DAY OF DEVOTION THIS SATURDAY, 11th APRIL 2020
How would you have reacted at the end of last year if someone had said that you and your family would need to stay at home for three weeks in quarantine type conditions? “Impossible” would have been the standard reply. Well, here we are, and we have a unique opportunity that does not present itself normally in an entire lifespan. Many of us would have planned a long weekend to enjoy the last of a Cape ‘summer’ and relax before school’s head back. Some would have planned Easter festivities with family or friends. IOW’s, our calendars are normally busy and full, even during the holidays. A ‘lockdown Easter’ is unthinkable, especially as we celebrate the crowning event of history-the Resurrection! What was it like for the body of the King of glory to be in ‘lockdown’ on that Saturday?
Your diary is freed up and you are going nowhere. So, why don’t you take this opportunity to give an entire day in devotion to the One we are celebrating. Saturday is perfect for fasting, you have your hot cross buns on Friday and a traditional lunch on the Sunday with some chocolate to boot. Fasting should be accompanied with prayer, you free yourself from mealtimes to give yourself time to pray. And why not throw in two more ‘means of grace’ (silence & solitude) or “means of communion” as Tim Chester prefers to call ‘spiritual disciplines.’ Although it takes discipline to do these four things together, the aim is not deprivation or “Phew, I made it through the day without expiring.” The aim is to ‘commune’ with God on multiple levels.
Christian spirituality, the contemplative life, is not about us. It is about God. The great weakness of American spirituality is that it is all about us: fulfilling our potential, getting the blessings of God, expanding our influence, finding our gifts, getting a handle on principles by which we can get an edge over the competition. The more there is of us, the less there is of God.
Eugene Peterson
He must become greater, I must become less.
John 3:30
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus mentions three ‘disciplines’: “…when you give to the needy” (Mt. 6:2); “And when you pray…” (6:5); “And when you fast…” (6:16). Jesus does not say “If” but “when,” which lets us know that they should be part of our routine spirituality practices. Also, they are ‘intimate,’ in that they are between us and the Father (6:4, 6, 18). Part of Saturday’s exercise will be reading through Isaiah 58. God exposes Israel for being very religious, practicing spirituality in expectation of getting something in return (Isa. 58:2-3). Now read what commentator Alec Motyer says:
Isaiah counterpoises the desperate fasting of verses 2-3 with the joyful keeping of the Sabbath in verses 13-14. For in every sense the Sabbath brings us to the heart of the matter. It is a real test of the ‘heart’-religion to give a whole day to God and to do it with delight. The Sabbath is, first, a call to consecrate life’s timetable to God, to adopt a style for six days which allows the seventh day to be a day apart (Ex. 16:22-30; Nu. 15:32-36). But verses 13-14 go beyond getting the timetable right; they are dominated by the word delight (13c, 14a). The heart is so captivated by God that the day set apart is a joy. This is the reason for the Sabbath emphasis in chapters 56-66; it is the symbol of a whole life and heart devoted to the Lord.
(The Prophecy of Isaiah, An introduction & Commentary; page 478; bold emphases mine)
Of Jesus’ three disciplines in Matthew 6, two are more ‘inward’ (prayer and fasting) and the other ‘outward’ (giving). Again, quoting Motyer on Isaiah 58:
Theologically and practically, chapter 58 belongs with 1:10-20. The two passages are the same in content, emphasis and movement. In both…in particular (is) the assumption that it is possible to be truly religious and socially indifferent. Smart puts it exactly: ‘One of the unique features of the Biblical faith is that there is no genuine relation with God that is not at the same time a relation with the brother. (page 478; bold emphases mine)
SO, HERE ARE THE THREE BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS ‘DAY OF DEVOTION TO GOD.’ IF YOU FOLLOW THE SUGGESTED OUTLINE FOR THE DAY, GIVEN BELOW, THEN IT WILL REALLY HELP IN MAKING THE TIME FRUITFUL:
IT IS A DAY IN WHICH WE SEEK ‘TO KNOW GOD MORE FOR WHO HE TRULY IS.’ TO SEEK HIS FACE AND HEAR HIS HEART.
