Our Commander

Psalm 46: 1 – 11

Our Commander

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

As I was composing this sermon my thoughts considered a memorial service I have to do today. It is for a World War II and Korean War navy veteran.

My family and relatives were all Navy people. My mom in fact was also in the Navy. Then they had them in a special branch called the ‘Waves’.

They are a lot of history we have missed which was hiding in plain sight. Many of our parents and relatives had first hand witness of what we try to study in our history books. However, there is also a big problem because most who have served do not offer up their experience to easily.

My dad never commented anything until I went into active duty. Having dropped me off for ‘boot camp’ at Fort Dix he shared with me some of his military experience through emotional replay. Apparently one incident played a lot in his thoughts. He was a corpsman or as we are familiar a medic. While on the island of Okinawa he told me, he served alongside this strange guy who was a diehard Christian. This guy refused to carry a weapon yet he said he would still serve in trying to save lives of others, so the Navy made him a corpsman. This guy wound up saving over 70 marines and for this heroism he received the ‘Medal of Honor’.

Push forward some thirty years I was watching this war movie about the US war in the Pacific and the movie sounded familiar. The light bulb clicked for me and I realized that this movie was about the guy my dad had told me about decades before. This man’s name was Desmund Doss. The movie was called Hacksaw Ridge.

In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 16 we read, “Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.”

Sailors today give their own version of this scripture. They say, ‘Red sky at night, sailors delight; Red sky in morning, sailors take warning.’

Today our study highlights the mighty power of our Holy God over His Creation that being the oceans. For those who experienced the thrill of adventure sailing the ocean blue they can mediate on their past sea voyages.

By the way the fellow whose service I am doing gave his life to his Commander – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So today he is celebrating VW day (Victory over the world).

Our Master and King said to us as the apostle John recorded in chapter 16 verse 33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

To all of this I say, ‘Amen’.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.