Fourth Sunday after
Trinity.
The Collect.
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O
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GOD, the protector of all that trust in
thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply
upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through
things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O
heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The soaring majesty of the words of Martin Luther's, A Mighty Fortress, come to
mind in the reading of this Collect:
A
mighty fortress is our God,
a
bulwark never failing;
our
helper he amid the flood
of
mortal ills prevaling.
For
still our ancient foe
doth
seek to work us woe;
his
craft and power are great,
and
armed with cruel hate,
on
earth is not his equal.
This hymn was composed at a time when the protection of God's powerful hand
seemed most comforting to those, including Luther, who faced imminent of
possible martyrdom. A classical hymn is no less than a prayer put to music. Its
words are as immortal as the biblical truths that the hymn puts forth in
rhythmic prose.
Is God your help and fortress. Does He preserve you in the moments of hurt and
doubt, and prosper your hand in righteousness during times of prosperity? O
GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee. We see, not only in
this prayer, but in scripture itself, a thing condemned by the world but
practiced by God. God profiles and discriminates in his dealings with His
people. Those who do not trust in God may not claim the privilege of His
protection. He seeks those who have the faith to trust in Him under any and all
circumstances of life. Remember that there are only two families and classes
among all the people of the earth - past, present, and future - the family of
God, and the family of the Prince of Darkness. There is NO MIDDLE GROUND! Trust
is all important. We all tend to place our trust in SOMEHTING - our friends,
our job, our wealth, or our own hand. But trust misplaced is trust abandoned.
Trust is so important to God that He places it in the very center verse of Holy
Scripture: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence
in princes." (Psalms 118:9) The national motto of our United
States is "In God we Trust." We consider it of such importance that
we place it on every coin minted by our government. Sadly, the motto is dead
without the real trust that should back both our money and our motto.
When the storms and billows build upon the seas of your life, you may take
courage in the Psalmists words of encouragement and strength: "If I
take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even
there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."
(Psalms 139:9-10) If we have made our election in Christ sure, we may rely upon
the promises found in Isaiah: "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I
have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the
waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow
thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither
shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:1-2)
I went to visit the father of one of my young church family, a veteran
seemingly at the point of death, just this past Saturday evening., The man's
body was emaciated and he had a breathing tube in his throat and multiple IV's
attached. He seems lifeless as he lay there struggling for every breath. I
spoke softly to him and there was only a glimmer of understanding on his part.
After reading the 91st Psalm to him, he suddenly opened his blue eyes, looked
me in the face and grasped my hand. His tongue was swollen and protruding from
his mouth. He could not speak though I sensed he had something to say. After a
prayer for God's will to be worked in the body of this poor soul, I left under
the impression that I may never see him again this side of Jordan Waters - but
I did! The next evening, a relative of the man called to say that he had
undergone a remarkable improvement. I visited him again on Monday to find the
breathing tube removed and the man able to talk. I do not how much was due to
my prayer, but I do know that the man had taken heart at the words of God in
the 91st Psalm. He had heard words that he KNEW he could place his trust in -
and he has revived to the astonishment of the hospital staff who had previously
suggested taking the man off all life support. Even as the jaws of death
enclose us, we have the privilege to call upon our Lord of all help.
". . . without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy."
Apart from God there is NOTHING! There was only a void where the earth now
stands, and even the void was created by the Word of God. There is NO LIFE
apart from His loving provision. So there can be NO STRENGTH apart from God. He
is the PRIME MOVER and SUSTAINER of all things. And can there be holiness apart
from God. None whatsoever, for there are none righteous - no not ONE!
There can be no holy thought, no holy ground, apart from a Holy God to provide
it.
"Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy" God's
mercy is as abundant as a gushing fountain. We can never reach a point when we
believe we have had enough. It continually flows forth and bathes us in its
resplendent waters of light. If we magnify our Lord, He will magnify His
mercies upon us. ". . . that, thou being our ruler and guide, we
may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things
eternal." Do we not pray to get through the fires of life
un-scorched? In the burning building, as in the world of smoke and mirrors, we
desperately seek the way that leads to safety. We may grope and stumble until
the fires consume us because we have no Guide in the fires. But we do have a
strong Guide and Ruler who is our King and Sovereign. His eyes are forever on
His own. He will go through the fires with us, sheltering us with His wings,
and bring us, unscathed, to safety. But we must keep our hand, and our trust,
in Him during the danger. Those things of the world may cause us to break hold
of Christ and wonder into places that lead us to perish. Can we cast aside the
false glitter and dim lights of this world and keep our focus fixed on that
Light that never fails. If we are able to persevere to the last, we shall be
saved to enjoy the splendor of Heaven.
How can our saving mercies be granted on behalf One who has already gained the
Kingdom of His Father? How is Christ profited by our grant of mercy? "Grant
this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord."
The very dying desire of Christ was that we might be saved. His ordeal of
torture and earth was all for us. He purchased our salvation with His atoning
death if we will only place our trust in that mighty Salvation! It is for the
sake of His Son that God the Father will admit us into His Heaven as pure and
righteous sons of God. Have you placed your absolute trust in Him,
Friend?
