IN THE FISH'S BELLY deep, deep discouragement copyright Doug Blair, Waterloo, ON, 2017
That Unspeakable Place There are deep, dark, deadly places one might encounter in the the thraldom of a fallen world under the sway of the Devil's baton. Perhaps there has been no sin or rebellion in the sufferer, although our culture always seems to want to apportion some blame. Job's friends did their best work of help when sitting quietly and sympathetically alongside their tormented friend. Job's breakthrough and restoration did eventually come, and oh the sweetness of it. God, speaking to him through the storm, applauded his steadfastness in spite of quandary, and told him to pray as priest for those errant and presumptuous friends. They had offered half-baked and largely heartless, ignorant “advice�. Pray that you might be spared that unspeakable place. All faith foundations get shaken to the core. Words of scripture once perceived as victorious are now ringing false. Friends ogle. Selfpity tries to gain the ascendency. Blasphemous things get imagined. Perhaps even the taking of one's life is given a look. What is to be said or offered by way of hope?
Providence
I thought that I knew What you’re going through. I thought that I knew… I was wrong. I once had a bout Of similar vein, Of similar pain. But not yours. I sensed that the world Had turned on me, A cruel destiny, Without hope. And even my prayers Met brazen skies. The tears, the cries. Where was God? But one day the blue Returned above. I felt His love, And it passed. I now see the test Had made me grow; Christ’s heart to know. I was changed. And this was to be My providence,
Of little sense, ‘Til I learned That God has a plan Which must use loss, To show the Cross To each child. So I will not dare Say what to do, ‘Til His work’s through, And you’ve won. But I will be here, A needed friend, An ear to bend, Like the Son. I thought that I knew What you’re going through. I thought that I knew… I was wrong.
"Providence" has been defined as follows: (initial capital letter) God, esp. when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.
Compassion
T.L. Osborne, missionary-evangelist tells the wonderful story of his wife Daisy after a tent meeting in the Far East.
The crowds had been dismissed after a long session of praise, preaching and personal ministry, but Daisy could not leave the tabernacle because the presence of the Lord had been so rich. She walked the rows meditating until she noticed a young mother seated with blanketed baby in arms and sobbing quietly. When approached, the young woman could only blurt out, “She has died.” Daisy saw the limp form of the little girl and asked to take it from the woman. She began to walk around gently hugging and rocking the child, praying softly for the Father’s mercy and citing reasons why she believed that this innocent little one should be given back life. When prayer with the understanding seemed finished, she launched into quiet prayer in the Spirit, sensing an inner leading to continue. After several minutes the baby stirred and cuddled closer for warmth. Daisy returned the child to her mother, whereupon the woman let out an exhausted, breathy scream. “What was wrong?” “Oh, woman of God, assuredly my baby lives! But my baby was blind. This one sees!” Here we have it! An example of the Lord doing “exceedingly abundantly above all that we might ask or think.” This marvelous grace had been preceded by compassion, submission, courtesy, some uncertainty and the absolute acknowledgment that only God could work. By comparison, how brazen, insensitive and man-honouring some of our so-called revival or renewal meetings appear.
Afflicted No Longer
There must be a freeing of the mind and heart from the shackles of hopelessness. It is a supernatural intervention or nothing at all. Hospitals are full of stories of remarkable reversals of illness simply because of the indomitable spirit of the patient. A pleasant word; a good confession; a smile; an ability always to laugh; an audacity even in the face of death.
