Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

I find myself attracted very much to Isaac Watts. I first knew him as a hymn writer, then as a great thinker.  Why I should have thought that great thinkers do not write marvelous hymns I know not.   But as I read about Watt’s contribution to rationality and logic – his books were standard texts on logic for over a hundred years in British universities – I could barely believe that he was the man who wrote hymns that moved me mightily, like this four-stanza hymn that I loved dearly, a precious hymn that helped shape my thinking and my spirituality as a missionary through the years.

A note: Watts wrote this as Western Europe and England were experiencing an interest in missions as never before.  It was early in the 1700’s.  Also, I find it interesting that Watts wrote about 750 hymns, many with a missionary call.  I find the first verse of our hymn for today resonates with the call to spread the Gospel of Jesus to all the world, and at home as well, of course.

The heav’ns declare Thy glory, Lord,
In every star Thy wisdom shines
But when our eyes behold Thy Word,
We read Thy Name in fairer lines.

Sun, moon, and stars convey Thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand:
So when Thy truth begun its race,
It touched and glanced on every land.

Nor shall Thy spreading Gospel rest
Till through the world Thy truth has run,
Till Christ has all the nations blest
That see the light or feel the sun.

Great Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Bless the dark world with heav’nly light;
Thy Gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, Thy judgments right.

I am amazed at the new life that grows from the old.  This is in our front yard where once stood a tree, now producing the prodigious growth of mushrooms.  Life goes on.

But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh?”

Jonah 4:10 – 11

As we walked through the last chapter in the powerful little book called “Jonah” in our Sunday School class yesterday I had to pause and reread the last sentence in this amazing Old Testament story, Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh?

To be sure the Old Testament is largely focused on the welfare of Israel.  Now and again, such as in this 4-chapter book of the experiences of Jonah, we learn that we as human beings tend to concentrate on our own welfare and how we can live godly lives.  That is certainly good.

The story of Jonah’s walk with God shocks us a bit.  It tells of how difficult it is to embrace God’s love for all people.  Our provincialism keeps us from thinking of God’s intentions.  We want him to pour out his blessing on us!  But, in truth, he rather wants to bless all mankind!  Certainly, he is concerned about the Jews, but is his love limited to the Jews alone?

This is the question that underlies the story of God’s relating to Jonah.  God wanted Jonah to love the people of Nineveh like he did.  But the drama of the story is how Jonah simply could not embrace the fact that God loved people in other nations, especially not the enemies of Israel.

God’s question to Jonah, Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh?  Jonah had no love for the people of that great city.  In fact, he went there reluctantly – only because God insisted that he go there.  He did not want to be there and he certainly did not want Nineveh to repent, he wanted God to destroy them, probably so that Israel could be safe.

When Jonah saw how much God loved these waring people he flew into a rage.  The book closes with an angry, sulking Jonah!

Jesus came. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son.”  Note, THE WORLD, not the people in the small Jewish nation.  I need to think like that.

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.   He cares for those who trust in him.

Nahum 1:7

A few years ago I was in Romania in a ministry tour in that wonderful land.  That church had passed through unbelievably difficult times when the Communist government was in power and was determined to impose their atheistic beliefs on the people.  Our Romanian hosts were living in the shadow of that oppression.  That thought impressed me.

I recall that as a congregation gathered in that land, someone said, “The Lord is good!”  At once all responded, “All of the time!”  I asked myself, “Even in dark times?”  They had just passed through times of ridicule and even hate when, to be sure, times were “bad.” But in hindsight, they could proclaim without a doubt, “God is good all of the time.”  This verse in Nahum came to life for me there in Romania.

The Lord is good.  Now and again I hear, “Why did God allow such a thing?”   Wait a minute, “is the Lord bad?”  Is this not the issue?  Is the Lord good sometimes and bad at others?  Nahum has no doubt, “The Lord is good.”  The Romanian congregation shouted, “All the time!” With our limited understanding this is sometimes hard to believe, especially when we are going through a troubled time.  Their witness struck my heart!

He is “a refuge in times of trouble.”  God does not promise that we will not see trouble, we will, but during those times, God is our refuge, our place of safety.  “He cares for those who trust in him.”

We never tire of roses, especially in May.  Their exuberance is contagious!

I was sent to thinking when I read this morning, 2 Corinthians 3:18.  “We all…are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory; which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

I was touched by several things. First, “We all.”  That is, everyone of us who is born again by the Holy Spirit.  I have to ask, “Is that what my dear wife and sister in Jesus see?”  Does she see me becoming more and more like Jesus?  Or does she see me in my older age, returning to behavior that is quite unlike Jesus, being more judgmental and hard?  Or am I becoming more loving, more merciful, more ready to forgive, more open and free?

Oh, Lord Jesus, keep transforming me!  Never too late.  It means being more like Jesus in every way, becoming more like him every day – more like Jesus with my wife, children, grands and all people who are meaningful to me.  I am afraid that I do not measure up.

Then I read on, “Which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  I see that, even when I examine myself, I realize that any glory or reflection of the new life in me comes from the Lord, I can not make it.  It begins with Him and ends with Him.

I find my life is an ever-changing walk, learning daily, not because I am good, but because God is faithful.  I am confident that “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  Philippians 1:6

Yesterday, May 22, Anna Ruth and I attended the funeral of Marian Scott, wife of Pastor Bill Scott, in the center of his “clan” in the picture.  It was in northern Maryland. We were friends for many years, maybe 35 or so. Dear people.  Their children are in missions and in the ministry.  We had the joy of seeing all of them develop and grow in their walk with the Lord.  The funeral was held in the large church building that was the fruit of the faithful ministry of Bill and Marian.  A most wonderful family.  The world should have many more like them!

As I was closing these meditations on Matthew’s Gospel I read these two verses from Wesley Hymn #699 in “A Collection of Hymns.” I thought it was a fitting way to summarize the message of this precious Gospel.

From all that dwell below the skies
Let the Creator’s praise arise;
Let the Redeemer’s name be sung
Through every land, by every tongue.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Hey, sorry if I am boring you with pictures of roses.  I could not resist showing one more, just photographed in this lovely morning light.