2 Kings: 19-21
Hezekiah’s faithfulness
Psalm 112: “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord – the desires of the wicked shall perish.” (verses 22 and 23)
“Trust and Obey” are the words of a well-known hymn’s chorus. Throughout the three readings that we have studied, we discover one basic theme: “Trust and Obey.”
In our world of technology where we tend to find a scientific and precise explanation for every phenomenon, we often run the risk of trusting only in our own strength, our own plans and projects. It is good to look at these stories of God’s activities in the lives of people, in the history of nations, in the work of mission to carry the gospel to places. In all these situations obstacles seem so strong that servants of God should give up and say impossible! In God’s scheme as Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Impossible n’est pas francais” (impossible is not French.) Impossible is not really a “Christian” word because with God all things are possible except evil and nonsense.
We have just celebrated the Feast of Pentecost. May we trust the Holy Spirit to guide us not so much to understand every phenomenon in our existence but to be always aware of the presence of the angel of God as he was with King Hezekiah, as he brought the psalmist to shout “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord..the desire of the wicked shall perish.” (Psalm 112: 22-23.)
Finally, as we sow the seed of the gospel, we often wonder if we can battle the many forces of modern times that go counter to our message. None of them can compare to what Paul endured, yet for the sake of the gospel and because of Paul’s trust and obedience to the Lord, even the centurion joined in to make sure that the apostle and all on the boat escaped.
The Venerable J. Fritz Bazin, D. Min.
Archdeacon for Immigration and Social Justice Ministries
Diocese of Southeast Florida
Hezekiah’s faithfulness
Psalm 112: “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord – the desires of the wicked shall perish.” (verses 22 and 23)
“Trust and Obey” are the words of a well-known hymn’s chorus. Throughout the three readings that we have studied, we discover one basic theme: “Trust and Obey.”
In our world of technology where we tend to find a scientific and precise explanation for every phenomenon, we often run the risk of trusting only in our own strength, our own plans and projects. It is good to look at these stories of God’s activities in the lives of people, in the history of nations, in the work of mission to carry the gospel to places. In all these situations obstacles seem so strong that servants of God should give up and say impossible! In God’s scheme as Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Impossible n’est pas francais” (impossible is not French.) Impossible is not really a “Christian” word because with God all things are possible except evil and nonsense.
We have just celebrated the Feast of Pentecost. May we trust the Holy Spirit to guide us not so much to understand every phenomenon in our existence but to be always aware of the presence of the angel of God as he was with King Hezekiah, as he brought the psalmist to shout “Blessed is the man that fears the Lord..the desire of the wicked shall perish.” (Psalm 112: 22-23.)
Finally, as we sow the seed of the gospel, we often wonder if we can battle the many forces of modern times that go counter to our message. None of them can compare to what Paul endured, yet for the sake of the gospel and because of Paul’s trust and obedience to the Lord, even the centurion joined in to make sure that the apostle and all on the boat escaped.
The Venerable J. Fritz Bazin, D. Min.
Archdeacon for Immigration and Social Justice Ministries
Diocese of Southeast Florida
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