Hymns of the Church – God of Our Fathers, Unto Thee– 23 October 2018, Anno Domini(In the Year of our Lord)

Hymns of the Church – God of Our Fathers, Unto Thee– 23 October 2018, Anno Domini(In the Year of our Lord)

            Though we will celebrate the National Day of Thanksgiving in America on the 22^nd of November 2018, it is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O LORD, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.(from 1928 BCP, Communion Service, pg 76) Such is the spirit of the wonderful English hymn of Thanksgiving composed by Arthur Campbell Ainger in 1906. 

The hymn was later adapted to the tune of TRAFALGAR by Hugo Sidney Nicholson in 1916. This version of the hymn is taken from the Standard Edition, Hymns Ancient and Modern, published by the Church of England. (1922)

God of Our Fathers, Unto Thee

God of our fathers, unto Thee

Our fathers cried in danger’s hour,

And then Thou gavest them to see

The acts of Thine almighty power.

They cried to Thee, and Thou didst hear;

They called on Thee, and Thou didst save;

And we their sons today draw near

Thy name to praise, Thy help to crave.

Refrain

Lord God of hosts, uplift Thine hand,

Protect and bless our fatherland.

Thine is the majesty, O Lord,

And Thine dominion over all;

When Thou commandest, at Thy word

Great kings and nations rise or fall.

For eastern realms, for western coasts,

For islands washed by every sea,

The praise be giv’n, O God of hosts,

Not unto us, but unto Thee. 

Refrain

  

If in Thy grace Thou should’st allow

Our fame to wax through coming days,

Still grant us humbly, then as now,

Thy help to crave, Thy name to praise.

Not all alike in speech or birth,

Alike we bow before Thy throne;

One fatherland throughout the earth

Our Father’s noble acts we own.

Refrain

God of our fathers, unto Thee Our fathers cried in danger’s hour, And then Thou gavest them to see The acts of Thine almighty power. They cried to Thee, and Thou didst hear; They called on Thee, and Thou didst save; And we their sons today draw near Thy name to praise, Thy help to crave.It is a fact that the faith of the fathers should be truly descended to that of the sons and daughters. In our modern day when families and marriages are under attack from nihilists and socio-communist engineers, the dutiful teaching of father’s to their sons and daughters concerning the meaning and purpose of our God-given days has suffered lapse. How do the youth of our land know to call upon a God and Father whom they have never known? If the Providential history of our nation were properly taught in public schools, there would yet be the spark of faith to recognize the snares and dangers of the modern assault upon freedom and liberty, and of the only source of true liberty being vested in the Creator of the World. But, happily, the burdens of hard oppression and unjust government often awaken the sleeping spirit of man to relearn the source of his salvation in the Lord whom he may have offended in his former ways. That is the hope of the nations, and of the helplessly trodden underfoot. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. (Psalm 107:27-32)Just as the houses and families of the fathers Zacchaeus and the Nobleman of Capernaum were brought to faith by their fathers, so should our own beloveds be brought to the same salvation.

 Thine is the majesty, O Lord, And Thine dominion over all; When Thou commandest, at Thy word Great kings and nations rise or fall. For eastern realms, for western coasts, For islands washed by every sea, The praise be giv’n, O God of hosts, Not unto us, but unto Thee. There is no true American, and something else. We are not African AND American. We are not Chinese AND American. We are not German AND American. We are either true-blue American, or we belong to a divided allegiance. The same is true of God our Father. We are not born of faith in half-bred circumstances. There is none other but God – not God AND Baptist.  Not God AND Presbyterian. Not God AND Anglican – but altogether we belong wholly to God or to the world only. My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.(1 Sam 2:1-4) 

Though our doctrine and faith may be defined by our biblical understanding as articulated by a denominational view, the truth stands eternally  immutable that God is forever true and every man a liar to the contrary.  . . . . let God be true, but every man a liar. (Romans 3:4) The Sovereignty of God is not limited to the righteous believer, but to all Creation (including the cruel and wrathful potentate). God used the fallen Samson to bring judgment on the heathen, and He even called Cyrus, by name, of the Medes and Persians, to conquer Babylon and set His people free to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem.

