God gave power to Coemgen
Such as He gave not to every saint in the world,
That he should be strong in His assemblies,
Where the children of Adam will be trembling.
– The Monk, Solomon, Life of Coemgen
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
– Acts 2.37
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
– Ephesians 6.10
Coemgen in the assembly
Solomon’s focus in his lengthy poem about Coemgen is not so much on his ministry as on his ascetic life. But here and there we get a glimpse of the saint at work, and from the spare details that are mentioned we can perhaps derive a sketch.
There were assemblies at Glendalough. Doubtless, what Solomon is referring to here are assemblies for worship. The brethren of the monastery and people from the surrounding community would join to worship the Lord. That was the practice at most of the many monasteries in Ireland during this period.
At such times, Coemgen exercised the power of God, probably a reference to his ministry of the Word. He was powerful with the Lord’s power to make the message of Scripture clear and compelling. He was a “strong” presence during the worship of God. His preaching must have included convincing warnings about the coming judgment and eternal condemnation, because gathered with the believers for worship would also be certain “children of Adam”, those who had not yet become sons and daughters of the Lord and who were still lost in their sins. They trembled at Coemgen’s preaching, because—as Solomon explains later in this passage—the judgment of God was coming, and they had not made ready.
Coemgen’s reputation as a strong man of God reached far beyond his local community. Throughout his part of Ireland, people would come to Glendalough to hear him preach, join his monastery, or just be present with him and his monks. A strength was evident there which affected people soul and body, and it derived from the ascetic and devotional life of Coemgen and his monks.
Strong in the Lord
We are all called to be strong in the Lord, to suit up every day for the spiritual warfare in which we are continually involved. Only as we submit ourselves to the Word of God daily and to seeking the Lord in prayer will we find and enjoy that food for the soul that becomes the strength of the Lord for all our work. As we see Jesus in His Word, in all His purity, wisdom, kindness, understanding, patience, suffering, hope, joy, and resurrection vitality, we will desire to be more like Him. And the Holy Spirit, Who dwells with us, will readily oblige and stretch out in us so that more of Jesus comes through in all our words and deeds.
The people in Coemgen’s day did not have the advantages we have for increasing in the strength of the Lord. They didn’t have Bibles, and even if they did, most of them couldn’t read. They had to come to those who did have the Scriptures—like Coemgen and his monks—for counsel, instruction, or just to be in the presence of strong people of faith. The monks would spread out during the day to work in fields, forges, and among the families of their community, so that the strong presence of the Lord would go with them and affect the people they served. And their presence among the people would provide a measure of strength for them to continue in the faith.
The strength of the Lord affects people. When we are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, people will notice a hope in us, a confidence in our step and a joy in living in everything we do. And that strength will strike a resonant chord in their souls, leading many to ask what they must do to have such a hope.
Seek the strength of the Lord. Call on Him day by day to be strong in you and for you to be strong in Him. Apply yourself to every means of grace so that you may increase in Jesus. Who knows how the strength of the Lord in you might affect someone you encounter today?
For Reflection
1. When do you most experience the strength of the Lord?
2. What can you do to know more of the Lord’s strength for every aspect of your life?
Psalm 95.1, 2, 6 (Tidings: O Zion, Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
Come, let us sing with joy to God, our Savior!
Let us with joy to Him, our Rock, bow down!
Come now before Him, grateful for His favor;
let joyful psalms break forth from all around.
Refrain v. 6
Come let us worship, kneel to our LORD;
worship our Maker: Father, Holy Spirit, Word.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we wrap up our study of the values that God’s economy requires. Our Read Moore podcast continues working through Joy to Your World!. The focus of our Scriptorium daily study is on “Matthew: The Coming of the Kingdom.” Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