I know of many well-intentioned Christians who will give by memory every promise of healing contained in the Bible, and there are many. But perhaps the candidate for healing does not yet have an assurance of Jesus' loving disposition toward him. The ever victorious progression of thought and faith must be as follows. Jesus is proved history. As all-capable Son of God He came from Heaven, taught Heaven and its ethic, returned to Heaven and dwells there presently, working on the development of His Church in partnership with the Father and Spirit. He loves me and has shown me as much in undeniable ways. I thrill to read the account of His earth walk, selfless death and resurrection in the Gospels. I honestly regard Him as my best friend, and place my life and expectations in His hands. In so fulfilling prophecy He proved Himself the one-time all-sufficient Deliverer and Messiah. I trust Him more than I trust my own wants or understanding. He will bring about the best of all possible good either in me or through me. He has never done less with anyone who has reached out to Him. This sort of abandon brings people to an experience of salvation. It comes as a consequence of the gift of repentance followed by supernatural hope. It comes as the Lord draws the believer to Him. It is not manufactured by persuasion or resolve. The same applies to healing. A wellintentioned Christian worker might place the raw materials of truth, warning and promise before a candidate; offer to pray; continue to lift that individual up in the following weeks. But God will be the One who closes the deal. The victorious recipient, the honest-to-goodness child of faith is the one who can say, as with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him". For such a one there remain no dark corridors to be traveled. The victory has come from within. The happy old Gospel song asserts, "The world didn't give it to me, and the world can't take it away".
Come Before Winter
Reading in 2 Timothy 4 recently I was moved by the grace shown by Apostle Paul at the finish. He is in Emperor Nero’s prison. That wicked one is suspicious of all Christians, intellectuals and people of influence. Paul happens to be all three. The Second Letter to Timothy confirms that he had had one satisfactory hearing and
adjournment before justice. He is quite certain that he is near death. He longs to see his young friend Timothy, his son in the faith and fellow traveler through many adventures. “Do thy diligence to come before winter.” Bring the cloak and the parchments. How much time would Paul have? What was the interval until winter? Would Timothy make it? How the travel-weary Apostle must have longed to see his dearest friend one more time and to impart to him in person final rich words of counsel, commission and exhortation. I read these phrases and I note the comparative rush and impatience of our times. Telephones and texting everywhere. Pictures and voice on Skype. Hundreds of TV channels to assuage our restlessness. Busy schedules and long pressing lists. No time for meditation or giving of thanks. But Paul says, ‘My dear friend, let’s try for one more time in each other’s presence before I die’. He says it with grace and with the satisfaction that there are no loose ends; that he has finished his course; that the rewards are waiting in the presence of his Master Jesus. And thus, to die is gain. Elsewhere in scripture it is described as an enlargement (2 Corinthians 5: 4-9).
Strange and Comforting Words from Times of Rutherford
(in a hymn by Mrs. Anne Ross Cousin (1824-1906) and featuring words by the famous Scottish Covenanter Samuel Rutherford...”The Sands of Time are Sinking...')
I have borne scorn and hatred I have borne wrong and shame Earth's proud ones have reproached me For Christ's thrice-blessed name. Where God His seal set fairest They've stamped their foulest brand But judgment shines like noonday In Immanuel's Land.
The Dialogue “Just shake him And he falls I tell ya’. Shake him and he falls. Remove the perks And pandering The sense of E’er do well And in short time This Job of yours Will court my gates Of Hell.” “You have him For your worst
A season House and home And health. All standing lost The hedge removed Men’s praises too; That heart is still My dwelling place Now do the worst You do.” Friends add Into the mix Their error: “Why God strikes So hard.” They charge the man With hidden sin And judgment earned. He strains into The storm to hear His Master’s voice And mercy learned.
But Now a Look at Jonah
The story of Jonah is considered to be a legitimate prophetic “type” of the ministry and finished work of Jesus (Matthew 12: 38-41). Jesus affirmed that it all happened.
