Hymns of the Church – Master the Tempest is Raging – 14 May 2024, Anno Domini (In the Year of our Lord)

 

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ND when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. ²⁴ And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. ²⁵ And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. ²⁶ And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. ²⁷ But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! (Matthew 8:23-27)

 

Please view this presentation of the below hymn by Gracias Choir: 

 

https://youtu.be/WlVqAPT9YR4?si=ZDZ5bRJOXApwSVs5

 

            This powerful and moving hymn is the composition of Mary E. Baker, a member of the Baptist denomination, in 1874. The musical score, Peace Be Still, was written by Dr. Palmer and published in Ira Sankey’s famous collection. I was moved today to write on this hymn after being powerfully affected in hearing the Gracias Choir (Korean) perform it in such spiritual power as is rarely heard today.

 

Master the Tempest is Raging

 

Master, the tempest is raging!

The billows are tossing high!

The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness,

No shelter or help is nigh;

Carest thou not that we perish?"

How canst thou lie asleep,

When each moment so madly is threat'ning

A grave in the angry deep?

Refrain

The winds and the waves shall obey thy will.

"Peace, be still!"

Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,

Or struggles or evil, whatever it be,

No water can swallow the ship where lies

the Master of ocean and earth and skies:

They all shall sweetly obey thy will.

"Peace, be still! Peace, be still!"

They all shall sweetly obey thy will.

"Peace, peace, be still!"

 

Master, with anguish of spirit

I bow in my grief today;

The depths of my sad heart are troubled,

Oh, waken and save, I pray;

Torrents of sin and of anguish

Sweep o’er my sinking soul!

And I perish! I perish, dear Master:

Oh, hasten and take control.

Refrain

 

Master, the terror is over,

The elements sweetly rest;

Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,

And heaven’s within my breast.

Linger, O blessed Redeemer,

Leave me alone no more;

And with joy I shall make the blest harbor,

And rest on the blissful shore.

Refrain

 

1 Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high! The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness, No shelter or help is nigh; Carest thou not that we perish?" How canst thou lie asleep, When each moment so madly is threat'ning A grave in the angry deep? Such majestic thoughts expressed here! The seas and troubles of life billow to fearful heights at time – so high and fierce that our hopes are dismal apart from faith in Christ. The dark clouds of life’s troubled sky darken and the shadows lengthen. Do we doubt that Christ even cares for us? Perish the thought, He DOES! Our small and imagined problems are nothing compared to the price He paid for our atonement. A bit of water over the bow, or the tearing of the mast is of little concern if we have faith in the One who is always with us – even to the end of the world. We fear a burial in the deep of life. The sea is the largest cemetery in the world and holds the dead of millions of souls. But why should we fear the deep when we have the Master of Heaven to hold us?

 

2 Master, with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief today; The depths of my sad heart are troubled, Oh, waken and save, I pray; Torrents of sin and of anguish Sweep o’er my sinking soul! And I perish! I perish, dear Master: Oh, hasten and take control. [Refrain] The disciples with Christ on the stormy sea were overcome with fear simply because they did not comprehend the fulness of who Christ was. Our fears, too, are often enhanced by a lack of faith in the One who can move mountains, raise the dead, and still the stormy seas. But our Lord knows that we are frail and subject to mortal fears; so, He comforts us with His word and our  constant companion, the Holy Spirit. Two of the shortest prayers uttered in the Gospels were exclaimed on the stormy Sea of Galilee. First, by Peter when he began to sink into the waters in following Christ, “Lord, Save me!” (Matthew 14:30) And now, again, the disciples as a whole plead a short prayer: “Lord, save us: we perish.”

But the latter half of that prayer was in vain since they could not perish with the Lord Jesus Christ aboard.

 

            3 Master, the terror is over, The elements sweetly rest; Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored, And heaven’s within my breast. Linger, O blessed Redeemer, Leave me alone no more; And with joy I shall make the blest harbor, And rest on the blissful shore. [Refrain]. At His command were the mountains established in the beginning, the dry land appeared, Light was created, and all life forms created. Now do you suppose the sea would overcome its very Maker? Will the sea defy its Maker? I trust not. Our little challenges in life often loom larger than reality; yet, He brings a calm if we leave our burdens and heartaches to Him alone. Has He not promised to be with us until the last trump? “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20) The seas and billows roar, and the shoals are fixed before the harbor; yet, we have the great Beam of God’s Lighthouse to direct our course to safe harbor; and before it, the lower lights to prevent our shipwreck on the shoals. Once safely in port, the waters are smooth and undisturbed, and will always be so to the strong of faith.

 

Refrain

The winds and the waves shall obey thy will. "Peace, be still!" Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea, Or struggles or evil, whatever it be, No water can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies: They all shall sweetly obey thy will. "Peace, be still! Peace, be still!" They all shall sweetly obey thy will. "Peace, peace, be still!" Consider those comforting words, ‘Peace, be Still!’ It is the recurring theme of this great hymn. When God’s Word is expressed in reverent hymns, the conviction is overwhelming. The power of music, for good or bad, is unquestioned. Unfortunately, today’s church has opted for the music of the world rather than taking the Godly hymns of the Church out into the world. Neither the laws of nature, or of man, will resist God’s commands. “They all shall sweetly obey thy will. "Peace, be still! Peace, be still!" You fear the enemy afield is too great, too strong, too numerous? Ask yourself a simple question, Friend: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)  What is the answer to that question?