David George, Maesycwmmer

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

“To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.  Isaiah 40:25

I am not able to say exactly when I was converted. I made a profession of faith when I was eleven and became enthusiastically involved in the life of the local church, but I suspect that I was not converted until I was about sixteen. I had purchased the book, “The Sovereignty of God” by A. W. Pink, and reading it shattered my world. It confronted me with the God of the Bible. The living God who is utterly without equal, who controls everything, who alone is true God who will not brook a rival or settle for anything less than the first place in my affections. God graciously used that book not only to humble me and bring me to repentance, but also to shape and fix in my heart foundational convictions about God, in a way no other book has – apart from the scriptures.

Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:2-3

The Lord once used these words to drive me to serious self-examination. They describe the acme of devotion to God, and barely a day passes without my considering them. Every day? Even on days when it seems my desert island is sinking beneath me? Will I bless and praise Him then?

It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.  Isaiah 49:6

These astounding words never fail to fill me with admiration for what God has done. They are the Lord’s words to His Servant (the Messiah) concerning the extent of His mission. In the light of the backslidings and rebellion of Israel, few might have expected the Lord’s plan to restore sinful Israel to enjoy any success. But the Lord promises that His work of redemption will be far grander than anyone could ever have imagined, for His Servant will not only be salvation to Israel but to the Gentiles too! I would think about that during my daily paddle and praise God that His salvation had even reached my little island!

This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:39-40

Over the years, I have often quoted these words to reassure God’s people of His will concerning them. The words immediately follow Jesus’ assurance that there is nothing uncertain about the success of His mission, and they assure the security of His people. He says that all of His people, every single one of them, is secure. Not one will be lost or destroyed. Not even death will separate us, but in the last day He shall raise us up in resurrection glory.

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord. Psalm 27:4

I have been troubled by intrusive thoughts connected with PTSD through the past year, and I have found it helpful to regularly centre my thoughts on these words, and to behold the beauty of the Lord. When the Psalmist speaks of being in the house of the Lord to behold the beauty of the Lord, he is speaking of the tabernacle, of course, where the beauty of the Lord was seen in several ways: God’s condescension to dwell among His people in that tent pitched in the centre of the camp; God’s revelation symbolised in the lampstand, and the law of God contained in the Ark of the Covenant; God’s faithfulness in sustaining His people, symbolised by the table of showbread; and God providing atonement at the altar of sacrifice.  

Such shadows are now past for God has condescended to dwell amongst us in flesh; and we have the revelation of His word, and the table of the Lord where we are sustained by bread, and receive the cup that speaks of atonement through His blood. Obedience in the Word and sacraments is chiefly what the Christian needs to live a life pleasing to God.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:28-29

I am guessing that many others would also want to take Romans 8:28 to their island, but the word ‘for’ means we must also take verse 29 which explains what the ‘good’ is. Verse 28 is not a verse to glibly quote when people are having to face catastrophe, not all things are good. But verse 29 assures me that even the worst things the Lord is wisely and powerfully using in His purpose to conform us to the image of His Son. This perspective shines light into the darkest circumstances. But we must still use these words with care – I have sometimes cringed to hear these words thoughtlessly quoted to others overwhelmed by troubles.

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

I have to choose someone who has died. If I cannot assume that Elizabeth was drowned in the storm that washed me up on the island and so choose her, then it would be John Calvin. Under God, he massively shaped the course of world history and continues to be a global influence to this day. It would be so challenging and exciting to be discipled by a man of such impressive piety.

Which song would you take to the island?

Almost without fail for more than thirty years every Lord’s Day morning I have quoted or sung Isaac Watts hymn, ‘How pleased and blessed was I to hear the people cry, “Come, let us seek our God today!”’ It has enabled me always to approach public worship with thanksgiving and joyful anticipation as every time I enter the place of worship I habitually bring to mind the closing stanzas (especially the last three lines):

May peace attend thy gate,
And joy within thee wait,
To bless the soul of every guest!
The man that seeks thy peace,
And wishes thine increase,
A thousand blessings on him rest!

My tongue repeats her vows,
Peace to this sacred house!
For there my friends and kindred dwell;
And, since my glorious God
Makes thee His blest abode,
My soul shall ever love thee well.

However, as I shall be alone on my island, I would find my inability to participate in public worship a little depressing, so it will have to be Elizabeth Smith’s 1869 translation of a hymn from the 1545 Strasbourg Psalter:

I greet Thee, who my sure Redeemer art,
My only trust and Saviour of my heart,
Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake:
I pray Thee from our hearts all cares to take.

Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
Reigning omnipotent in every place:
So come, O King, and our whole being sway;
Shine on us with the light of Thy pure day.

Thou art the Life, by which alone we live,
And all our substance and our strength receive;
O comfort us in death’s approaching hour,

Strong-hearted then to face it by Thy power.

Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,
No harshness hast Thou, and no bitterness;
O grant to us the grace we find in Thee,
That we may dwell in perfect unity.

Our hope is in no other save in Thee;
Our faith is built upon Thy promise free;
Come, give us peace, make us so strong and sure,
That we may conquerors be, and ills endure.

Now leave me alone. I’ve got fish to catch.