Word of Salvation – Vol. 21 No.04 - October 1974

In Quietness And Trust

New Year sermon by Rev. M. P. Geluk on Isaiah 30:15

Scripture: Isaiah 30:1-26

Psalter Hymnal: 227; 243; 461; 176; 231.

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Do you sometimes feel a little nervous?  You won't surprise anyone if you were to admit it, for nerves is one of the biggest problems we are facing today.  The 20th Century has been aptly called the space age, the nuclear age, the age of technology; it can also be called the age of frustration and worry.  Doctors are now telling their patients with nerve problems that they must learn again to relax.  Everything is going at a frightfully fast pace and we just can't keep up.  And we tend to get unsettled too because of what's happening in the world.

What if, when you are travelling halfway across the world as quite a few are doing nowadays, your plane gets hijacked or crashes?  What's going to happen if communism becomes more powerful than it is already?  What's going to happen if the superpowers confront each other over the Middle-East situation in a more threatening way than perhaps now?  What's going to happen if the laws that control abortion and impose censorship are completely wiped off the law books?  What's going to happen to our children in this sex-crazed world?  How can you keep up paying the bills with the problem of inflation and rising prices stacking up against you?  Yes, how can you face up to life's problems and remain calm and cool?  How can you stop yourself from getting all tensed up and frustrated and go about your days in a relaxed manner?

You may be wondering of course as to what I am getting at?  As Christians we have come to worship God; we want to hear preaching from the Bible and learn a few things perhaps.  Yet, we can so often detach the Bible from everyday life that we seem to move in two different worlds the Biblical world and the world of newspaper headlines.

It appears, however, that the events in the world DO affect the thinking and lives of those who bear the name of Christ.  So what is our attitude as Christians?  How do we shape up to disturbing events in the world and in our personal lives?

There are disturbing signs in the Christian Church that many of its members find it increasingly difficult to accept the fact that God does work in this world.  Some even have begun to doubt if God is working at all.  The providence of God and what is happening in the world don't seem to be very compatible.  What seems to be a real difficulty with many Christians is, what has been called, 'the problem of history'.  It is the historical situation that appears to cause frustration and anxiety to the faith of the Christian.  Some even lose their faith because of it.

Now that we have arrived again at a time of the year at which most people tend to take a look backward and a look forward, it may be helpful to also look at this problem of history in the light of God's Word.  This problem of History has largely arisen from a tendency to look at the Bible as though it is exclusively a textbook for one's personal salvation.  The Bible is seen as giving guidance and direction as to how one's personal relationship ought to be over against God.  And of course this is one of the central themes of the Bible's teaching.  But the Bible also teaches a lot more.  It tells us that ALL that happens in the world is part of God's program for the world.  There is nothing that happens today that falls outside God's plan for the world.  And we should realize furthermore that it is quite unbiblical not to expect any problems.  We have never been assured of an easy time in this world.  In fact, conditions will become progressively worse as the end of all things draws near.  But the people of God are given the power and strength by God to live in this world, not in panic or doubt, or despair, but in calm assurance that God knows what He is doing and is in full control at all times.

Let us today then, at this juncture of old and new, be instructed by the teaching of our text which speaks about 'Quietness and Trust'.  Surely those are the things we need most.  The text is from Isaiah and the prophet spoke as God's mouthpiece to the people of Israel who were getting all frantic about the world situation of THAT time.

The central thrust then of this text is: 'In quietness and trust.' and we see

            1.  What the Bible means by this.

            2.  It rests on the sovereignty of God.

            3.  How to actually experience this.

I.  In the first place then what does the Bible mean here when it speaks about quietness and trust?  Isaiah said to the people: "For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength."  What was happening?  Were the Israelites in danger of losing their salvation, or had they already lost it?  What kind of salvation was Isaiah referring to?  To personal salvation or national survival?  Or both?  And if the people were not at rest, were they then restless.  If there was no quietness and trust, did it mean they were frantic, worrying and in doubt?

Well, the political situation of that time was anything but stable.  Egypt and Assyria were fast becoming super powers and there was decidedly a cold war going on between them which increasingly threatened to become a hot one.  And Israel was caught in between Egypt and Assyria as they confronted each other.  Israel was sure to get hurt first, when it came to blows.  And as it turned out, Assyria was preparing to overrun Israel.

