100 YEARS OF THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE TO THE LORD- 2 SAMUEL 22

For a century at Lockleys Baptist, the water of life flowed freely, just as the  Lord promised in Isaiah 12, ’Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, for Jehovah the Lord is my strength and my song.   He has become my salvation.’  Exultingly he cried, ‘Therefore, with joy you shall draw water from the wells of salvation. This is exactly the history of this true-to-the Scriptures church, where individual saints have drawn life-giving water from the only nourishing Source. 

Resilient faith carried His children through complicated years. ‘They trusted that ‘the Lord will deliver them from every evil work, and preserve them for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever’. This centenary celebration releases their praise for His unexcelled achievements. 

They endured privations over these years, including a world-wide depression, two world wars, many other struggles, including the fate of members caught up in these contests.  John in the Revelation promised, ‘ They shall  neither hunger any more nor thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And the comforting word, ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’  For one hundred years, the Lamb of God has gently directed them to sparkling waters: and has graciously dried tear-filled eyes. 

David’s song ran on, ‘The Lord is My Rock; my Fortress, my Deliverer.’ The Scripture teaches us the nature of our Lord. Is He our Gibraltar, which for centuries secured the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, and was home to garrison soldiers.  It guarded Europe from invasion. 
Is HE our Uluru, the mountain rock in the heart of Australia, one of the great rocky formations of our day. Tourists photograph Uluru, from every angle, with marvellous shades of morning and evening colour. Is not our Lord like Uluru, with inexhaustible beauty and majesty.  Lockleys saints have climbed this Rock of faith, their view of eternity unhindered with total reliance on a wonderful Lord.

We look for a strong place when we are weak or frail. How many saints have brought their families to this place of worship after battling diseases, when some children may have perished.  While they were physically exhausted, they came to praise the Lord for his deliverance; or to bless the Lord of heaven Who had received the little child, who had succumbed to diphtheria, whooping cough or weakening poliomyelitis.  When millions perished after WW1 in the Pan-epidemic of influenza: were God’s people at Lockleys immune from such invasion? Rather, they discovered ‘The Lord is my Fortress’, my place of strength and security. 

David told how the Lord was his Deliverer. (v2) David recalled how His God had shielded him from treacherous Saul’s vicious javelin throw, from Saul’s determined campaign to capture and take his life.  Lockleys saints had been released from many thrusts of the enemy, and rejoiced in their great Deliverer.  They sang this song over the 100 years with zest and joy.  So should we.

David pressed on with ‘The God of my strength, in Him I will trust.  My Shield and the horn of My salvation, My stronghold and my refuge: My Saviour, you save me from violence.’ (v3)  The eternal One was the theme of David’s song. ‘God covenanted with Abram, ‘The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, do not be afraid, Abram, (dread was understandable in God’s presence), I Am your Shield, your exceedingly great reward.’ (Genesis 15:1)  The shield may be of gold, silver or brass; and protected the entire body of the soldier. Indeed, it is a valuable protection from all the fiery darts of the wicked one.( Ephesians 6:16) 
How did the believers at Lockleys endure, except by sheltering beneath the Shield?

The word of God persists in this protective theme, ‘The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; and then the startling assurance, ‘No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly’ (Psalm 84:11).  Much of our natural life comes from the sun, even as our spiritual life flows from the Son of righteousness.  He is not only a sun but a Shield. We are surrounded by the ionosphere, protecting us from devastating ultra-violet rays, yet designed for our preservation.  Such intelligent design. Also, the ionosphere is essential for short-wave transmission, permitting the Word of God to be communicated from strategic centers in South America, South East Asia, Seychelles, and Africa.  Little wonder that grace and glory are intimately linked.

For one century- “No good thing has the Lord withheld from them that fear Him.’
Consider the devoted pastors who have graced the pulpit over many years. Neil Young, who served our Lord in Japan, and who joined our home revival prayer meeting, loyally preached the word of God. Alan Burgess was trustworthy in proclaiming the truth of the word until a heart condition claimed him for Christ. Another dedicated pastor, Joe Westlake, despite a limiting medical condition, truly preached Christ and Him crucified. No good truth did these pastors withhold from faithful followers.  Lyn Roberts, which graced this church for many years, has an international writing and bible-teaching ministry, sponsoring graduates from South America, and training them at prestigious universities, for their Lord’s service.

David pictured this security in Psalm 115:9, where he cried, ‘Israel trust in the Lord. He is their help and shield.’  He repeated this ‘O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord, He is their help and shield.’ And pleaded the third time, ‘Who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord.’ The psalmist implores us to look to Him who is our shield or our bodyguard.  Have you placed your confidence in the only Person who can watch over you as a shield guards a soldier in battle.  The shield may be golden, speaking of His glory; or silver, reminding us of redemption through his blood; or bronze, expressing His suffering through the fire of Calvary. He is your shield.

Lockleys Baptist acknowledges the all-sufficiency of our God over these 100 years.