Dr. Peter Marshall Sermon
Dr. Peter Marshall Sermon
Dr Peter Marshall, Sunday 7 December 1941
GO DOWN, DEATH
James 4:14 “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
What a queer thing for James to say? It’s a strange statement to find in the New Testament, is it not? Is he being cynical? Is he joking?
Well, hardly.
If you look at the context in which this statement appears, you will see that James is speaking to those who make great assumptions as to the future, with never a thought of the contingency of life itself. He’s addressing himself to those who never think of God, and who act and live as though they had a mortgage on time; those who give no thought to the fact that they may never see tomorrow; those who act as though they had a long lease on life; as though they had immunity somehow; as though that cold clammy hand of the dread messenger would never touch their hearts.
Yet, death inevitably comes to the king in his palace, the beggar by the roadside, the animal in his hole.
But what is death? Is it to be blown out, like a candle in the wind? Is it a shivering void in which there is nothing that lives? Is is a cold space into which we are launched to be evaporated, or to disappear? Are we to believe that a half-mad eternal humorist tossed the worlds aloft and left their destiny to chance? That a man’s life is the development of a nameless vagrancy? That a hole in the ground six feet deep is his final heritage? There are a thousand insane things easier to believe than these! How can we believe that human personality will not survive when One who went into the grave and beyond came back to say, “Whosoever believeth in me shalt not perish, but have eternal life.”
In a house of which I know, a little boy, the only son, was ill of an incurable disease. Month after month the mother had tenderly read to him, nursed him, and played with him; hoping to keep him from realizing the dreadful finality of the doctor’s diagnosis. But as the weeks went by and he grew no better, the little fellow gradually began to understand the meaning of the term “death”–and he too knew that soon he was to die.
One day, the mother had been reading to him the stirring tales of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table, and of that last glorious battle in which so many fair knights met their deaths. As she closed the book, the boy lay silent for a moment, then asked the question that had been weighing on his childish heart.
“Mother, what is it like to die? Mother, does it hurt?
Quickly, tears sprang to her eyes and she fled into the kitchen, supposedly to tend to something on the stove. She knew it was a question with deep significance. She knew it must be answered. She leaned for an instant against the kitchen door and breathed a hurried prayer that the Lord would not let her break down in front of the boy; that he would tell her what to say.
And the Lord did tell her.
Immediately, she knew how to explain it to him. “Kenneth,” she said, as she returned to his room, “you remember how, when you were a little boy you would play so hard all day that when night came you were too tired even to undress and would tumble into your mother’s bed and fall asleep. In the morning, much to your surprise, you would wake up and find yourself in your own room in your own bed. You were there because someone had loved you and taken care of you. Your daddy had come with big strong arms and carried you to your own room. Kenneth, death is like that. We just wake up one morning to find ourselves in the other room; our own room where we belong, because the Lord Jesus has loved us.”
The lad’s shinning, trusting face, looking up into hers, told her that there would be no more fear; only love and trust in his little heart as he went to meet the Father in Heaven. He never questioned again, and several weeks later, he fell asleep just as she had said. That is what death is like.
Yet, in the life beyond, the question inevitably comes, “
with what body do we move?”
Certainly not with such a body as ours is today!
Not with rickets or a club foot!
Not with twisted spine or withered arm!
Not with calloused hands or wrinkled brow!
Not with a heart filled with the broken glass of vanquished dreams!
Not with the drunkard’s thirst, like the fires of hell!
Nor the sensualist’s lust, like gnawing worms!
Not with the bitter memories of a son’s crime or a daughter’s shame!
Not with the scar across the throat that a frenzied maniac made!
No!
Not with them do we make our entrance upon that larger stage. We rise, not clothed again in dying clay; not garbed once more with the faded garments of mortal flesh; but with the shining mercy of God.
If the Bible is true, and Christ has not deceived us, there awaits beyond the curtain of life that will never end, a life of reunion with loved ones, who, like ourselves, have trusted in the very presence of God. There shall be no more pain; no more sorrow; nor tears; nor parting; nor death–anymore. Age shall not weary, nor the years condemn. We shall enter into that for which we were created. It shall be the journey’s end for the heart and all its hopes. It shall be the end of the rainbow for the child explorers of God. We have His promise for that.
Let us pray.