 If in Thy grace Thou should’st allow Our fame to wax through coming days, Still grant us humbly, then as now, Thy help to crave, Thy name to praise. Not all alike in speech or birth, Alike we bow before Thy throne; One fatherland throughout the earth Our Father’s noble acts we own. The believing remnant of America has been granted a time of reprieve to consider the works of the Lord and to appeal to His Sovereign Will and Providence in the affairs of the nation. If we fail, the failure will be profound for our nation. The hordes of evil doers and unbelievers are banging at the gate to enslave her inhabitants. How shall we respond? If we are as the seamen referenced in Psalm 107 who reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end, what shall be the response of the righteous of the land of our nativity? If we are at wits end, should we not call upon Him whose wisdom is from everlasting to everlasting. We cannot own the answers to our national predicament, but the Lord does, indeed, have those answers. 

The church is undergoing a mutiny of godless men in her midst while her ship is headed into stormy seas. They have ‘crept in unawares’ and have gained the better places of leadership. They propose the very things that God condemns. They are not part of the Holy Church but persist as parasites and deadly organism within her blood. It is high time for the seasoned crew to regain the helm and appeal to the Master Seaman to right our ship and bring her to safe harbor. 

Can you even imagine the response of the western world only fifty years ago if our people were persecuted for not embracing homosexual marriage – of not only rejecting abortion, but the ruthless murder of the infant at the very gates of sunlight and birth? 

I know not what lies ahead for America and the Christian world at large; but I do return thanksgiving to God for preserving us a Godly and free nation among the nations of the earth for these many years, and for His Providential Hand in guiding our Founding Fathers in establishing that nation upon Godly precepts. And I also pray for whatever judgment He may bring of hard persecution and chains if it will awaken us to those wonderful truths which define the Ancient Landmark of our faith, and the Old Paths wherein our fathers walked.

Sermon Notes - Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity - Saint Andrew’s Anglican Orthodox Church - 21 October 2018, Anno Domini

Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity

The Collect.

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RANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed[1]from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

  

           As this biblically-based prayer of Collect clearly reveals, forgiveness and comfort can only come to those who are faithful to the Lord. We must know and believe that the Blood of Christ is sufficient to cover our sins, and that He is ready and willing to grant pardon according to our faith. It is through this means of faith and pardon that our minds can be still and stayed on Him during every turbulent storm on the seas of life.

The Epistle

Ephesians vi. 10.

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Y brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

No passage of the Holy Scriptures could be more germane to the age in which we live than this from Ephesians 6. We have spiritually disarmed our nation and people. We stagger like drunken men in a confused and immoral political quagmire. We have deserted the Old Paths of our fathers, and have removed the Ancient Landmark of God’s Word from every public and prominent place. God has not abandoned America – America has abandoned the God of her First Love.

The Gospel.

John iv. 46

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HERE was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judæa into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judæa into Galilee. 

            My dear friends, I have known most of you for the greater part of your lives. I enrolled some of you in your first public school classes and have watched you proudly excel in school and, later, university. I know you, and you know me! We do not look for signs of proof of each other’s love and friendship because we KNOW the souls of each other. The same is expected of us by our Lord in our approach to Him.

In understanding Holy Scripture, context is everything. We do not lift words and phrases here and there and join them in some extravagant and transcendental manner to reveal a profound and new theory of God. All of God’s Word is built upon a solid and building foundation of truth and reason. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. (Isaiah 28:10) 

            In order to fully grasp the deeper nuance in today’s text, we need to consider those events which preceded the nobleman coming to Jesus. Be advised this miracle of healing for the son of the nobleman was the second miracle that Jesus performed in Galilee – the first being the miracle of turning six large jars of water into wine at a happy wedding feast. Remember that he simply told the servants to fill those six jars with water. They did not ask why, but obeyed implicitly. They may have wondered why, but they did not ask. 

