-Nicene thought as it developed from the Cappadocians onwards." Churchman 2017 131/3 p270f

Arguing that the Son submits to the Father in eternity risks tritheism and we must not read the Bible as if we believe there can only be one will in the incarnate Christ.

Eternal Relational Sumbission would probably be a better term than Eternal Functional Subordination. Or Eternal Filial Submission might be nice. 

But it is best to think that whilst there is order / taxis in the Trinity it is probably confusing and not sensible to speak of eternal submission. 

Nick Tucker (Churchman p274) thinks that Mike found Maximus the Confessor's distinction between will as faculty and actualised personal will helpful. Also, it is persons who act, not natures, he says.

Some further random lock down reflections

Some further random lock down reflections

One generalisation we can make is that people have responded to all this very differently e.g. in levels of anxiety or compliance.

Good routines and habits are very helpful and important. There is a lot to be said for exercise and diet and regular bedtimes for mental and physical health.

There is a real art to rest, relaxation and recreation. Some of us are not that good at knowing what to do to have fun or wind down. Or what might give us “flow” (creative happy, taken up, time seems to fly by). We are like the teenager who says, “I’m bored… and I don’t want to read a book: books are boring!”. We default to something like rubbish telly which we don’t really enjoy. Far better to start a list of shows we’d love to see.

 Even when some of us have had more time, we have not necessarily used it well. Doing good stuff or achieving is as much to do with energy, motivation, self-control and method as raw time. We should embrace the power of plodding. 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week for a year or three, much could be done. Spurts of intense work and enthusiasm can also be productive and some people depend on deadlines to get things done. In my experience, “I will get up an hour earlier to pray and read my Bible every day stating at 5am tomorrow” does not often last long” – maybe not even overnight! Ah, “tomorrow!”

Sometimes old dogs can learn new tricks. Sometimes they are even grateful for being taught them.

Necessity (when it is felt) can be the mother of invention (or at least copying).

Desperation can be the mother of prayer.

People sometimes have wonderful plans for the lives of others: “Someone should…”; “Maybe you could…”. “We should…” often means “you should…”

It is easy to criticise. Sometimes criticisms are justified. It is not easy to anticipate and lead or get everything right.

One cannot please all the people all of the time. It is hard to totally please anyone ever.

The government suffers from the idea that the government must solve all problems. They are partly to blame for holding themselves up as potential Messiahs.

Some people in some communities have pulled together and served incredibly, sometimes with a measure of virtue signally and making sure their good deeds are seen by others, but, nevertheless, there are many people of apparently incredibly good will.

Some random reflections on lock down so far

Mrs L has been wonderful.

We live in an age and situation of incredible abundance and variety e.g. of the availability of so many varieties and brands and types of fresh and dried pasta the mind boggles.

It is fantastic what can be delivered to one's door for a reasonable sum in the next day or two.

The smallest lack or inconvenience vexes us quite disproportionately. What? Still no wholemeal macaroni?!

Whilst being far from rich, we should be more thankful than we are for relative financial security, independence and freedom. Even if we sometimes have money worries, we do not fear how to pay for this week's food. We have forgotten this is not the historical or contemporary norm.

We give thanks for a reasonably large house and garden and a fantastic village shop we can walk to and beautiful countryside and community.

Our nation could be a lot better and a lot worse. There is room for better politics but we should be grateful for an element of public service and rule of law.

Homeschooling or indeed anything with small children is hard. Our six year old needs pretty much constant help with most academic tasks. Our eight year old needs a fair bit of encouragement and re-direction. Quite what the schools do and how I don't really know!

Technology is wonderful. Thank God for the interweb.

Driving for about an hour to many meetings has been a massive waste of time.

The Rector is actually relatively wanted and appreciated.

People are generally grateful to be prayed for and for a friendly phone call.

There is sometimes a spiritual interest.

Our society longs for community and embraces communal ritual and public expressions of faith / hope / love etc.

The routine of Morning and Evening Prayer with some silence and lots of Bible is highly desirable.

I love teaching the Bible and especially interactively and actually I am quite good at that and ought to try to prioritise it.

We do quite a bit of stuff as churches which is not of the essence.

We miss our church buildings and Holy Communion and one another.

We should pause from time to time to reflect and give thanks.

