Master the Tempest is Raging

I have two childhood memories of the old hymn ‘Master the Tempest is Raging’. Firstly, I remember Mum singing it. We didn’t sing it at church; mum found it in an old hymn book. Secondly, it was the first hymn I attempted to play on the piano. it was in the key of C and looked easy; I discovered it wasn’t!

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?

I love the old hymns with ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ in them; it takes me back to the prayers of men in my childhood that taught me so much. I love the old hymns that reflect on a Biblical narrative… in this case the story of Jesus calming the storm.

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.

We move from the narrative to ourselves. We reflect on the storms in our lives, the grief and sadness, fear and distress… those that we bring on ourselves, those that just happen… completely overwhelming. We’re sinking; life’s out of our control. All we can do is to call out for help.

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 harbour,
And rest on the blissful shore.

We remember that the God of peace brings peace. The storm may be violent, Jesus may appear to be sleeping or inactive, but He can change desperate situations. We’re pointed forward to heaven the ‘blest harbour’, the ‘blissful shore’. I think back to recent funerals. To John and Bruce Jesus has said, ‘Peace, be still

The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will,
Peace, be still!
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons or men, or whatever it be,
No waters 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!

Returning to this old hymn this morning I’m musing on two things…  

…Jesus is repeatedly referred to as ‘Master’. He brought peace because He was ‘the Master’ who could bring peace.

…I remember another old song we used to sing, ‘With Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm’. He brought peace because He was there in the boat.

With the Master aboard my boat his presence brings power and peace.