Rhodri Brady, Aberystwyth

What a horrible thing to have to do. And I hate hypothetical questions.

That’s not to say I haven’t often thought about what I would do if I were stranded on a desert island. How much of the Bible do I know off by heart? How much of the Bible could I write out? 1 percent? 0.5 percent? Less?

But in this imaginary scenario I am to be given verses! And I know the point of these things is not to be pragmatic. My temptation is to ask for as large a portion of the Bible as I can get away with. And even that makes me feel cheated because on Radio 4 they get the whole Bible. The other thing this is telling me is the fact that I have the whole Bible with me now in the real world, am I making the most of it? No. But anyway, let’s answer the questions...

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

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 receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The ‘God of all comfort’ section from 2 Corinthians 1 helped me very much recently when I received some terrible news. Wonderful to know some of God’s reasons behind affliction.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

I love Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21. I would use that regularly on the island as fuel to fire my prayer, praise and worship.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

To help me when I’m feeling lonely on the island, perhaps I would remember Genesis 2:18. It reminds me that we are social creatures and therefore I am not strange or ‘un-Christian’ for feeling lonely.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

I often find myself quoting, in my daily battle against lawbreaking, 1 John 1:9. It is my great assurance that my sins can be forgiven and I can be justified by the blood of Jesus.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God... Revelation 21

To give strength, hope and peace, how about the whole of Revelation 21? That’ll help me look forward to the New Heaven and the New Earth that will take me off this island and to the feet of Jesus ASAP.

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgement and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God… Hebrews 10

I would also ask for the warning passages from Hebrews. God uses these warnings as a means to keep me from sin. Terrifying stuff, but so necessary.

Who would you like to find on the island for company?

For the purposes of this post, I would bring Charles Spurgeon, and I’d ask him to preach to me and make me laugh. Although, given his history of depression, a desert island with me probably isn’t the place for him. But then, at least I have someone to try out 2 Corinthians 1:4 on.

Which song would you take to the island?

Again, I suppose in reality I have thousands of songs in my head. But I suppose what this is asking is, ‘what’s the only song I’ll have a recording of, what will become my lonely island’s national anthem?’ I love Psalm 23 — unusual, I know — and I like a version of it sung by a band called The Corner Room. I’d take that.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name-sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.

For you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.