Matthew 8: Setting Things Right (5)

Pray Psalm 29.1, 2.
Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Sing Psalm 29.1, 2.
(Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Give praise to God, you children of the earth!
Tell of His strength, proclaim His glorious worth!   
Give to the Lord the glory due His Name!
Worship in holiness; His grace proclaim!

Read Matthew 8.1-27; meditate on verse 23-27.

Prepare.
1. How did Jesus still the wind and the sea?

2. How did the disciples respond to this?

Meditate.
Psalm 29 is one of my favorites. In this brief psalm, the word LORD appears 18 times. 18 times in 11 verses! You think David may have been trying to emphasize something? Or perhaps to set us up for something?

And when Jesus speaks to the wind and seas, and they obey His voice, do you suppose those disciples might have thought of Psalm 29?

What is the answer to the disciples’ question in verse 27, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” It is the LORD. That is to say, Jesus is the LORD!

This is what Matthew does over and over. He makes it very clear that Jesus fulfills Old Testament predictions, descriptions, types, and expectations for the coming of the LORD. And he minces no words and makes no bones about it: Jesus is the LORD. He is the Master of winds and seas and everything else. So if you choose to follow Him, know that the power of Jesus’ Word can calm the winds and still the seas, just as surely as it can transform your soul.

Jesus rebuked His disciples. They had enough faith to turn to Him for help, calling Him “Lord”; but they didn’t have enough faith not to fear perishing. He welcomed their petition, but rebuked their fear. Fear is a natural response to certain kinds of situations; but for the believer, we need not fear that we might perish. We who believe in Jesus will not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3.16). The security and safety that come from knowing this must keep all our fears in a proper perspective, so that even as we fear, we know where to confidently turn for the Word that calms even raging seas.

Reflect.
1. What does this passage suggest about the power of Jesus’ Word?

2. Why did Jesus rebuke the disciples? Is there anything in your life that He might similarly rebuke?

3. How does this passage help us in sharing the Good News of Jesus?

Christ gets into the vessel of his church, always ready to calm the waves of the world. He leads those who believe in him through safe sailing to the heavenly homeland and makes those whom he made to share in his humanity citizens of his land. Christ does not need the vessel, therefore, but the vessel needs Christ. Peter Chrysologus (380-450), Sermons 50.2

I need to hear Your voice, Lord, strengthening me and emboldening me for the day ahead, so that…

Pray Psalm 29.3-11.
Thank God for His sovereignty over all things! Call on Him to guide, protect, keep, and direct you through the day ahead.

Sing Psalm 29.3-11.
Psalm 29.3-11 (Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Over the waters, over thunder’s roll,
God’s voice creation’s mighty pow’rs controls!
Cedars collapse at His majestic Word.
Nations are shaken by our mighty Lord!

God speaks and lightning streaks across the sky.
By His decree He shakes the desert dry.
Speak, Lord, and life to beasts and men is giv’n.
Forests dissolve, and glory rings in heav’n.

Sovereign, the Lord sat o’er the raging flood.
Sovereign forever rules our gracious God!
God will His people bless with strength and peace:
Lord, may Your holy Word to us increase!

T. M. Moore

Worship the Lord!
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).