The wickedness of Ninevah, capital city of the Assyrian Empire, was known everywhere and dreaded. God told Jonah to go there and preach repentance. The prophet balked at the command and headed for a ship to escape God's directing hand. Rough weather ensued and all the superstitious sailors on board suspected some wrongdoing as the cause of the fates' wrath. Jonah confessed and insisted that he be offered to the waves. Down he went. A certain death. But amazingly swallowed by a large fish, held for three days, and then vomited ashore. In chapter two in its entirety Jonah's words were virtually those of a condemned dead man, but God offered a second chance by a resurrection. Out of the impossible, Jonah was rescued. This is also the seeming ridiculousness of Jesus alive and meeting Mary Magdalene on Easter morning. But such is our hope; and it is all of God. Might we not also find ourselves in desperate need of the unthinkable rescues of a mighty and loving God? Exceedingly abundantly above all that we might ask or think (Ephesians 3: 1921)? And of course to Him be all the Glory.
From the Fish's Belly
Couldn’t do as ordered Couldn’t bear the shame Prophesy their downfall In Jehovah’s Name. What if they repented? Proved that I was wrong? Not this prophet, never Then their laughing song. Hit the open waters
Running from His call Soon my disobedience Worked to harm them all. Stormy waters raging Ship was tossed and turned They were all a-quandary Til my folly learned. Didn’t want to toss me Finally they gave in Served me to the sea god Justly for my sin. Barely touched the waters Came the mighty beast Took me in my stupor Lesser than the least. Am I dead or breathing? I have been so vain Might I plead for rescue Speak your Word again? Might I know your mercy Spreads to Ninevah’s worst Raise me from this sheol End my guilt and thirst.
“They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.� (Jonah 2: 8)
Upheaval
The second huge upheaval May come after salvation Mountaintops have been shared But the Valley has come Stinging at first Rebuked like some wasp Staying and staying Though oft the supplications Mocking and shoving Demons truly are leering And damn surely No one understands Can offer a scintilla
Of wise comfort. Alone and scarcely breathing Panic unimagined Is the Lord not big enough? Not able enough? Not filled with enough Love? You are in the whale’s belly Deep down Deathlike. But some whisper Suggests the shoreline Happy hissing waves Camaraderie of gulls Heaven’s smile returned. Death’s grinning clutches Reversed and running. Now a wind from somewhere Kindly sets the sails A-billowing.
Summer Meeting Remembered
Our friends were new to this experience, but it had not taken much courteous coaxing. A poor second crop. A dear neighbour found dead in a hot summer field. A part-time job disappearing with the closing of the lumber yard in town. A teen-age son in rebellion and mixing with some undesirables, despite warnings. The music began, complete with fiddles, banjo, drums, accordian and trombone. The old favourites brought a comfort and an encouragement. “Got Any Rivers? You think are uncrossable. Got any Mountains? You can’t tunnel through. God specializes in things thought impossible. He’ll do for you what none other can do.” An old saint was called up from the crowd to give a testimony. Ravaged early life. Drugs, dealing, break and enter, jail, divorce, unemployment. But then in a lonely dilapidated
boarding house, a visit with Glory for the asking, and a new beginning at age 48. He spoke of the particular power of a portion from the Psalms: If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. (Psalm 130: 3,4) And then the message from Brother Fuller. Parts of it remain still now, clear in the memory, filled with promise, and filled with the thrill of our young friends stepping forward in response to the call of Jesus: “Enough, friends, to be in His family; To relish in the engagement of real, caring prayer; To know that His Testament bequeaths us Life, unburdened conscience and new spiritual power. To sense foretastes of Heaven. Enough, to see His artistry at break of day; To hear His serenade in the turtledove; His optimism in a youngster’s laugh. To thrill at His power in the thunderbolt, In the stinging wind over dry fields, In the deluge that fills the watercourses In mere minutes. Enough, to hear his words of rebuke To the Enemy, the Slanderer, And his underlings who whisper, threaten or foreclose; To understand His assurance that no man, no devil Shall take a child out of His hand. This is our Father, As represented by our Elder Brother. This is salvation, and This is forever.”
The gathering and the ushering away of new converts. The singing of “Just a Closer Walk with Thee�. The dismissal of the assembly from the tent to the clarity of a sparkling late-summer night sky. The scenes remain vivid and awe-inspiring to us, so many years later.
Bowe Lake near Banff AB