Our father’s God, to Thee who are the author of our liberty, and under whom we have our freedom, we say our prayer. Make us ever mindful that we are the heirs of a great heritage, and the trustees of priceless things, lest we forget the price that was paid for them–or the cost that may yet have to be met to keep them. Make us strong, O God, in conviction with the insight of our perilous times and in the courage for our testing.
Amen.
A Change of Plans
A Change of Plans
Peter Marshall, chaplain to the US Senate, had a lifelong love for the sea. He was, therefore, particularly pleased when asked to preach the morning sermon at the US Naval Academy on Sunday, 7 December 1941. Deeply under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, he set aside his prepared marks at the last minute and preached a prophetic message he termed, Go Down Death! He took James 4:14 as his key verse, Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Within an hour after he finished, news of Japan’s attack at Pearl Harbour spread across the US. Many of the young men in the chapel that morning listened to their last peacetime sermon and would give their lives to defend their country and their freedom.
Break Through Prayer
Break Through Prayer
Break Through Prayer is a book written by Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle, for more than twenty-five years. He is the bestselling author of several books, including one of my all-time favourites, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. In the latter, he tells the story of what happened to his broken-down church in one of America’s meanest neighbourhoods. It is a riveting and powerful testimony of what the Holy Spirit can do when believers get serious about prayer and the Gospel. In the introduction to Break Through Prayer, Jim writes — ‘The following chapters are written in hopes that no one who reads this book will suffer the tragedy of a life summed up by these words from Scripture: “You do not have because you do not ask God.”’ James 4:2
The past two days, Solomon reminded us in chapter 15 of Proverbs that the prayer of the righteous or upright pleases God and is heard by Him. In contrast, God detests the sacrifices of the wicked. For example, the Bible calls the sacrifices of Cain, Saul and Balaam, all mixed with disobedience, an abomination to the Lord. Even more vile were the sacrifices of Absalom, Jezebel and many Pharisees, for it was nothing more than a cloak for wilful sin and open rebellion. In that sense, our omnipresent God is far away, inaccessible, and even “deaf” to their pleas! Unless they repent and radically turn away from their sins, God will not hear them.
Yet the Bible tells us that God accepted the prayers of Abel, David, a young Solomon, the prophets Elijah, Simeon and Anna, as well as Cornelius, whose prayers and gifts to the poor were accepted as a memorial offering before God. It is clear that prayers proceeding from an upright heart not only delight God but secure success, for God is graciously near the upright and heeds their calls for intervention. Listen to David in the following Psalms:
In Psalm 34, he writes, The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry… The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.
In Psalm 145, he confesses, The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfils the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
Even when there is no voice, God still hears. When Artaxerxes asks Nehemiah in chapter 2, what is it you want, it says then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king. This happens in one breath – praying to God while answering the king!
David acknowledges in Psalm 38:9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.
In Psalm 6: 8,9, David exclaims, Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: In his Gospel, John wrote that God does not listen to sinners; he listens to the godly person who does his will. One Bible commentator summarized it beautifully when he said: the quality of one’s living affects the effectiveness of one’s praying. As unconfessed sin is clearly an obstacle, even to a true believer, I pray that we will radically turn away from all that hinders the work of the Holy Spirit and obstructs the outcome of our prayers with renewed commitment this week.
The Eyes of the LORD
The Eyes of the LORD
I don’t know how many spy movies you’ve watched or detective books you’ve read, but in this age of electronics, I am pretty confident we are all familiar with bugging devices. Whether a politician, a business person with strategic ties or serving in a particular security unit, everyone has to be exceedingly careful of what they say when entering a strange setting, for these tiny but highly sensitive microphones can be anywhere. Such awareness will make anyone think twice before they open their mouths.
Yet, the omniscient God we serve hears everything we say and sees everything we do at all times. Hebrews 4:13 says that “all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” In other words, God saw Noah in the ark, Joseph in prison and David with his father’s sheep. He saw Hezekiah on his sick bed, three young men in the fiery furnace, Jonah in the whale, and Nehemiah inspecting the walls of Jerusalem at night. He saw Nathanael under the fig tree, Peter on the rooftop, Herod on his throne, Lydia by the river-side, Paul in the storm and John on Patmos.
