And yet for another week we are unable to gather physically in the Lord’s sanctuary for fellowship. Who knows when that will end eh? Only the Lord Himself? But though we are discomforted, we are not defeated, we can still fellowship in the virtual realm, through the wonders of modern technology.
And you know a strange but very possible thought occurred to me a short while ago, that the Lord did not allow this Coronavirus to descend upon us before, or until we had the ability to worship Him sufficiently through technology. All yuh think we God stupid or what eh! Especially when the pandemic was a means to bring us back to Him. (smile)
But be all of that as it may, it’s Sunday and we getting together to worship in faith through our many technical devices. So let’s get started, as usual with a song of praise and worship that is ever so appropriate for these calamitous times. And this one is for you Scotty mih brother. I know how you like your old time hymns. So I expect to hear your voice loud and clear as we sing the old favourite written by Philadelphia born Septimus Winner (1827-1902) titled ‘Whispering Hope.’ Altogether now, let’s raise our voices to heaven in rich, soulful harmony.
‘Soft as the voice of an angel, Breathing a lesson unheard, Hope with a gentle persuasion Whispers her comforting word: Wait till the darkness is over, Wait till the tempest is done, Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, After the shower is gone. (Refrain: Whispering hope, whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice, oh how welcome thy voice, Making my heart, making my heart, in its sorrow rejoice.) If, in the dusk of the twilight, Dim be the region afar, Will not the deepening darkness Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us, Why should the heart sink away? When the dark midnight is over, Watch for the breaking of day. [Refrain] Hope, as an anchor so steadfast, Rends the dark veil for the soul, Whither the Master has entered, Robbing the grave of its goal; Come then, oh, come, glad fruition, Come to my sad weary heart; Come, O Thou blest hope of glory, Never, oh, never depart. [Refrain]’
Oh my people, I’m sure that touched heaven’s heart, because when we talking of hope, there’s nowhere else to get a strong and sure and steadfast brand of it than from heaven itself. And it seems that Septimus used words from Hebrews as his reference for the hymn. ‘Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil (the Presence behind the veil). Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made (having become) a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.’ (Heb. 6:19-20)
And the scholars offer these explanations: ‘6:19-20. Starting at the end of verse 18, the author uses three pictures to demonstrate the security of being in Christ. First, it is described as a safe retreat for the believer, as were the six cities of refuge in the Old Testament to those allowed their protection (Num. 35:6-32). Second, our hope is sure and steadfast as is a well-placed, unbending anchor. Our anchor is not located in the deepest sea but in the highest heaven.
The third figure is that of a forerunner. Though the figure changes, the location does not. Our forerunner is likewise positioned in the sanctuary of heaven. As our forerunner, Jesus is far different from the Old Testament priests. In the sanctuary they could intercede for the people, but they could not lead the people in themselves. As our forerunner, Jesus has opened the way before us, that eventually (and certainly) we might enter in with Him.’
And yes friends, most of understand that Jesus tore down the veil that separated man from God when He died and became the official sacrificial lamb for all time, making it possible for us to now go directly to God than merely through the Old testament priests. He is now our high priest! But listen to this dissertation (smile) from the Hymnary.org website on the way Septimus uses the scripture verse nuh.
‘19. As an anchor, etc. It is a striking likeness when he compares faith leaning on God’s word to an anchor; for doubtless, as long as we sojourn in this world, we stand not on firm ground, but are tossed here and there as it were in the midst of the sea, and that indeed very turbulent; for Satan is incessantly stirring up innumerable storms, which would immediately upset and sink our vessel, were we not to cast our anchor fast in the deep.
For nowhere a haven appears to our eyes, but wherever we look water alone is in view; yea, waves also arise and threaten us; but as the anchor is cast through the waters into a dark and unseen place, and while it lies hid there, keeps the vessel beaten by the waves from being overwhelmed; so must our hope be fixed on the invisible God. There is this difference, — the anchor is cast downwards into the sea, for it has the earth as its bottom; but our hope rises upwards and soars aloft, for in the world it finds nothing on which it can stand, nor ought it to cleave to created things, but to rest on God alone.
As the cable also by which the anchor is suspended joins the vessel with the earth through a long and dark intermediate space, so the truth of God is a bond to connect us with himself, so that no distance of place and no darkness can prevent us from cleaving to him. Thus when united to God, though we must struggle with continual storms, we are yet beyond the peril of shipwreck. Hence he says, that this anchor is sure and steadfast, or safe and firm.
It may indeed be that by the violence of the waves the anchor may be plucked off, or the cable be broken, or the beaten ship be torn to pieces. This happens on the sea; but the power of God to sustain us is wholly different, and so also is the strength of hope and the firmness of his word.’
Oh Mama Mia! How beautiful and reassuring are those words eh my fellow believers in Christ! And I won’t spoil it by trying to add anything more to it…that is if I have anything more to add. (smile) So today, please, I implore us to keep on standing strong and sure and steadfast in the eternal hope that only Christ and heaven provide! Much LOVE!
…when hope diminishes here on earth…raise thy voice to Christ in heaven…so it can be replenished…
SCRIP-BITS 