Paul’s Encouragement

The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea” (Psalm 68:22). It is evident that Paul feared greatly on the way to Rome. The depths of the sea stared him in the face. Ah, who would not fear when all the Lord’s waves and billows go over someone’s life? Who would not fear when storms of trial settle in a person’s life? Or when the proud waters reach unto the lips and all hope upon some token of God’s love is taken away? John at Patmos saw a throne set in heaven out of which proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices. How tempestuous it is round about Him when the Lord comes to judge His people and gather His saints together unto Him (Psalm 50). It will storm when the Lord comes to testify against His church, when He comes to reprove them for sin and iniquity. Such storms are necessary but also profitable. Depths of trial must lead to depths of undeserved mercy. “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:4). Let us not forget those who at this moment are in such storms. Battles and depths at the frontlines are often fought in secret and not in the least at the frontlines of one’s own deceitful heart. The Church militant here upon earth in this valley of tears lives in enemy territory. Remember those that are in bonds. “

We read that, “all hope that we should be saved was then taken away” (Acts 27:20b). What? This was Paul’s conclusion as well as that of those that were with him in the ship, but had the Lord told Paul that this was the case? Ah, what can be done when other voices take over the conversation? What can be said when there is no more answer to the accuser? What must be said when circumstances block the access or even go contrary to the fulfilment of the promise? This: let all hope upon self-help and self-maintaining be taken away. Let all self-reliance perish in the very same depths. When we cannot “bear up into the wind, we let her drive” (Acts 27:15b). This is a necessary and profitable lesson in the life of grace. “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him” (Psalm 62:5). It is for this reason that storms sometimes must arise. As long as we can keep the rudder in our own hands, there is yet abundant reason for such a storm. Euroclydon drives Paul all the way to where the Lord wants him to be. Close by Crete, Clauda, driven up and down in Adria, these are the stations along the way.

“What I do thou knowest not now.” In the midst of all that causes despair and woe we read of a visit in the night. “For there stood by me this night…” No, the wind did not cease or die down, and the ship did not become a safer place, but faith was strengthened upon the certain promises of God. Blessed exercise of faith. The God of Paul has not changed. The promises have not been altered. The Lord does not fulfill all our wishes, but He does fulfill His promises. With the Lord there is no variance or shadow of turning, and neither has God’s purpose changed. “Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee” (Acts 27:24). Thy God hath commanded thy strength.

“Whose I am, and whom I serve” (Acts 27:23b). When we carefully read these words, I cannot but think of Lord’s Day 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism… “That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ…” Whose I am: refers to those divine and holy negotiations stemming from the stillness of eternity, when the Son of God intervened on behalf of such a one as Saul of Tarsus. Not because Saul was a would-be believer but because of infinite and sovereign mercy toward an undeserving wretch. How could such a one ever be reconciled with a holy and righteous God? Those thoughts of peace needed to find a way while maintaining all the attributes of God. For that cause the Son of God needed to descend to depths, mire, and floods in which there was no standing. He cried in the daytime, and there was no answer; in the night season and was not silent. When the eye of faith reaches that depth, “Whose I am” is sweeter than honey in the mouth, and becomes the blessed confession of the heart.

“Whom I serve” is the fruit of the work of the Son of God in Paul’s life. I am not my own. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldest. Now Another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not (John 21:18). That lesson of bowing under and submitting to the wisdom and way of God is learned again and must be practiced even on the way to Rome. Then Paul’s song at eventide, pondered with delight, will encourage all those that sail with him and, hopefully, some of our readers as well.

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