This puts yesterday’s scripture from Proverbs 15:3 into perspective — the eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. The word used for keeping watch is translated as scope in Greek and comes from skopos, as in a distant mark looked at, a goal or end. As it implies mental consideration, it can be translated as contemplate, look into, examine, inspect, continue to regard closely, notice carefully or pay attention to. As scope is used in the present tense in Proverbs 15:3, it implies that God is continually watching closely over all his creation. A truth that Peter repeats in his first letter: For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. This is both comforting and sobering – comforting because God stands ready to deliver us when we are in trouble and sobering because he sees the evil and the good.
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK: We read in 2 Chronicles 16:9 that the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. How encouraging to be reminded this week that as committed disciples, the eye of the Lord is both a glory and a defence and that nothing that happens to us will ever catch Him unawares! May it inspire us to search our hearts more diligently, repent more easily and think twice before we utter a word.
In Celebration of Proverbs 31 Part II
In Celebration of Proverbs 31 Part II
As already mentioned, Proverbs 31 consists of two poetic sections. Last week we looked at the first part, detailing the godly qualities needed to be a wise ruler – qualities King Lemuel traced back to his mother. In the second section, which we will look at today, we find qualities describing an excellent wife! Although not connected to the first nine verses, one cannot help but think it is a fitting description of the kind of woman Lemuel was to seek.
As most people know, this famous “wife of noble character” is not a flesh and blood woman but an ideal character type praised in a poem called an acrostic, where each verse begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It begins with marriage, expands to the home, and then to the larger community before it returns to the home. In these ever-widening spheres, we find a list of lasting qualities that sets this wife apart from most other women in the Bible.
- As a loving wife, she is reliable and faithful, actively supporting her husband.
- She is hardworking and able to manage all under her care.
- Outside her home, she generously serves those in need.
- She is wise in her speech and temperate in her habits.
- She is a savvy businesswoman, skilled in helping provide for her family.
- She is wise in all her ways, bringing honor to her family.
This integration of various roles in this ancient poem: wife, mother, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, has always fascinated me. As a picture of strength and skill, industry and far-sightedness, discipline, and kindness, this ideal wife and mother can be any of us as we try to maneuver through our modern-day mazes. Maneuvers that often leave us exhausted as we strive for a contemporary version of this ideal. For this reason, it is, above all, her wise-heartedness that appeals to me!
The Proverbs 31 woman, as she became known through the ages, is a woman who fears God. Thus, she effortlessly moves between her roles, circling gracefully between her spheres of influence, reverently mindful of her divine design as she loves, looks after, and leads those God has entrusted to her.
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: It has been said that you can always tell a nation’s character from the character of its women. If you could list the character traits you would like to see displayed by the people in your country, what would you consider the top ten essential qualities, and how would you link them back to the qualities displayed by the Proverbs 31 woman? Now let us re-commit ourselves to pray for our daughters, granddaughters, friends’ daughters, and church family’s daughters!
In Celebration of Proverbs 31 Part I
In Celebration of Proverbs Part I
As we celebrate Women’s Day today, I thought it a good enough reason to jump to Proverbs 31. This chapter consists of two poetic sections. The first details the qualities needed to be a wise ruler, and the second the qualities describing an excellent wife.
The identity of King Lemuel, to whom the first nine verses are directed, is uncertain; however, ancient Jewish tradition connects him with Solomon — in which case the mother would be Bathsheba. One of the theories is that Lemuel, meaning “for God” or “devoted to God,” was her pet name for Solomon. Here he honors her by recording her warnings against all kinds of dangers, from women to alcohol to perverting justice.
Regardless of who this mother is, the fact that her son publicly repeats her instructions so that others can benefit from them, too, is to pay her the ultimate compliment. I agree with one commentator who points out that her honor is greater because she is praised by her son rather than her own lips repeating these lessons.
The advice that had the most significant impact on my ministry over the past twenty years is recorded in verse nine — Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the afflicted and needy! Nothing gave me greater joy than working with orphaned children and vulnerable women, seeing God transform their lives, shape their families, and use them to impact their communities. May God stir your hearts too, and may we all remain compassionately dedicated to ensuring that wherever we serve, the marginalized and vulnerable will not be exploited but protected, not forgotten but remembered.
Therefore, as we prepare for Women’s Day events, may we allow God to move in our hearts and open our eyes to see where He wants us to serve. Whether that is at home, actively and full-time involved in raising the next generation, or at church part-time engaged in women’s ministry or with a non-profit organization volunteering love, time, and expertise – it is irrelevant. All that matters is our commitment to Christ overflows into active service, bearing abundant fruit!
