Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Scenes of Grace 23


Chapter 39 of Genesis again picks up Joseph’s story with a child of God’s promise laboring as a slave in a foreign land.  It is another beautiful picture of our Savior.  While serving well and faithfully he is adored by a fickle audience and then falsely accused by the same.  This time he lands in another pit – Pharaoh’s dungeon.  What an opportunity for despair! 

One of our great English hymn writers, William Cowper, knew a great deal about despair and depression.  He even attempted suicide.  Considering that background we find a particularly hopeful title to one of his hymns, “The Saints Should Never Be Dismayed”.  The first line of this hymn reads, “The saints should never be dismayed, nor sink in hopeless fear; for when they least expect His aid, the Savior will appear.”

Joseph had been rejected by his brothers, sold as a slave (in lieu of being killed), falsely accused of a terrible sin and thrown into a dungeon where condemned prisoners were kept.  All he was doing when he set out on his fateful journey was to go on an errand to do his father’s will.  Are you going about your Father’s will and things don’t seem to be going too well.  Are the hopes and aspirations you anticipated producing dark skies and disappointments instead?  Does that add weight to an already physical predisposition to depression?  Meet Joseph and William Cowper.

Cowper was “rescued” from the depth of his depression by John Newton (of Amazing Grace fame) and worked closely with him for a number of years.  What they did together was write and sing hymns.  Though never cured of his depression, which was for him and still is for many today a serious physical condition, he moved past the pit of despair to recognize the grace of God for His children.  He enriched and encouraged the church with wonderful hymns that could uplift them in their own times of despair.  In this hymn he used biblical illustrations that must have brought despair and situational depression to those who encountered very trying times.  But he gave a final note of God’s rich grace and care with the final two lines of his hymn.

“Blest proofs of power and grace divine that meet us in His Word; may every deep felt care of mine be trusted with the Lord.”

“Wait for His seasonable aid, and though it tarry, wait: the promise may be long delayed,
but cannot come too late.”
 

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