A DAY IN WHICH WE ‘KNOW OURSELVES FOR WHO WE REALLY ARE.’ ALLOWING OUR HEARTS TO BE STIRRED IN GRACE AND OUR MINDS CHALLENGED BY TRUTH.
A DAY IN WHICH WE PURPOSE ‘TO MAKE THIS GOD KNOWN.’ IT IS NOT JUST A TIME FOR INTROSPECTION AND WARM FEELINGS BUT A DESIRE FOR GOD-PROMPTED ACTION TO ENSUE FROM BEING BEFORE THE KING’S FACE.
Let me run through the four ‘means of communion,’ the ‘ground rules’ for max participation and then give you an outline of how you can use the day:
Silence
An Italian recorded a day of lockdown with his wife and small child. At the dinner table he made the comment that under normal circumstances their evening mealtimes had lively conversations about how the day went but now they ate in silence because they had been together 24/7. So, it won’t be so hard to go one day without any talking! The hard part for some will be to silence your phones, TV and any other electronic devices (lock them in a box for the day, switch off your mains and use candles!). “Be still and know that I am God” doesn’t mean putting yourself in a straitjacket and staring at the wall (and don’t wish for any writing, the time it did occur was to communicate impending judgment!). The rest of that verse says, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psa. 46:10). When we cut out all distractions and bring our wandering minds back to our ever-present King, we become aware of how little we normally take notice of Him during our day filled with other voices. I once went on a ‘silent retreat’ for a weekend with five other people. We motioned at the salt and other things we needed at the meal table. It was strange at the time but incredibly powerful as the days went by and the whole weekend lingered afterwards for months.
2. Solitude
This may be difficult if you live in a confined space, like a shack, with many other family members or if you have little ones. Be encouraged by this story:
Susanna Wesley was a mother of nineteen children who recognized her need for quiet being with God. (No small feat when you have nineteen children and no television, movies, iPods, Wii games or PS2!) To ensure she had quiet time, she would put her big hoop skirt over her head to create a private sanctuary. She trained her children not to interrupt her if they saw her with her skirt over her head!
Her children learned from her example. Her fifteenth child, John Wesley, was a great preacher and the founder of Methodism. Something I recently learned is that research tells us the largest impact on how our children learn to care for themselves is not from what we tell them and not from how we care for them…it comes from their observations of how we care for ourselves.(https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/45243/divine-connection-the-prayer-of-quiet/ ) (April 2, 2011)
The idea is to find a ‘space’ where you can be ‘alone’ with God and this may mean unusual hours. “While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed” (Mark 1:35, MSG). Those of us who have our own rooms are fortunate! “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to the Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Mat. 6:6).
3. Fasting
No, you won’t die if you go without food for one day and drink only water. You may experience withdrawal and suffer from headaches if you usually need three cups of coffee to kickstart your day. Besides, there are many people only having one meal daily during this crisis. Take the money you would have spent on your 3 meals and drinks (an interesting exercise in itself) and donate it towards someone who needs food (see Isaiah 58:5-7). Check out our posts on Facebook and Odyssey’s website related to this.
Fasting allows for more time, to draw aside, that we would have spent eating or drinking tea. All of these ‘disciplines’ are designed to heighten our awareness of God throughout the day, our need for His presence and strength, that He is all we actually need. Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'” (Mat. 4:4). [If you are pregnant or have other health conditions that may affect your ability to do just a water fast, please check this out first].
4. Prayer
We have said quite a bit about prayer recently, both our Sunday message (March 29th 2020) on our website and our posts (see 21, 29 March and 1st April 2020). IOW’s, use Scripture to help you throughout the day. You can take any passages and slowly pray them, reading a verse and praying it back to God as a response in your own understanding and then going onto the next verse (this is detailed more in our post of the 29th March under ‘Some suggestions for praying through a Psalm’). We will also be using Isaiah 58 throughout the day.
