CW93 433 Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
This week, instead of looking at a hymn in our blue hymnal, we will look at a hymn from Christian Worship 1993 that did not make the cut in our new hymnal. Considering the readings chosen for this coming Sunday at First Evan. Lutheran Church, the hymn is very appropriate.
Summertime evokes the thoughts of travel and recreation on the water including cruises, fishing, kayaking, and trips to the beach.
The author of the hymn had men who made their living on the sea in mind since he first anonymously published this hymn in six stanzas in The Sailor’s Magazine in 1871. The author was later revealed as Edward Hopper, a Presbyterian minister who served three parishes, the last one being the Church of Sea and Land in New York City where he served sailors.
The sea imagery used by the author makes the hymn easily relatable even if one has little or no experience with manning a vessel on the water.
Verse 1: Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal.
Chart and compass come from thee: Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
Summer brings thunderstorms and threats of tornadoes. We often experience those in the safety of our own homes. Experiencing a storm on the water is an entirely different experience as the boat is tossed around by the winds and the waves and the occupants hold on for dear life.
The disciples experienced that as they were crossing the Sea of Galilee. See Mark 4:35-41. Their boat began to quickly fill up with water. They thought their ship was going down, so what did they do? They turned to Jesus who was sleeping.
Life is like a “tempestuous sea.” Just ask the Apostle Paul. You can read about Paul’s experience with a storm in Acts 27:13-26. Of course, the storm at sea paled in comparison to the persecution he faced. What ‘storms’ have you had to deal with? Whatever they might be, remember who is steering the ship. It’s your Savior, Jesus.
Verse 2: As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild.
Boist’rous waves obey thy will When thou say’st to them, “Be still!”
Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
I’ve seen it on countless occasions. A fussy baby is handed back to mom and immediately stops crying. The disciples turned to Jesus in the storm because they knew he was their best shot to calming their nerves and surviving the storm.
Jesus proved them right. With just the simple command “Peace! Be still!” the storm instantly subsided. They were safe.
What does this teach us? It teaches us that Jesus is all powerful. As the Second Person of the Trinity, he was there as Job 38 says when the foundation of the earth was laid and the earth’s dimensions were determined.
When we are in the middle of a tornado warning or a family crisis, we need only remember the one who has absolute power over the winds and the waves is the one watching over us. Our hearts can be still, knowing that Jesus has hushed sin’s threat to condemn us by taking sin and its condemnation on himself. So even in the middle of a storm, our hearts can be at peace knowing that Jesus has taken care of our most crucial need.
Verse 3: When at last I near the shore And the fearful breakers roar
‘Twixt me and the peaceful rest, Then, while leaning on thy breast,
May I hear thee say to me, “Fear not! I will pilot thee.”
Think of life as a journey from earth to heaven. It is as if you are put in a boat through baptism that gives you a good start on your journey to the other side. Once that happens, God doesn’t just say “Okay. Good luck. You’re on your own.”
No, he provides us with a pilot. A pilot who will see us safely through the storms and troubles of this life. A pilot who knows the way because he is the Way. And even when we near the other side, when we face our own mortality, our pilot, Jesus, tells us that there is nothing to fear. Our pilot’s own resurrection has taken the sting out of death, assuring us that we also will rise and will live with him forever.
The Sea of Galilee is my favorite spot to visit in the Holy Land. Unlike most of the other places a tourist goes to, one can say with 100% certainty that Jesus was there on the water. The first time I floated on the Sea of Galilee, I sang this wonderful little hymn – “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me” – with 20 other pastors. How appropriate! Just as Jesus piloted several of the disciples’ journeys back to shore, Jesus is the one who still pilots you and me.