            Again in the preceding chapter 3, Jesus has a dialogue with a leading Jewish ruler named Nicodemus. What did Nicodemus say to Jesus that night? Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  (John 3:2)Nicodemus believed Jesus came from God based solely upon the miracles that he wrought. 

            After the encounter with Nicodemus, Jesus purposefully travels the longer route through Samaria in returning to Galilee. Why? Because from the beginning of days, He had decreed an appointment with a woman of somewhat blemished repute at Jacob’s Well outside Sychar. (see the preceding text above today’s – John 4:1-42) This woman came in the heat of the day to draw water. I will abbreviate the account for the purpose of saving time. During her exchange with Jesus, she came to know Him as a man, then as a prophet, and finally as the Messiah. She left her coveted water bucket and ran back to Sychar to proclaim to all that she had met the Messiah. Strangely, despite her reputation, everyone believed her words. When we speak out of a convicted heart, our words take on a new quality of authority. These men then came to the Well to see Jesus face-to-face. 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word; 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:39-42)

            Please notice the difference in faith between the encounter with Nicodemus and that of the Samaritan men of Sychar! Nicodemus believed because he had witnessed the miracles (signs and wonders) performed by Christ in Jerusalem. But the Samaritans (non-Jews) believed because of His words. They came to meet Jesus – not to see signs and wonders. Unfortunately, the great majority of modern day churches are more concerned with making money by counterfeit signs and wonders just as were the Jews fascinated thereby.

            Do you ever wonder why Jesus was troubled when He saw all the Jews weeping at the death of Lazarus? When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. (John 11:33)It was not because of any mournful passion, but for the lack of faith of those who KNEW Him – at least informally. He knew that He would raise Lazarus, but these people would not believe that possible unless He proved it to them. That kind of faith is weak at best.

            Now comes the nobleman to Jesus. Naturally, he is grieved at the imminent death of his son. He was reduced to desperation and even begging if necessary. Love will compel us to act in ways we would never act as cold, impassionate human beings. He had a weaker faith based on a desperate hope. He had heard of Jesus and His miracles done in Jerusalem. So he came seeking even the hope that He might heal his son. He besought Jesus to come down to Capernaum and heal his son. Herein is revealed the shallowness of his faith, but even shallow faith can become strong and invincible. Every worldly physician at least needs to examine the patient in order to heal; so this nobleman believed that the physical presence of Jesus was necessary if He would heal his son. He had faith that Jesus could call on the powers of God to act, but he did not realize fully that Jesus was also God. We sometimes limit the due reverence and awe in which we must hold our Lord. We attempt to limit his power by our little faith. Shame on us! 

            The seemingly scolding response of Jesus is to test the depth of the man’s kernel of faith. Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.The Jews of Galilee were no different from those in Jerusalem – they desired signs and wonders from our Lord. Jesus took umbrage at the thought that the power of His love and compassion always required some miracle. Of course, He intended to heal the man’s son from the outset; but He would prefer we believe for WHO He is and not for what He can DO!  Go thy way; thy son liveth. Perhaps the nobleman’s faith grew from the authority which was starkly obvious in the voice of our Lord, for he believed and immediately departed back to Capernaum in faith. At least he believed MORE! See the rest of the account.

51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. This nobleman, like us, could not resist testing the veracity of his faith. He inquired the exact time of his son’s recovery. It was 1 P.M. the previous day – the precise time of the Lord’s promised healing, so the man’s faith was fortified by this miracle.