PREPARE NOW FOR THE SATURDAY
When people found out the day of lockdown, they had a few days to prepare themselves. And most of us took it pretty seriously! Likewise, you have a night and day to prepare ahead. Clear any distractions (hide the chocolate, put a lock on the fridge, do any imperative phone calls now, etc.); tell your kids what you are doing so that they are included according to their different age groups. Remember, this is not a day of ‘doing nothing’ but of “inactivity” that leads “to “being” -when you are quiet and simply mindful of God’s presence. God often calls us to this “quiet being” in preparation for what is ahead. It is a time for gathering our own strength and tapping into God’s. We need this…it is ok to rest. In fact, it can be a type of prayer called the Prayer of Quiet. Wikipedia defines the Prayer of Quiet as “a state in which the soul experiences an extraordinary peace and rest, accompanied by delight or pleasure in contemplating God as present.”
(https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/45243/divine-connection-the-prayer-of-quiet/ ) (April
2, 2011)
Make some kind of a timetable for the day. Set aside periods when you can prayer for extended times. “He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, “Can’t any of you stay awake with me for just one hour?” (Mat. 26:40 CEV). I would suggest 6am, 9am, 12 mid-day, 3pm and 6pm. Choose some portions of Scripture you can read/meditate on during the day (I will be giving you 2, Isaiah 58 is one that I want all of us to be reading).
You may find that you get tired because you are not fuelling your body with food or drink. Depending on your age and health, plan in some naps as well (I find mid-afternoon can be taxing).
Consider writing things down (even if you don’t normally journal or like doing it). This is an unusual time we are living through and an unusual day of devotion to Him.
OUTLINE FOR THE DAY
Start the day just talking to God. Take a verse like this: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). Use it to commit the day ahead, asking for grace and wisdom. Worship Him for who He is, not just for what He gives.
6-7am: Pray the Lord’s prayer, using it as an outline. Remember that it a corporate prayer (“Our Father…give us…”) and you can be thinking of others as you pray. For example, when you come to “Give us our daily bread,” thank God if you have a full fridge but pray for those who are living hand to mouth (we delivered over 24 food packs to guys in our church on the 2nd April and are ordering more as I write this).
Between 7-9am: Read what follows to help you in listening in to God’s heartbeat around various verses you read/pray today.
First read Isaiah 6:1-8. Now read Matthew 28:16-20, followed by Acts 13:1-4. What did you notice that is common to all three passages?
This is what I see: (i) all three contain worship: the angels in Isaiah, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is filled with his glory,” the disciples in Matthew, “…and when they saw him they worshiped him” (vs. 17), and the church leaders at Antioch, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting” (vs. 2); (ii) all three have God speaking, verse 8 in Isaiah: when Isaiah sees God in his temple (at a time of crisis, the king has just died: verse 1), verse 8 says, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”; verses 18-20 in Matthew & verse 2 in Acts; (iii) all three times God speaks there is a commissioning to go and do ‘mission’ for God and with God; (iv) it’s as if the Trinity speaks: the Father to Jesus in Isaiah, Jesus in Matthew and the Holy Spirit in Acts. The point I want you to see is that on all three occasions there was worship happening. When we set this day aside, we will be worshiping and praying. God loves it when we spend time with Him. But it is not just a day of hanging out with God, it is also hearing his heartbeat. And the Trinity is united in their love for all people of all nations-they send us from a place of intimacy to go and reach the lost. When you read through Isaiah 58 today, think about these two things: (i) God’s heart for authentic intimacy with you/us and (ii) God’s heartbeat for social justice and the lost. Remember what I quoted above: “the assumption that it is possible to be truly religious and socially indifferent. Smart puts it exactly: ‘One of the unique features of the Biblical faith is that there is no genuine relation with God that is not at the same time a relation with the brother.” Think of our brothers and sisters who are suffering, think while you are practicing silence about those who don’t have a voice for themselves, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice” (Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT). So, throughout this day, both enjoy God for who He is, cherishing your relationship & sensing His heartbeat for ‘making this God known,’ in so many different ways.
