The Trials of Paul (17)

Pray Psalm 149.1, 2.
Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints.
Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Sing Psalm 149.1, 2.
(Toulon: I Greet Thee Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Sing to the Lord a glorious song and new! Praise Him you people, to Whom praise is due!
Let us rejoice, let us be glad in Him Who has created us and cleansed our sin.

Read Acts 27.1-44; meditate on verses 27-44.

Preparation
1. What happened to the ship?

2. How did Paul help to keep everyone alive?

Meditation
The struggle to save the ship and themselves continued for fourteen days and nights. The sailors determined that their ship was being driven into shallow water, so they set out anchors at the stern in hope of keeping the ship from crashing onto rocks (vv. 27-29). They were not persuaded that was going to help, however, so they concocted a scheme to escape what they perceived would be certain destruction (v. 30). Paul saw through their ploy, however, and counseled the centurion to keep them on board and to cut away the ship’s boat to avoid that temptation ever rising again (vv. 31, 32).

If they were going to run aground, Paul knew they’d need strength to get ashore. So he advised them to eat something before they threw the last of the provisions overboard (vv. 33-38). He prayed with thanksgiving in front of them all and led the way to a meal. His prayer and actions encouraged the others, and all benefited from the food.

Finally, the ship ran aground on rocks. The constant pounding of waves against the stern caused the ship to begin breaking up, so now it was push-come-to-shove (vv. 39-41). It’s a good thing Paul and the centurion had come to respect one another. What the soldiers were planning – to kill all the prisoners – was standard operating procedure (v. 42). The centurion intervened however, contrary to accepted Roman military practice, to keep Paul alive (v. 43). Then the centurion took over and, with all the authority and threatening power he possessed, directed everyone to do what Paul had previously advised. Consequently, and against all odds, everyone landed safely on the beach (v. 44).

The story of this ship is a parable of our lives in many ways. Rejoice that, whatever our struggles, we are safe, and we will be safe when all is done.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable…” (Acts 27.41). Running aground is not a bad thing when we stick fast and remain immovable in the solid ground of the Lord.

“Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to
the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
a strong tower from the enemy” (Ps. 61.1-3).

“The story of this ship is a parable of our lives in many ways. Rejoice that, whatever our struggles, we are safe, and we will be safe when all is done.”

Many years ago people in our church experienced a difficult situation with one of their children. This story from Paul served as a reminder of the way things work out with the Lord. Yes, the parents had told the child not to do something, just as Paul had told the centurion not to set sail. And yes, the parents reminded the child of their sin; but in the same loving way that Paul restored, rescued and led the sailors and prisoners into a new way of thinking about their struggles for survival.

God’s guidance through our trials leads us to repentance and restoration. It is what His forgiveness is all about. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1.9). Ready to set sail once again with a new focus and a new boat. God’s grace is amazing.

Stuck fast on the Rock, immovable in Him, we will survive the tempest-tossed seas of life and emerge safely from each shipwreck. Maybe a little bedraggled and damp, but ever striving forward into our Personal Mission Field, to love the Lord with all our heart and our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22.36-40).

We are all in the same boat, we daily go adrift;
We need the steady winds of God to blow us to His gift.
His gift of love and mercy, His gift of grace divine,
His gift of true forgiveness, His gifts are yours and mine.
So grab your oars, let’s hoist the sail, we’re in this boat together.
His love will never ever fail, even in stormy weather!

For reflection
1. What do we learn from Paul about how to deal with the “stormy weather” that comes into our lives from time to time?

2. Why is Jesus likened to a steadfast and immovable Rock? Why do we need to keep this in mind?

3. Why are we “safe” in the Lord no matter how great the trial we must face?

You can understand now that the truth of the word and promise of God is so great that no storm of the sea, no plotting of the wicked, no adverse misfortune is so powerful as to thwart it. Therefore, from the story of this shipwreck, let us strengthen our faith in the face of all opposing storms. Johannes Brenz (1499-1570), Homily 118 on Acts 27.19

Sing Psalm 149.3-9.
Life is a struggle, but thank the Lord we are safe in Jesus and He will bring us safely to our distant shore! Call on the Lord to use you today, according to His Word, to encourage and bear witness to those in your Personal Mission Field.

Sing Psalm 149.3-9.
(Toulon: I Greet Thee Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Praise Him with dance, with tambourine and lyre! To be so praised is God’s one great desire.
Lord, beautify Your holy ones with grace; show us the mercy of Your saving face.

Sing to the Lord, exult with great delight! Sing on your beds with joy to God by night!
Sing praise and take His Word into your hand; publish His grace and wrath in every land!

T. M. and Susie Moore

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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. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.