| He Neither Slumbers Nor Sleeps |
| The Lord is Our Keeper |
| by David A. DePra |
| The wind was tossing the tiny ship. It was made of only wood, |
| and could not take much more. Yet only that fragile ship stood |
| between the disciples and the raging sea. They were terrified. |
| They were helpless. They knew of nothing they could do. |
| Jesus was asleep on the pillow. How could He possibly |
| stay asleep amidst such a storm? Why didn't the shaking and |
| jarring, let alone the shouts of terror awake Him? But no. He |
| stayed asleep, as if oblivious to what was happening. |
| The disciples had followed Him into the boat. But they had no |
| idea that this was where they would be led! To the raging sea. |
| To an untimely death. Where was Jesus? Where was God? |
| He was sleeping. He wasn't paying any attention to them. |
| "How can you sleep, Lord? Don't you care that we perish? |
| Save us! Deliver us from this death!" But Jesus just turned over. |
| He really didn't hear them. How could He? The wind and the |
| sea were so loud that their voices were but a faint echo. Their |
| cries but a distant sound. No, Jesus couldn't hear them. He |
| was asleep. |
| The storm worsened. The wood frame of the ship began to |
| crack. The sail were completely tattered. The taste of salt |
| water was everywhere. But Jesus was asleep. He didn't seem |
| to notice. |
| At last they awoke Him. "Save us! We perish!," they cried. |
| They had no idea what they wanted Him to do; no clue as to |
| how Jesus could possibly solve this problem. But to Him they |
| turned. To Him they ran. "Maybe HE could pray to God for us. |
| Maybe HE could get God to notice our dilemma." |
| Jesus stirred. But He seemed unmoved. What was all the |
| fuss? "Why are you afraid," He quizzed. "Why are ye fearful, |
| o ye of little faith." |
| They must have murmured. "Is He kidding? Why does He |
| think we are fearful? And why is He saying we are of little faith? " |
| Jesus finally arose. He commanded and the wind and sea |
| obeyed. His disciples were astounded. They had not know |
| what to expect. But this? Who was this, that the wind and seas |
| obey Him? |
| Jesus spoke nothing else to them. It was not yet time. But |
| perhaps a Psalm went through His mind: |
| I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. From whence comes my |
| help? My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and |
| earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved. He that keepeth |
| thee WILL NOT SLUMBER. He that keepeth Israel shall |
| NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP. (Ps. 121:1-4) |
| He wanted to tell them, but could not, that the Lord is their |
| Keeper. He is never asleep. Oh yes, it may at times LOOK like |
| He is sleeping. It may appear to the eye as if Jesus is fast |
| asleep in the midst of the storm which is tossing our lives to and |
| fro. It may appear as if it is a deep sleep indeed. But faith |
| doesn't rely on appearances. It relies upon God. And the Lord, |
| as the Psalm continues, "shall preserve thee from all evil. He |
| shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out |
| and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forever." (Ps. |
| 121:7-8) |
| Who is this, that the wind and seas obey Him? It is the Lord, |
| our Keeper, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. * |