9-10am: Start praying through Isaiah 58. Use a few different versions so that you see subtle nuances that are not always there with just one reading/ version. Repent of things God shows you and determine to put some things into action.
12-1pm: Read Psalm 46. This is a Psalm that many refer to when things are beyond our control and we need to remind ourselves Who still is in control. I remember a preacher from the USA using this text at a leader’s meeting in our church to encourage local pastors just before our 1994 elections, when things were so uncertain in our country and we faced possible bloodshed on an unprecedented scale. I’ve included some commentary notes to help you here after you have prayed through it first.
3-4pm: Pray for our church, churches around the world. Look at the post from the 21st March: ‘20 things to pray for at this time’ as a helpful prompt.
6-7pm: As the day winds down, thank God for all the spiritual blessings you have in Him, the material things, your work, your family, your church relationships, other relationships, etc. Put pen to paper about how the day went, what you learned about God, yourself, and the things you felt God saying to you, things He is prompting you to do. Write some poetry, draw something. I look forward to hearing from many of you of how this has been an amazing day filled with surprises.
When you set aside a day and “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:2) to God, the next day makes you so more appreciative of everything. I find there is a carry over of His presence from the previous day that can be transformative and sometimes even life-changing in the days and months ahead.
Psalm 46 [this commentary is taken from ‘Teaching Psalms; volume 2: from text to message’ by Christopher Ash]
In this Psalm we exhort one another to cease our rebellion and to take refuge in Christ alone from the just judgements of God. [note from Craig, this does not mean we are saying the Coronavirus is a judgment from God. Sin is what brought judgment-see John 3:16-21-God brings redemptive love]
The psalm is divided by the refrain in verse 7 and at the end, verse 11. Verses 1-7 state a fact: verses 8-11 exhort to a response. The fact (1-7) is that there is one, and only one, safe place in a world under the judgement of God. There is an alternation between safety (1, 4 and 5,7) and danger (2 and 3,6). Danger comes – in familiar psalms imagery – from the chaotic flood waters that ‘roar and foam’ in terrifying threat to the moral stability of the world. The solid earth, and supremely the rock-solid mountains, signify the place of creation order, where you know where you stand. But we live in a world where this good order is threatened by waters of chaos. The concrete expression of these powers of chaos is rebellious kingdoms (v. 6, cf. Ps 2:1-3 and Luke 21:25) and – in Israel’s history – the enslaving power of the ancient Pharaoh of the Exodus. However, these forces of chaos are not independent of the sovereign Creator God, the ‘LORD’ Almighty’ (the LORD of hosts, the God with unbeatable armies). When all these troubles come, it is because ‘he lifts his voice’ (6b). Like the flood in Noah’s day, the irruption of waters of chaos upon the world is the judgement of God. In this world under judgement, there is one safe place. This is the place on earth where God may be known as ‘refuge’. ‘the city of God, the holy place where the Most-High dwells’ (1,4). This is where the covenant God (‘the LORD’), the God of covenant history (‘the God of Jacob’) dwells. These covenant promises find their final ‘Yes!’ in Jesus Christ (2 Cor 1:20). Christ is the safe ‘place’ in a world under judgement. In this ‘place’ the waters of chaos are transformed into life-giving waters of the river of life (v.4, cf. Rev. 22:1,2).
Verses 8-10 have plural imperatives to all who will heed them: ‘Come…see…Be still…know…’. We invite one another to see, with the eye of faith, the final destruction of all powers of rebellion, the climatic fulfilment of Psalm 2, the utter defeat of all evil powers in the universe (cf. Rev. 12:18). In response, we are to ‘be still and know’ that this God is the true God. ‘Be still’…is not an invitation to quiet meditation, but rather to the silence of awestruck surrender.
As Jesus leads us in the singing of this corporate psalm, we tell one another that Jesus Christ Himself is the only safe place in a dangerous world under judgement. And we exhort one another to surrender our rebellious hearts to Him as we bow in awe before the assurance of His final victory. For this conquering Christ is the presence of the Almighty God “with us”.
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