Abide with Me – Br. Luke Ditewig
Amid a year of loss and grief, where we now try to return to school and have fires raging round, much is unsettling and frightening. Remember Elijah, that great prophet of God, who was afraid. Tonight’s passage is between two dramatic scenes. Just prior, there’s the showdown between 850 false prophets and Elijah. Their gods didn’t answer the requests for fire. When Elijah prayed, God sent an astounding, consuming fire.
Elijah tells King Ahab to eat and drink because it’s about to rain after the long drought. When Ahab rides off in his chariot, and Elijah miraculously runs ahead of him. Queen Jezebel soon says: You’ll be dead by tomorrow. Elijah runs again to flee, afraid. Elijah is afraid even though God sent dramatic fire, brought back the rain, enabled him to run ahead, and provided in many previous ways recorded in scripture. Even this great prophet of God who has seen provision quite recently and over a lifetime, gets worn out, doubts, and fears. We do too.
An angel comes twice pointing to food provided in the wilderness. Elijah told Ahab to eat before his journey. Now God provides food for Elijah with similar encouragement. God provides in our deepest struggles, where life is killing us. God provides when we doubt, question, and are afraid, no matter how much we have received before. God provides when we can’t see or imagine how life could get any better, when we’re afraid and tired, and when we’ve lost hope.
God does not come nor answer as we may expect. The drama right after this passage is God appearing before Elijah on Mount Horeb. God is not in a great wind, fire, or earthquake, but rather come in the sound of sheer silence. God comes in surprising ways.
At their last supper, Jesus comforted those who had with him for a long time, who had received much provision and miracles. Again, they were afraid. Jesus gave many words of encouragement, including: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love” (John 15:9). Abide can mean to live in, to make yourself at home. There’s a gutsy quality to it, a commitment to remain through challenge. Jesus says: the Father stuck with me. I’ll stick with you no matter what. Make yourself at home in me.
When crying for help, we may think we’re getting God’s attention, yet God is already attending to us. God is waiting for our attention. It’s good to cry for help, to pray our desires, pain, and anger. Scripture, especially the psalms, give many examples. It’s easy to over focus on self, and miss listening.
In the great hymn “Abide with Me,” we address God, yet as in John 15, Jesus says “abide in my love.” Loren Wiebe, the father of one of my dear friends, adapted the words to the hymn as we sang it tonight. Listen to Jesus speaking this to you.[i]
As winds blow, fires rage, and storms churn around and within, pray your heart, including your fear. Listen for God who is here in the midst providing, especially providing God’s own self. Jesus is already looking at you with tender love. “In life, in death my child, abide with Me.”
[i] Abide with Me, fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; come, with Me abide!
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
My Love will never fail, abide with Me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s every day;
Earth’s joys are gifts, although they pass away;
Change and decay in all around you see,
I will not ever change, abide with Me.
You need My Presence every passing hour,
What but My grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Myself, your guide and stay will be?
Always remember, come, abide with Me!
Fear not, no foe can curb My gift to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
You’ll triumph still if you abide with Me.
Hold Calvary’s cross before My loving eyes;
See how I shine, look up into the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death my child, abide with Me.
Text: Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
Adapted: Loren Wiebe (b. 1940)
Thank you. I needed this today. Mary
This message is so profound. Love the biblical references to Elijah, Jezebel and Ahab and the perfect ending with the hymn, Abide With Me. Amen.
We are saying good-bye to our last very beloved dog today. These words from Brother Luke mean alot !
Thank you. A very meaningful and helpful message today.
Thank you Brother Luke, the hymn “Abide With Me” goes so well with the passage study. I was told that when I didn’t feel close to God, “Guess who moved?” The implication that I’d gotten away from God. Then in reading scripture one day, I realized Jesus said, “I am with you always.” Then I understood I can’t move but God moves right along w/me whatever or wherever I am. He’s always there w/me. It’s the silence I’ve learned He’s there. I had been led astray to believe I’d strayed from God. Enjoyed the truth you so eloquently give thru using the beloved hymn.
Sue, your words express so much that I am experiencing and feeling. Thank you. And thank your Br. Luke for offering a little Bible study and invitation to Lectio. In gratitude, Bobbi
Amen Thank you, Brother Luke for hearing, absorbing and emitting these words from God’s heart. Amen
The illusion, of course, is that God moves away from us or we move away from God, when, in fact, we fall into that illusion & forget that God is always closer to us that we are to ourselves. I used to pray that God would “bless, guide, & protect” me, but no, in my dotage, I know that, all along, I have been/am/will be blessed, guided, and protected by God, who knows how to give good thing to His children – far more than even the best earthly parent.
Oh! And happy birthday to Br. Geoffrey!!!
The re-write of the beloved hymn is just brilliant, Br. Luke – it’s one I won’t forget as my own life ebbs out its little day. Thank you!
A message for times such as these. With American democracy on the ropes, may our hearts and minds be emboldened to listen for the ways to be in the midst of such troubling business. Thank you.
“It’s easy to over focus on self, and miss listening.”
Lord, please grant that I may remember to listen today, because You “come in surprising ways,” such as silence.