            What is the result of a father coming to saving faith? Does it not have a profound bearing on all who love him? Remember Zacchaeus? He was saved, and his whole household. Faith is covenantal. It has the effect of dew failing on the morning flowers. What happened to the household of the nobleman when his faith was firmed?  53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

            We all have moments of doubt and insecurity just as children desire reassurance that there are no monsters in their darkened bedrooms. But I can assure you of this: God will always affirm our faith at some point. We have decisions to make. We know the RIGHT decision, but it seems dangerous or unprofitable. We must make the decision of righteousness. If we do, our faith will be confirmed – either sooner, or later as on the road to Capernaum. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 

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[1] We need not be reminded our souls are no more self-cleansing than the barnyard stall. Having been found more spiritually dead than was Lazarus in his physical death, there needs to be heard that same Voice that calls us forth from the tomb of spiritual death just as Lazarus was called forth from the stone-carved tomb at Bethany That Voice belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ. Lazarus had nothing to do with Christ coming to Bethany and standing without his tomb. In fact, he knew NOTHING of it, or of anything else, for he was DEAD. So were we ere Christ called us forth. Our service and worship should be in humility and not in flambouyant ways to attract the attention of men. When we flee to our closets, or the quiet of the wilderness, it is then that our spiritual ears are most keen to hear the voice of God.

The Immutable Word – 19 October 2018, Anno Domini

 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.  

(Hebrews 13:8)

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

(Malachi 3:6)

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?  

(Numbers 23:19)

The one quality that distinguishes a worthy friend is that of ‘unchangeableness.’ A friend who equivocates, or demurs in commitment, is not such a friend after all.  We describe such friends with the diminutive expression – fair weather friends. The Prodigal Son had many such friends in the Far Country to which he wandered out of his father’s oversight; but when his money was thrown away, so were those fair weather friends. My father used to tell me that if a man was able to possess only one truly good friend over a lifetime, he would be blessed indeed. Of course, five or six such friends would be a blessing beyond measure of common arithmetic. It is inspiring to know that every true-born Christian believer does indeed have a friend that is true hearted, unchanging, and sticks closer than a brother in the Lord Jesus Christ. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)  It is true that our Lord Jesus Christ has shown Himself more friendly toward us than any brother, mother, or father could do in dying for our redemption at Calvary’s Mount. He is a friend beyond the measure of a brother. He was one to whom sin was a total revulsion; yet, He took our sins upon Himself in complete humiliation on the cross. He made a promise which He can never abrogate – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.(John 6:47)

It is a comfort to know that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end! I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: (Revelations 1:11) He created all that we see and know yesterday. (see John 1:1-3)  All things today consist and exist by the power of His Word: Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.(Hebrew 1:3)  And tomorrow, He shall make all things new – the same Hand that made all things from the beginning: . . . Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:5-7)  He will renew His glorious Creation that has been marred by man’s sin. How marvelous a privilege and a grace!

The beginning never changes, nor will the end. But we mortal humans in between on that spectrum do change with the fickle disposition of a teen-age girl. God is molding our lives and drawing us back to that musical score between Alpha and Omega that brings melody and harmony to His favored Creation. He has written a beautiful symphony into His Creation model which He has placed at the disposal of all who love Divine Music – the Holy Bible. 

As long as all of His believing choristers sing from the same sheet of Music, the Church is in harmony. But when the notes are skipped, sung with levity, or carelessly followed, the result is an uncertain sound. In castigating the Corinthians for their misapplication of the term ‘tongues, or languages,’ Paul said: For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?  So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.  There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.  Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. (1 Corinthians 14:8-11) 

          

The following is related by Britain’s Lloyd Douglas. Once when he called on his old violin teacher, he asked, “What is the good news today?”  The old man went over to a tuning fork that was suspended by a cord and struck it. “That, my friend is an ‘A’! he said. It was an ‘A’ yesterday. It is an ‘A’ today. It will be an ‘A’ tomorrow, next week, and for a thousand years. The soprano upstairs warbles off key. The tenor next door flats his high notes. The piano across the hall is out of tune. There is discord and disharmony all around me. But that, my friend, is an ‘A.’ And for me, that is good news every day.”

