July 14, 2005

Have faith in God –
No tear! No tear! No tear!
Have faith in God –
Till heaven on earth appear;
Have faith in God –
Good cheer! Good cheer! Good cheer!
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

From Every Stormy Wind that Blows

Hugh Stowell, 1799-1865

    But now, this is what the LORD says — He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:1, 2.

    Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. II Corinthians 1:3, 4

    In Old Testament worship, the mercy seat was the cover of the Ark of the Covenant, which housed the Mosaic tables of stone, a pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. The mercy seat was a most sacred, holy place. It symbolized the place of God's eternal presence with His people.
    When the storms of life blow our way, we can either cringe in despair or flee to the heavenly Mercy Seat--the God of all comfort (II Corinthians 1:3 & 4). There we can find the help and strength to be overcomers. Trials can sometimes embitter and harden our spirits. However, if we use the trial to lean more fully on Christ and to learn the lesson He desires to teach us, we become stronger in our faith.
    Hugh Stowell, the author, was a minister in the Anglican church and was known as one of the truly evangelistic leaders in the church during his time. His ministry was also characterized by a love for children and an active Sunday school in his church. This hymn text was originally titled "Peace at the Mercy Seat" and was first published in 1828 in a collection of poems by the author.
    How different life would be "had suff'ring saints no mercy seat." How important it is for God's people to avail themselves of this "calm, sure retreat" by using prayer to commune with Him there on a consistent basis.

From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
’Tis found beneath the mercy seat.

There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all besides more sweet;
It is the blood bought mercy seat.

There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat.

There, there, on eagles’ wings we soar,
And time and sense seem all no more;
And heaven comes down, our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy seat.

Oh, let my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy seat!

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission