Two Great Fears

[hadirfuss]

He guides them to their desired haven. —Psalm 107:23-32

Psalm 107 tells of “those who go down to the sea in ships” (v.23). Along their journey at sea, they see God as the One behind the tempestuous storm and the One who calms it. In the world of sailing vessels there were two great fears. One fear was of a terrible gale, and the other was of having no wind at all.

In “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) describes tempests and doldrums at sea. Two lines have become household words:

Water, water everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.

In doldrum latitudes, the wind dies down and a sailing ship remains stationary. Captain and crew are “stuck,” with no relief in sight. Eventually, with no wind, their water supply runs out.

Sometimes life demands that we weather a storm. At other times it puts us to the test of tedium. We may feel stuck. What we want most is just out of reach. But whether we find ourselves in a crisis of circumstance or in a place where the spiritual wind has been taken out of our sails, we need to trust God for guidance. The Lord, who is sovereign over changing circumstances, will eventually guide us to our desired haven (v.30). —Dennis Fisher


I will not fear the howling storms of doubt,
Nor shudder when I feel I’m all alone;
But I will trust my Savior as I shout:
“The Lord’s my helper—He is on the throne!” —Hess


God orders our stops as well as our steps.

 

[4Jesus]

Isaiah 41:1-13
"Coastlands, listen to Me in silence, And let the peoples gain new strength; Let them come forward, then let them speak; Let us come together for judgment. Who has aroused one from the east Whom He calls in righteousness to His feet? He delivers up nations before him, And subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, As the wind-driven chaff with his bow. He pursues them, passing on in safety, By a way he had not been traversing with his feet. Who has performed and accomplished it, Calling forth the generations from the beginning? 'I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He.'" The coastlands have seen and are afraid; The ends of the earth tremble; They have drawn near and have come. Each one helps his neighbour, And says to his brother, "Be strong!" So the craftsman encourages the smelter, And he who smoothes metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering, "It is good"; And he fastens it with nails, That it should not totter. "But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend, You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts, And said to you,' You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you. 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonoured; Those who contend with you will be as nothing, and will perish. You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing, and non-existent. For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'"

(bold emphise is mine)

 

[DeaconBob3]

How great an encouragement is our Lord