Well, our Lord Jesus Christ is an ‘A’ yesterday, today, and forever.  Thanks be to God, we can depend on that!  It is shocking to the rational mind that any would not desire, above all else, to be a subject of that sovereign Lord. I saw a modern work in a book store last weekend which was entitled, Heaven is the Reason. Well, that may sound proper to the shallow minded, but it has no place in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Christian is not calculating on the rewards he receives, but rather on the privileges he enjoys, in Christ. If there were no Heaven or Hell, would the committed Christian not yet be dedicated to serving His Lord? I think so.

My favorite Anglican cleric, Bishop JC Ryle has said: Of all the doctrines of the Bible, none is so offensive to human nature as the doctrine of God’s sovereignty. Neither Heaven appeals as greatly, nor Hell repels as forcefully, as this one doctrine. 

  

We may classify the unchangeable nature of God by understanding the words of Augustine of Hippo: He truly is, because He is unchangeable. This is far greater wisdom expressed than many might first recognize. Time itself is measured in change or movement. But God claims a special nature: I AM THAT I AM! God is the Eternal Present!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)The globe of the earth turns, and the shadow of night follows the trailing day; but there is no such shadow of turning with God. 

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.  They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:  But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. (Psalm 102:25-27)

One last point for thought: God created no soul that will ever suffer extinction. Each will live on in eternity – someplace. The salient point raised by this truth is simply, Where shall our souls spend eternity – in Heaven or in the outer darkness of Hell? 

Two profound passages of Scripture may satisfy your needs in the matter: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-11) and,  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  (2 Tim 2:15-16)

Watchman, Tell Us of the Night – 16 October 2018, Anno Domini

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HE burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? 12 The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come. (Isaiah 21:11-12)

            This hymn is one for all seasons, but more particularly one which blesses us at the Christmas Season of Lights and Love.  The lyrics are the composition of John Bowring in 1825, and the musical score is by that great writer of music, Lowell Mason.

            An accomplished and renowned author of classical hymns of the present day, Richard Adams, describes this hymn in the following words: 

            This hymn evokes a vivid childhood memory.. Two men with deep, sonorous voices sang this song at the Christmas Eve midnight service each year for as long as I can remember. The church was dark, the watchman’s solitary lantern giving the only light in a hushed sanctuary. The watchman stood at the altar, and the traveler slowly made his way down the aisle, as the two sang the question-reply verses to each other. It was hard to miss the symbolism of the lonely traveler making his way to the One who sheds light on a dark world. Richard Adams, a writer of a great number of classical hymns for our day.

Watchman, Tell Us of the Night

Watchman, tell us of the night,

What its signs of promise are.

Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s height,

See that glory beaming star.

Watchman, does its beauteous ray

Aught of joy or hope foretell?

Traveler, yes—it brings the day,

Promised day of Israel.

Watchman, tell us of the night;

Higher yet that star ascends.

Traveler, blessedness and light,

Peace and truth its course portends.

Watchman, will its beams alone

Gild the spot that gave them birth?

Traveler, ages are its own;

See, it bursts o’er all the earth.

Watchman, tell us of the night,

For the morning seems to dawn.

Traveler, darkness takes its flight,

Doubt and terror are withdrawn.

Watchman, let thy wanderings cease;

Hie thee to thy quiet home.

Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace,

Lo! the Son of God is come!

Watchman, tell us of the night, What its signs of promise are. Traveler, o’er yon mountain’s height, See that glory beaming star. Watchman, does its beauteous ray Aught of joy or hope foretell? Traveler, yes—it brings the day, Promised day of Israel. The long night of silence for Israel lasted 400 years from the utterance of the last Old Testament prophet (Malachi) to the birth of the Sun of Righteousness who is the Light of the World. Such an endurance of darkness makes the appearing of Light even more glorious and stark. Men need reassurance of the coming light when darkness has prevailed too long. Our own nation has entered a period of self-induced darkness which needs a revealing Light to show us the way from our demise. As mentioned in the introductory text from Isaiah, this time of wonder and anxiety comes when night has persisted  – even from ‘Seir’ (land of Assyria/Babylon.) The fall of Babylon (in its ancient context) heralded the fall of her drunken king (Balshazzar), but also the release of the Children of Bondage back to Jerusalem. Just as the Hebrews suffered the long Babylonian night of captivity, we in America suffer from corrupt and immoral politics of men and women whom we have given the scepter of authority. It is far more difficult to wrest that authority back, once given. But let us pray that the Spirit of God will once again “move upon the face of the waters” of America’s soul and bring the gleaming eastern Light back to our decadent shores. 

