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.
Benediction May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
STANZA 10
•What portion will suit; what banquets’ prepared?
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Psalm 23:5
The Lord “hosts” His people by His unchanging goodness, which leads to a banquet, “a victory celebration” for every occasion! Additionally, God’s kindness is demonstrated through His overflowing provisions for our daily needs, both physical and spiritual. God prepares a suitable portion as He “anoints” the minds of disciples by the oil of teachers. (Psalm 23:5)
• To satiate the hunger buried there?
Future Prosperity of Judah23 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring back their captivity: ‘The Lord bless you, O home of justice, and mountain of holiness!’ 24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all its cities together, farmers and those going out with flocks. 25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”
26 After this I awoke and looked around, and my sleep was sweet to me.
27 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord. 29 In those days they shall say no more:
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. Jeremiah 31:23-29
God fully satisfies and restores the weary souls of His beloved. As part of His Sovereign providence, the Body of Christ is active in satiating the hunger of the human soul. (Jeremiah 31:23-29)
•’Tis a delicate wonder to begin,
Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Unity and Diversity in One Body12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. I Corinthians 12:7-12
“Because there are different needs in the Christian community, different gifts are required. Furthermore, the Spirit gives gifts not for one’s personal aggrandizement, but for the edification of the Body of Christ.” (Reformation Study Bible Commentary: 1 Corinthians 12:7-12) Teachers notice the wonder within students’ gifts and encourage them to steward them for the glory of God, the rest of one’s own soul, and the edification of the Body of Christ.
•Reaching another’s crevices within.
Bear and Share Burdens1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load. Galatians 6:1-5
When people are hurt, self-preservation can prevent them from seeing and believing God’s benefits for His people as presented in Psalm 103:
Praise for the Lord’s Mercies A Psalm of David. 1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
As we discern these hurts in the deep heart crevices of others, we are to gently come alongside to help restore and free them from the hindrances of pain.
