God Moves in Mysterious Ways
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Introduction
Introduction
God moves in a mysterious way
God moves in a mysterious way
Who would you expect God to use to write a great hymn?
William Cowper (1731-1800)
Christian History Magazine Issue 31: The Golden Age of Hymns
The son of the chaplain to King George II, William worked as a lawyer for several years. At age 32, he was nominated to a position that required a public examination. He grew fearful of that and tried to commit suicide three times—and nearly succeeded. During his stay of eighteen months in the asylum at St. Albans, however, Cowper was converted while reading Romans. After his release, Cowper resided in Huntingdon with the family of a Reverend Unwin. Upon Unwin’s death, John Newton came to comfort the family, and he convinced Mrs. Unwin, her children, and Cowper to move to Olney where he lived. The period at Olney was a time of healing and spiritual growth for Cowper. Newton urged Cowper to serve Olney’s poor, probably in an effort to take Cowper’s mind off his depressions, poor health, paranoia, and fears of damnation. He also convinced Cowper to write hymns for the parish’s prayer meetings. The result was Olney Hymns (1779), which contained 348 hymns—68 by Cowper, who suffered a relapse and was unable to finish his work. Three of his best-known works are “There Is a Fountain,” “Safely through Another Week,” and “O for a Closer Walk with God.” His famous hymn “God Moves in a Mysterious Way” was written about the time of another bout of mental illness, during which Cowper again attempted suicide. Despite this, John Newton said of him, “I can hardly form an idea of a closer walk with God than he uniformly maintained.” Cowper did not begin his literary career until age 50. His translations of Homer and poems such as “John Gilpin” placed him at the forefront of English poets, and it is the literary Cowper now listed in reference books. But perhaps Cowper’s most meaningful works were the hymns written during fits of despair. It is said that on his deathbed he stated, “I am not shut out of heaven after all.”
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill;
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding ev'ry hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow'r.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.
It is an important lesson to learn, but a challenging one. When we do not see how God is putting the pieces together, we are tempted to despair. When things don’t make sense, we want to question and ask for proof, like Zechariah did when the angel told him that his wife would give birth to John.
David knew this - the shepherd boy made into a king, after his own father did not even think of putting him before the prophet.
Abraham knew it - the old man with no children that God made into the father of a nation.
But perhaps the most mysterious way that God ever worked was in Israel in the first century, beginning with Bethlehem, and marching toward a cross.
God Moves in Mysterious Circumstances
God Moves in Mysterious Circumstances
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
A Strange Place
A Strange Place
Not Judea but Galilee
Not Jerusalem but Nazareth (the first pre-Christian reference to Nazareth, which is not mentioned in the OT, Josephus, or the Talmud was found in 1962)
Not the Temple but the home of a poor Jewish girl - hardly the site for a divine visitation
A Strange Person
A Strange Person
;Not Caiaphas or Herod’s daughter, but the daughter of Mary
Not priestess but a teenager
Not a barren bride like Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, or even Elizabeth but a virgin
Application: when does God show up in your life? Not usually when you are strong, but when desperation drives you to your knees.
God Moves with Mysterious Timing
God Moves with Mysterious Timing
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Israel had been enslaved for centuries, and Mary was to be married soon
These promises were made to David 1000 years earlier
But when God begins, He moves and His work is never stopped - of His kingdom there shall be no end
Ill:
Apply:
God moves in Mysterious Plans
God moves in Mysterious Plans
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
A Virgin
A Baby
Proof when it was not asked for
Responds not to power but to trust
Ill:
Argue: Isn’t this just an excuse for when God does what we want?
Apply:
Career: unexpected changes
Salvation - God will get stranger than the manger - He will defeat death by dying! The Son of God coming was something they could understand. His going to a cross was still beyond their imaginations.