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK: Let us prayerfully take some time this month and courageously think through our numerous commitments and often diverse roles. As seasons in our lives change as regularly as in nature, may we adapt wisely and timely. Regular re-alignment will help us remain faithful to God’s specific calling and unique blueprint for our lives.
The Green-eyed Monster
The Green-eyed Monster
Everyone who grew up with siblings knows that brothers and sisters fight. The first story in the Bible is about two brothers, Cain and Abel, and shares how Cain murdered his brother because he was jealous of him. A little while later, the story of Jacob and Esau is recorded, another two brothers whose relationship was marred by sibling jealousy. In the New Testament, Jesus tells a parable in which the older brother refuses to attend a feast his Dad arranged for his younger son when he returns home after squandering his wealth in a distant country. Filled with jealousy, he complains of unfair treatment from his father, “Look! All these years, I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.”
Wisdom and foolishness in the Book of Proverbs are never neutral but always associated with virtue and vice. The two verses we already pondered this week taught that wisdom is associated with virtue and foolishness is associated with vice. Our third proverb builds on this as we compare the rewards of peace with those of envy in verse 30 — A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
The dictionary describes envy as the desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable things belonging to someone else. Many cultures regard envy lightly. In advertising, it is not uncommon to read or hear that if you own a particular brand or article, like a car, shoes, or a stove, you will be the envy of your friends, neighbors, or colleagues. But the Bible views envy quite differently. In today’s verse, it is called rottenness to the bones!
It is especially revealing when we read in Matthew 27:18 that Pilate knew that the chief priests and elders had handed Jesus over to him because of jealousy. No wonder it is listed among the life-destroying “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5. James, too, mentions this sin in chapter 4, What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet, but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. The destructive power of envy is evident, and thus, we understand why God warned Cain of the sin lying at his door and why he urged him to master it! God knew all too well that if left unchecked, jealousy would lead to murder. Solomon understood some of this, for a few chapters later, he writes: Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: As envy is unseen by others and easily disguised, it must be brought out into the open before it can be dealt with. If you are struggling with jealousy today, admit it to God. Be specific in your confession by telling God whom you envy and why. Now trust God to pardon you liberally and generously restore your relationship with Him and the other person.
A Life God Rewards
A Life God Rewards
When confronted with God’s words of truth, we can have only two responses: hatred and rejection or love and acceptance. It is extraordinary to see how this plays itself out in the lives of two of the last five kings of Judah.
When King Josiah heard the word of the Law, he tore his robes, even his heart, and cried mightily to the Lord, for he was filled with great fear of God and desired to obey and please Him.
When King Jehoiakim heard the words of God as spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, he tore the scroll to pieces and burned it in the fire. His heart was rebellious, and he was determined not to obey. Soon Solomon’s temple would be destroyed, and the Jews exiled to Babylon.
The book of Proverbs is filled with warnings about evil and encourages us to seek wisdom. In Proverbs 13: 1 – 14, we find several red flags:
o Don’t ignore instruction and rebuke (v1)
o Guard your mouth (v3)
o Beware of the pursuit of riches(v7)
o Avoid dishonesty (v11)
o Don’t disrespect God’s Word (v13)
We have already meditated on two of these warnings earlier this week, but as God’s warnings are to protect and not punish us, I would like us to linger a while at verse 13: Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.
The Hebrew word for reward is salam or Shalam and means to be safe or uninjured in both body and mind. It includes the idea of wholeness, meaning being sound or healthy. For this reason, the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) translates this phrase using the Greed word for hygiene! Paul uses a similar word in 2 Timothy 4:3 to describe sound doctrine, which is health-giving, warning Timothy that the time will come when people do not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
It is essential to remember that using the English word reward in Proverbs 13:13, as in our soul being safe, whole and healthy, does not only point towards a future prize but includes recognition in this life. Again, we can turn to Paul, but this time we read from his first letter to Timothy, where he reminds him in chapter 4:8 that physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK: In Psalm 19, King David reminds us that the law of the LORD is perfect, the statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, the precepts of the LORD are right, the commands of the LORD are radiant, the fear of the LORD is pure, and the decrees of the LORD are firm…. By them, your servant is warned; in keeping them, there is great reward. As someone has said regarding holy living: the pay isn’t much, but the retirement benefits are out of this world! Praise the Lord! May you have a wonderful week rich in rewards because of your tender and obedient hearts!
