Through the Refining Fires of Affliction to the New Life of Spiritual Spring:
REST, VESSEL. ~ “Requies, Vas.” ~ A VESSEL RESTS.
Has God Our Sovereign Savior allowed unfathomable pain in your life beyond human utterance? If so, take refuge in His paradoxical, great divine work of love and grace. When fiery afflictions come, He is our only hiding place.
God Our Sovereign Savior, In Psalm 18:30 You proclaim, “As for God, His way is perfect; The Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”
STANZA 3
•So here I stand, sorrowful but secure
Marks of the Ministry1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. II Corinthians 6:1-10
5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6
“A true minister of the gospel is known by pure speech, pure conduct, pure motives, and deep love for people. Paul will not compromise the sanctity of truth or tell a lie to accomplish some desirable goal.” (Reformation Study Bible Commentary: II Corinthians 6:6-7) Paul relies on the power of God, the armor of righteousness, to silence enemies as he contrasts the visible with the invisible. When we suffer for righteousness’ sake, God will surely reward our suffering with blessings and joy; we will be sorrowful but secure! (II Corinthians 6:1-10; Psalm 126:5-6)
•In the wounds of my Savior, true and pure.
Cast Down but Unconquered7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
God’s Final Judgment and Glory4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5
“Though Paul suffers much hardship (as Jesus did), the result of his ministry is spiritual life and resurrection power in others. This is a paradox that the world will not understand. The recipients of a ministry may seem to fare much better in this world than the person who brings them the ministry, because the one who brings it may be suffering for the sake of the gospel.” (Reformation Study Bible Commentary: II Corinthians 4:12) We are to expect antagonism, threats, hostility, and opposition, carrying the wounds of our Savior true and pure, as we press on toward the goal and benefits of our heavenly citizenship! (2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5)
•The Sovereign Lord’s Spirit is upon me
The Year of the Lord’s Favor
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…Isaiah 61:1
This four-fold emphasis of the Spirit’s work in His earthen vessels is a powerful reminder of God’s perfect equipping of His people for His service:
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2 (Reformation Study Bible Commentary: Isaiah 11:2)
•To bind up the broken-hearteds’ weeping.
Praise to God for His Word and Providence1 Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.4 He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. He will swallow up death forever, 6 The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. Psalm 147:1-6
The theme of Psalm 147 hearkens to Isaiah 61:4:
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
What a blessed privilege it is to ‘bind up the broken-hearted’ as the planting of the Lord, His oaks of righteousness, by His praise, might, power, and understanding. (Psalm 147:1-6)