Now this was all very much a part of God's plan for Israel.  God's people had forsaken Him so often that God felt it was time that they had to be taught the hard way that their God was a righteous and a holy God who needed to be served with true loving obedience.  And Assyria was God's instrument in punishing Israel, His people.  It would be to Israel's advantage to humbly accept this divine punishment.  But this she would not do.  She turned instead to Egypt for help and looked to the Egyptians for assistance and shelter.  And because of this political flirtation with Egypt, Isaiah was sent by God to warn and discourage the Israelites.  Their national and personal salvation did not consist of going along with Egypt in a hypocritical partnership.  God was their Saviour, the Lord God, the Almighty One, the Holy One of Israel.

But just like people today can become all worked up and nervous when the superpowers of today come closer to armed conflict, so also the Israelites of old.  Israel was anything but a picture of calm and confidence in the God who controls history.  They were, in fact carrying on as though they did not have the slightest knowledge of God and of His all-wise provident care for His own people.  They were busy sending messengers to Egypt and beasts of burden laden with goods to win the favour of Egypt.  They were extremely active, busily occupied in the task of saving themselves.  They were so much like people today in this restless, hurrying world.  Constant activity, rushing about, being frantic, worrying, hustling and bustling from one thing to another.  Trying to solve many things at once but having peace in none.

Now in that setting came the sobering message of Isaiah the prophet: If you want to be saved then you are going the wrong way about it.  To trust in Egypt is all so useless and vain.  It is the Lord who is in control of all things and if you return to him, yes, be converted back to Him, and rest in Him, then you will be saved.  Egypt is not your strength the Lord your God is, and to have Him you must have quietness and trust in your heart towards Him.

It has been said, congregation, that the words of our text are a summary of Isaiah's prophesy.  It is to trust in God and in His control of history.  In the face of international affairs we are to renounce earthly assistance and have instead a calm reliance on God.  Isaiah's words here in our text are both a warning and advice.  A warning not to look for earthly saviours to get us out of tight and fearful situations.  And an advice to turn to God and to be at rest in Him.  Jesus' Words come to mind, 'Come to me all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.' (Matt.11:28,29).

It is a bad recommendation for Christianity when there are so many Christians who anxiously scan the newspapers and get all worried when the situation in the world becomes tense.  And of course this restlessness, this frantic activity and being anxious and frustrated, we meet it, not only with those who keep a nervous eye on the world events, but also at home in the family and in one's personal life and work.  We sorely need reminding of what God once said to Moses and the people: "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest". (Ex.33.14).  Yes, how many of us have experienced this in the past and how many of us will remember it in the future.  Resting on the grace of God and continually returning to God, that's what salvation consists of, that's what it is all about.  Isn't that right?  Having a quietness and trust about oneself, knowing that all is under the control of God even the terrible things; in that one can stand strong.

II.  And so in THE SECOND PLACE we see that this quietness and trust rests on the sovereignty of God.  Yes, how can one remain calm, quiet, and trusting in the face of many disturbing and troublesome situations?  How can one be like that in the midst of a busy family with children around the place, the house in a mess, and not being able to do anything?  How can one keep his calm and confidence when the work seems to b getting too much and out of hand or financially difficult.  It need not only be the world events that trouble us, it can also be in the smaller circle of things.  The situation is only too familiar wherein we fret, worry, become tense, nervous and even unreasonable.

It is certain that Isaiah would have met Israelites who had begun to doubt if God was real, for nothing seemed to be happening in their favour.  God appeared to have lost control of the situation.  Powerful forces in history seemed to be at work over which God could do nothing and He appeared to have withdrawn Himself from the situation.  An instant miracle on the part of God for His people would have restored their faith in Him but that's the very thing that did not happen.  Yes, many a Christian has suffered shipwreck in his faith because he could no longer reconcile the wars, suffering, hunger, and disease with the image he had of God.

And therefore, Christians can be urged today to return to the Lord, to rest on His grace, to have quietness and trust towards Him, but of what use is it all if in your heart of hearts you are not convinced that God is doing the right thing anyway?  If you carry with you doubts and uncertainty about God then this text will not make a very big impression on you at all.  Then it only mocks at you.  So, what is to be done?

Well, the first thing we need to realize about the way God is working in the world is that when we begin to have unbelief then the picture of God gets out of focus.  God can only be seen for what He is when we firmly believe the Bible's testimony about Him.  And if there is one thing the Bible makes absolutely clear, then it is that God is sovereign.  God is the Supreme Ruler who is in full control over all things.  And this control does not only extend to the good things in this world but also to the bad and evil happenings.  It is of the utmost importance to realize this.  In Amos 3:6 the Bible states: "does evil befall a city, unless the Lord has done it?"  The Lord's hand is in all that happens; also the painful and the fearful things that can come to a person, a people, or a nation.  We are dealing with the Almighty God who says of Himself, "I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe, I am the Lord who does all these things." (Is.45:7).