The Multitude of Counselors
The Multitude of Counselors
I find the online description of the book, The Wisdom of Crowds very interesting —
“In this fascinating book, New Yorker business columnist James Surowiecki explores a deceptively simple idea: Large groups of people are smarter than an elite few, no matter how brilliant—better at solving problems, fostering innovation, coming to wise decisions, even predicting the future.”
The author uses a variety of fields, ranging from pop culture to artificial intelligence and politics, to illustrate his point. For Christians, this idea may not sit so well as the Bible is very clear that the wisdom of crowds is unreliable and can even be dangerous. Think about the many travelers in Matthew 7 entering through the wide gate and finding themselves on a road that leads to destruction.
At the same time, we may argue that Proverbs 11:14b in the multitude of counselors there is safety somewhat underscores the idea expressed in The Wisdom of Crowds. This is certainly true when we consider the body of Christ assisting one another, for while our own views and opinions may be good, it is so important to heed the warnings and guidance of trusted advisors and experienced Christians. Even more valuable is seeking God’s wisdom together with faith colleagues, as well as mentors and masters who lead and light up the way. It reminds me of Jethro’s wise counsel to Moses and Ahithophel’s advice to David and Absalom, described in 2 Samuel as if a man had consulted the word of God. No wonder Solomon held wise counsel in such high regard, repeating himself in chapter 15:22. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.
In October 1962, this played itself out in a remarkable way during the presidency of John F. Kennedy. Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev had delivered nuclear missiles to Cuba, and President Kenny demanded their immediate removal. The world held its breath as the US and USSR stood on the brink of nuclear war.
Kennedy reportedly phoned three former US presidents for advice: Herbert Hoover, who faced the economic problems of the Great Depression; Harry Truman, who ended World War II; and Dwight Eisenhower, who served as the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe before his presidency. Each had valuable insights to share. After these and other consultations, he decided on a balanced course of action to defuse the situation.
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: You may find it interesting that the word translated as “counsel” is a Hebrew nautical term used for steering a ship. While it is my prayer that godly advisors will guide you in the right direction, I must urge you to seek first the wisdom and advice of the Wonderful Counsellor and Mighty God of Isaiah 9:6. He alone has the blueprints of your life. He alone can trace your course with timely precision and great care.
We Reap What We Sow
We Reap What We Sow
I love the following story by Joanie Yoder when she was asked, Does Honesty Really Pay?
She recounts an incident similar to one I shared a couple of months ago. After putting bags of groceries in her car, she discovered a greeting card at the bottom of the cart, one she hadn’t paid for. She immediately returned, waited in the checkout line, apologized to the cashier, and paid for the card. The man behind her, shaking his head in disbelief, challenged her: “It’s only a greeting card! Who would have known? Weren’t you a bit silly to come back?”
She did feel silly, but only for a split second, and then she felt nudged to say: “Should you ever lose your wallet, I think you’ll hope that somebody silly like me finds it!”
Throughout Proverbs, pride, and wickedness are grouped with foolishness, while humility and righteousness are grouped with wisdom. This is especially evident in this week’s scriptures – all using antithesis to pair opposing statements. When taking a closer look, we find that the first part of the proverb upholds a truth while the second part upholds a contrasting truth, while both are examples of a larger truth. Here are a few more illustrations from Chapter 11.
- In verse 18, we read that “A wicked person earns deceptive wages,” meaning that the results of their sin will be detrimental, both in the short and long term! It finishes, “but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward,” meaning that the outcome of upright living will bring about permanent and satisfying rewards.
- In verse 19, the same pattern is used: “Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.”
- In verses 20 – 21, the contrast between the two groups continues, but God’s perspective is now emphasized. I am reading from the Amplified translation.
The perverse in heart are repulsive and shamefully vile to the LORD, but those who are blameless and above reproach in their walk are His delight! Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be freed.
Clearly, the Lord “delights in” righteous people but “detests” the wicked. Thus, we can be confident that justice will be done and that people will reap what they sow. The most remarkable example of righteous actions receiving a just reward remains that of Jesus Christ, as beautifully summarized by Paul in his letter to the Philippians!
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: Let us re-read this well-known passage from at least three other translations, pondering its weight and radically applying it to our own lives and unique circumstances as prompted by the Holy Spirit.
