HYMN FOR PENTECOST 4 God Moves in a Mysterious Way/Lambs among Wolves He Sends Us Out
Jesus Exhorting his Disciples. James Tissot Text: Gracia Grindal Tune: James Clemens Lambs among wolves, he send us out, Sends us all out in his dear name, Innocent name tht cancels coubt, Innocent as little lambs, Helpless and weak as little lambs, Lambs with his name, one little Word. Speaking as him, the great I AM, Speaking as him, we will be heard. Innocent lambs make Satan reel, Reel when the name of Christ is said, Spoken it cleanses and it heals, Spoken its pow’r will raise the dead. Text: William Cowper (1731-1800) Tune: Dundee GOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY 1 God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm. 2 Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill; He treasures up His bright designs, and works His sov'reign will. 3 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head. 4 Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. 5 His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour; the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flow'r. 6 Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain. Jesus sending his disciples out two by two. James Tissot REFLECTION This account of Jesus sending his disciples out two by two, instructing them to be like lambs among wolves, is filled with baffling images. When one hears Jesus’ instructions, they sound crazy. Sending his beloved friends and disciples out like lambs to wolves, a certain death sentence. The wolves are the demons, but he promises that in their work the wolves, will be defeated. Satan fell like lightning out of heaven. Jesus gives them power so that they can tread on serpents and scorpions and the power of the enemy. Nothing will hurt you, he promises. Good news after lambs among wolves talk. Jesus is right—we walk among wolves and demons, powers and principalities that prowl around like roaring lions seeking whom they may devour. Jesus is not talking statecraft here—the magistrate is still to use the sword, if necessary, to protect his people. The demons, however, are enemies the sword cannot kill. Christ can. "Ye fearful Saints, fresh courage take/The clouds you so much dread are big with mercy." His word is the two-edged sword that is effective against these enemies. History shows us that when Christ’s Word has worked its wonders among people, peace often breaks out. Because we are citizens of heaven here on earth, we are changed and live differently. Tom Holland, in a wonderful book Dominion, argues that the Christian faith so utterly changed its followers that life where his disciples lived was made more civil and kind. It is how Christians converted Rome at the beginning. Because of their love for people, they ministered to the weak and sick, they saved abandoned babies left on the hillsides to die, the widows and the orphans. (See Rodney Stark THe Rise of Christianity ) Christians made life better for the Romans and so the citizens of Rome followed their Lord Jesus. He changed everything. This is not to say that Christians always lived by Christ’s word. The Thirty Years War, a brutal and terrible battle between Christians, does not speak well of Christians, but they did finally realize that was no way to follow Jesus. Lutheran Pietists showed a better way—that people should live their faith personally. How God works is mysterious as William Cowper wrote in his great hymn “God Works in a Mysterious Way His Wonders to Perform.” While it is easy to think God is absent from our conflicts against the demons, we believe he is present in mysterious ways because “God is his own Interpreter And he will make it plain.” HYMN INFO William Cowper by Lemuel Francis Abbottl Cowper and John Newton were neighbors and friends who worked together for years. They shared their hatred of slavery and wrote against it. In 1779 the two published a collection of hymns known as the Olney Hymns . It contained some of the most beloved English hymns of all time. “Amazing Grace” was part of that collection, as was this one. Cowper named it “Light Shining out of Darkness.” He had written it after his third attempt at suicide. Out of that darkness came a great light that has shone for Christians ever since, and assured them they should not judge by “their feeble sense,” but trust in God’s grace. There are several tunes for this famous hymn. Dundee is the tune I know best; New London , the tune Britten used, sounds a lot like it. My text deals directly with the Luke text so I have included it. James Clemens has written a fine tune for it, but it is Long Meter so it can be sung to Old Hundreth or many other tunes in that meter. LINKS Selwyn College Choir https://youtu.be/0g34AypZAUc George Beverly Shea https://youtu.be/g-DEzGAWQb8 Benjamin Britten—go to ca. minute 46:00 to hear a thrilling version of the hymn from the Britten opera Saint Nicolas https://youtu.be/4wXSm0OpYR4