In the Bible we come across an unshakable conviction that God rules the thoughts and actions even of those who deliberately oppose Him, or even know nothing of Him.  This is pointed out in Proverbs, for example: "A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps". (Prov.16:9).  God is not only the God of Christianity but the God of the whole wide world.  As east and west, left and right confront each other in the dangerous act of politics, then we should remember that it is God who brings princes to nought, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing." (Is.40:23).  Even Assyria, who was out to capture Israel, was God's messenger and servant, even though she knew nothing about it and acted in self- reliance and self-trust.  Assyria even committed shameless atrocities and Habakkuk the prophet could not understand how God seemed to let wickedness go on un-checked.  And Habakkuk never received a full answer to this problem of history.  Maybe no one ever will.  But let us at least accept God as He is and as He works, even though we cannot always understand The Bible is equally clear in its teachings about God's holiness and purity and that He cannot sin nor tempt men to evil.

Sure, it takes a very big and a very trusting conception of God to see His hand behind the destruction of your own nation, especially when performed by a godless and wicked nation.  To have the quietness and trust of which our text speaks, you need to have the proper biblical view of God and not a view that we have shaped ourselves in our own minds.  It is easy to credit God with our victories and triumphs, but not so easy to credit God with our defeats and trials.  It is easy to relate God to what is noble and good but it is not so easy to relate God to what is evil and wicked.  Yet, a truly biblical faith sees God's hand in all things.

Of course, God will punish the evil doer and will catch up with those who are wicked and punish them in His righteous wrath.  God is also a consuming fire.  But we need to keep in mind that in order to experience His salvation and strength, we need to believingly accept God as He is and as He has chosen to reveal Himself.  The worst thing we can do to God is to harness Him in the straight-jacket of our own thoughts.  God is the Almighty, the High and Lofty One, and we must not make Him smaller than He is.  Nor can man be more noble than God.

III.  In the FINAL PLACE we want to point out that it is necessary for Christians to experience what our text is teaching.  We may be inclined to worry and feel frustrated with floods or droughts, or with the inflation of the Australian dollar, or with whatever goes on in the world.  We might be as restless as the sea, yet we should return to the Lord and rest on His grace.  The Lord has given a strength to His people, not to look at and admire from afar but to experience it in everyday life.

Are you fretting, are you nervous, are you anxious about something, and is it making you restless, and causing you to be frantically rushing about.  Then please realize that you are behaving very unchristianlike.  Look at this text and put it into practice.  "In returning and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and in trust shall be your strength."  This would be an ideal text to have in the home of every busy mother, at the place of work of every father, and in the room of every serious student.

Maybe it is fitting to point out as a concluding remark that the word 'quietness' can also be translated 'stillness' or 'being still'.  We need to be still we need to be quiet, if we are going to hear properly what God is saying to us about Himself.  Whenever men have uneasy feelings about God and have risen up in revolt, against Him, then it is nearly always because they have not been 'still' towards God.  Moses said to the people, "Fear not and stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord..." (Ex.14:13 K.JV.)  And again, "Stand still and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you".  Samuel told Saul to "stand still awhile" so that he could show Saul the Word of God.  (1Sam.9:27 K.J.V.) Job was told by God to "stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God" (37:14 KJV).  Sometimes it happens that people are distressed about something and cannot sleep at night.  They toss and turn and are filled with disturbing thoughts.  Well the Psalmist has the right cure.  He says, “.  .  .commune with your own hearts on your beds, and be silent" (4:4).  Martin Luther found much strength and comfort from Ps.46 which he so beautifully translated, and one line from this Psalm would have spoken much to him in his active and busy life filled with dangers and turmoil: "Be still, and know that I am God" (vs.10).

Indeed, the Christian has to be still if he is to hear God.  God is not always to be found in the spectacular and in the sensational.  When Elijah met God in the loneliness of the wilderness then it was not in the strong wind which crumpled the rocks; nor was God in the earthquake, neither in the fire, but in the still, small voice.  (cf.1Kings 19:9ff).

Is God alive for you?  Has his salvation and strength been real to you in the past and will they be real in the future?  We often professed that God is with us; well then is God with you?  "Come," says Hosea, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn that he may heal us; he has stricken and he will bind us." (6:1).  Let us see God's hand in all things and humbly accept what He is doing in this world of today as being right and perfect.  See Him as the holy and just God and do not credit with Him or make Him the author of sin.

A turning to God, a resting on Him and His grace, being quiet and still before Him, having trust and confidence in Him.  Let these be the characteristics for our faith in God today and always, until the end of time, when the kingship of Jesus Christ shall be revealed in all its fullness.

Amen.