“Watchman, tell us of the night; Higher yet that star ascends. Traveler, blessedness and light, Peace and truth its course portends. Watchman, will its beams alone Gild the spot that gave them birth? Traveler, ages are its own; See, it bursts o’er all the earth.” That ancient Star was observed by the corrupt prophet, Balaam, in the great wilderness: “He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: THERE SHALL COME A STAR OUT OF JACOB, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.” (Num 24:16-17) Darkness and deceit cannot abide the Light. It flees helplessly from the Light, just as a snail flees the coming sunrise. (Psalm 58:8)Is it not obvious that the Washington swamp fears any light dispersed from above? We need not bear inordinate fear of that which shall come upon this nation and, indeed, the whole world lest we turn from our self-destructive ways for we have read the end of the story in Revelations. We abide in faith and righteousness awaiting the promise of God: “19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19)

            “Watchman, tell us of the night, For the morning seems to dawn. Traveler, darkness takes its flight, Doubt and terror are withdrawn. Watchman, let thy wanderings cease; Hie thee to thy quiet home. Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace, Lo! the Son of God is come!” Have we borne the long night of the soul in tears and mourning? Though we have angered the Sovereign Power on High, “His anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)When the lion and the tiger walk the long night through, the day comes when all is revealed and fear is vanquished. Such a Light as the world has never seen will soon dawn, and the wicked will be gathered by the angels and cast into the fire. Then, there can be no more darkness for ALL is Light!

            Read the words of that great Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, regarding this subject:

God's prophets and ministers are as watchmen in the city in a time of peace, to see that all is safe. As watchmen in the camp in time of war, to warn of the motions of the enemy. After a long sleep in sin and security, it is time to rise, to awake out of sleep. We have a great deal of work to do, a long journey to go; it is time to be stirring. After a long dark night is there any hope of the day dawning? What tidings of the night? What happens to-night? We must never be secure. But many make curious inquiries of the watchmen. They would willingly have nice questions solved, or difficult prophecies interpreted; but they do not seek into the state of their own souls, about the way of salvation, and the path of duty. The watchman answers by way of prophecy. There comes first a morning of light, and peace, and opportunity; but afterward comes a night of trouble and calamity. If there be a morning of youth and health, there will come a night of sickness and old age; if a morning of prosperity in the family, in the public, yet we must look for changes. It is our wisdom to improve the present morning, in preparation for the night that is coming after it. Inquire, return, come.. We are urged to do it quickly, for there is no time to trifle. Those that return and come to God, will find they have a great deal of work to do, and but little time to do it in.

—Matthew Henry Concise

Sermon Notes - Twentieth Sunday after Trinity - Saint Andrew’s Anglican Orthodox Church- 14 October 2018, Anno Domini

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity

The Collect.

O

 ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

A

ND Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, ² The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, ³ And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. ⁴ Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my 

fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. ⁵ But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: ⁶ And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. ⁷ But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. ⁸ Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. ⁹ Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. ¹⁰ So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. ¹¹ And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: ¹² And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. ¹³ Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen.  (Matthew 22)

Our text for this Sunday builds upon the Person of Christ as both Lord and King. A King is planning a grand wedding feast for His Son. In Matthew 21:33-46, He is represented as the Lord of the Vineyard whose Son the workers killed along with other men who represented Him. Today, He has gone to great expense and time-consuming preparation to insure that every detail was perfect in preparation of a Wedding Feast for His son. This is Christ royal role as King.