Further thoughts on war and death from the lectionary readings for VE Sunday

I guess most armies in history have prayed to their god or gods for victory.

On St George’s Day, which is also Shakespeare’s birthday, of course, I enjoyed listening to the great eve of battle speech from Henry V:

“Cry God for Harry, England and St George.”

But no doubt the French prayed too!

The second world war was somewhat unusual amongst wars, perhaps, in that it was very clear who the good guys were!

No doubt the Allies were far from perfect.

And war is a terrible evil whoever is doing the fighting and winning.

But it became increasingly clear that WWII was obviously a just war:

It was a response to expansionist aggression and in maintenance of a treaty.

But more than that: it was a moral crusade to extinguish the evil of Nazism.

When the allies liberated concentration camps, some said, well, now we have really seen why we fight.

Anyway, we could imagine this Psalm which we’re about to read being prayed in a crisis.

David, probably the author of this Psalm, was a warrior king with plenty of enemies.

And we could imagine this prayer prayed on the eve of a battle or when the fighting was going grimly.

No doubt soldiers, sailors and airmen of the second world war would have prayed this Psalm too.

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

I know the Corona virus has curtailed the marking of VE day, but I was rather disappointed to see no mention of God at all at the national commemoration on Friday.

That is in stark contrast to the original VE day when both Churchill and the King made reference to thankfulness to God.

In fact, on 8^th May 1945, when the Prime Minister made a short speech in the House of Commons announcing Victory and then he said:

“[Mr Speaker,] Sir, with your permission [I would like now] to move 'That this House do now attend at the church of St. Margaret, Westminster, to give humble and reverent thanks to Almighty God for our deliverance from the threat of German domination.'”

Likewise George VI began his VE day broadcast to the Nation by saying:

“Today we give thanks to Almighty God for a great deliverance.

Speaking from our Empire’s oldest capital city, war-battered but never for one moment daunted or dismayed – speaking from London, I ask you to join with me in that act of thanksgiving.”

And he ended that broadcast by saying:

“There is great comfort in the thought that the years of darkness and danger in which the children of our country have grown up are over and, please God, for ever.

We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will.

To that, then, let us turn our thoughts on this day of just triumph and proud sorrow; and then take up our work again, resolved as a people to do nothing unworthy of those who died for us and to make the world such a world as they would have desired, for their children and for ours.

This is task to which now honour binds us.

In the hour of danger we humbly committed our cause into the Hand of God, and He has been our Strength and Shield.

Let us thank Him for His mercies, and in this hour of Victory commit ourselves and our new task to the guidance of that same strong Hand.”

I am not claiming that either Churchill or the King were especially profound theologians, but we might think that war had taught them and many of the British people some of the lessons of this Psalm:

That however strong and mighty we may be, even if we are great and powerful, say we are the king of the largest empire the world has ever seen, we are none of us self-sufficient.

None of us made ourselves.

We will all face challenges too great for ourselves alone.

Every moment we depend on our creator, but sometimes we need a crisis to bring that fact him to us.

We all need a rock of refuge, a strong fortress to which we can go.

We need, in short, a Saviour, a God!

Our times are in his hands.

And so we are fools if we do not consciously and deliberately entrust ourselves to him, humbly seeking to believe his Word and do his will.

That is the example, too, of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr in our next reading, who also faced a life and death decision – a crisis moment of his own.

Like so many in the Second World War, he made the ultimate sacrifice.

He had found something worth dying for.

Just as Christ had committed himself to God the Father as he died, so the dying Stephen commits himself to Jesus as he breathes his last.

Jesus the Man is risen, exalted and glorified.

He reigns in heaven at the right hand of God.

All kingdom and power and dominion for ever and ever has been given to this Jesus.

He is the one who will right all wrongs and bring in eternal peace and justice.

As we look to him and his coming kingdom, we can go to our Last Sleep with confidence, when the time comes.

In our sophisticated and apathetic age, we might do well to ask ourselves:

What are we really living for?

And is there anything for which we would die?

If, like a soldier dying on the battle field or like Stephen himself about to breath his last, what would be our vision of the future, our hope, our prayer?

Acts 7:55-end

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

On John 14 see: http://marclloyd.blogspot.com/2020/05/well-meet-again.html