Let’s examine the nature, first of all, of this invitation: it is extended to everyone, wide and far.

It will be rejected by the heartless and indifferent - a rejection that provokes the justifiable ANGER of GOD! – Each of us exists either under His kind favor or His great anger. Under God's anger, or under God's love, we must be, whether we will or not. We cannot flee from His presence. We cannot go from His Spirit. If we are loving, and so rise up to heaven, God is there—in love. If we are cruel and wrathful, and so go down to hell, God is there also—in wrath. With the clean He will be clean; with the disrespectful man He will be disdainful. On us, and us alone, it depends whether we shall live under God's anger or live under God's love.

The great King had composed a list of friends and subjects whom he had befriended with many kindnesses in the past. He was sure that they would be honored to come to the feast.

But these ungrateful acquaintances would not come. He came first to His own, but His own received Him not. 

The King was grieved that these people, whom he had helped so many ways, would not even honor His own Son. ⁴ Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and myfatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

He was a King and unaccustomed to begging, but, for His Son’s sake, he besought the people to please come and honor His Son. 

How did these vile people respond to the King’s pleadings?

⁵ But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: ⁶ And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

The Great Sovereign of all power was angered:

⁷ But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

In the year 70 AD (about 37 years after the crucifixion of Christ), the Roman commander, Titus, erected battlements against the walls of Jerusalem. After a prolonged siege in which the inhabitants of Jerusalem actually ate rats, and their own babies, the walls fell and Titus butchered every male, and took the females captive as slaves to the rough Roman guards.

 ⁸ Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy

All who reject the invitation of Christ are unworthy of His Grace and Love.

God the Father is seeking a bride for His only Begotten Son. He sent prophets and priest to invite ancient Israel to come unto Him. But what was done to these righteous from Abel to Zaccharias? 

³⁴ Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: ³⁵ That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.(Matthew 24:34-35)

When the servants (prophets) were murdered by the King’s subjects (old Israel), the King sends forth his messengers to find others. None were to be ignored. Every person, regardless of race, wealth, worth, or character were to be invited (the new Israel). All who WILL, may COME. But those who retain their old, wicked self-wills (free wills), are rejected.

. ⁹ Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

The Apostles went forth to all nations following the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, inviting all to come. Many ware called, but FEW are CHOSEN. 

¹⁰ So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests

Many are found by the servants (ministers) and are called, but simply being called to the throne of God is not enough: one must be chosen as well. God calls great numbers – in fact, all who will hear His voice, He calls. But hearing the voice of God requires, also, that we respond in obedience. Those in whose heart the Holy Spirit sets an ANCHOR are drawn to the Throne of Grace.

We may receive an invitation in the mail to visit with the President of the United States, but this will never happen unless we respond to the invitation.

We must come to Christ, not slovenly or sloppily dressed, but in that finest and most respectful apparel of His purchased White robe of Righteousness. And our demeanor must reflect that respect and reverence in His Presence as well. That covering for our sins was foreshadowed in the death of the first completely innocent animal whose life God took to cover the sins of Adam and Eve in the Garden at Eden. (Genesis 3:21)

¹¹ And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

We should never be careless in our service to Christ. We must be animated by the strong love we have for our precious souls. We must be fervent and mindful of every detail (Commandment).

We dare not come before Christ, under any circumstance, as His enemy. He considers all who come His Friends unless they prove unworthy through dress (lifestyle) or manners (behavior and appearance).

The King rebukes the man who came unprepared to show respect for the King or His Son:

 ¹² And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless

This man had not received willingly the white robe of righteousness(salvation) which the father offers as a covering for our nakedness (sins). 

On that day when we go before the White Throne of Judgment, if we have been desperate sinners, we will be as speechless in our defense as the woman taken in adultery. So was this man.

Our Obedience to the Call of God made here on terra firma will decide our destinies in eternity – either heaven or hell.

¹³ Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen