God Had Mercy On Him
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 26th July service and hymns are below.
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Our principal verses are:
Php 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
Php 2:26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
Php 2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Php 2:28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
Php 2:29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
Php 2:30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
God Had Mercy On Him
Together with Timothy, the Apostle Paul had with him in Rome a brother in the Lord called Epaphroditus. This man had come from Philippi at the bidding of the church in that city with gifts for the Apostle. He was charged by the brethren to minister to Paul’s needs in whatever way he could be of use. While not stated explicitly it is likely Epaphroditus was a pastor or preacher in Philippi. It is clear Paul held this man in very high regard as a brother in the Lord. He was a ‘companion’ in gospel labour and a ‘fellowsoldier’ in the cause of Christ.
Nigh to death
While in Rome, Epaphroditus had been so attentive to his task of caring for Paul and so tireless in his work that he had become seriously ill and close to death, a development that caused the Apostle great concern. News of this brother’s decline in health had gotten back to Philippi and Epaphroditus had additionally become greatly concerned knowing the distress his illness would generated amongst his brethren in his home congregation. Everything in these verses speaks of the deep love and genuine affection that existed among these early believers.
An early return
Partly because of Epaphroditus’ anxiety for his fellow-saints and partly for the sake of the brother’s health, Paul deemed it wise to send him home, bearing this letter, that the church might rejoice to have him back and to see him again whom they feared might never return. Paul wholly attributes the healing of Epaphroditus to the mercy of God; the sickness being beyond the ability of physicians to cure. He considers it also a token of divine goodness to himself since this brother’s death would have caused the Apostle great sorrow during this period of imprisonment.
‘Jesus wept’
By this we learn that sorrow amongst believers for the loss of loved ones is not incompatible with trust in God or faith in the divine promises. Believers are emotional creatures with natural passions. Our understanding of divine sovereignty and our confidence in the doctrines of grace do not nullify our innate affections. We weep with them who weep and we mourn with them that mourn. We sorrow for loss, though not as others who have no hope. Faith moderates our sorrow and regulates our feelings. We trust in the love, wisdom and power of God to do right by His people.
Prayer answered
I feel sure the recovery of Epaphroditus was an answer to prayer put up in both Philippi and Rome. It is a blessing to be able to take our requests to the Lord and a further blessing to be able to bear witness when our petitions are granted. Mercy is a wonderful gift to God’s saints and Paul was quick to testify, ‘God had mercy upon him’. David tells us that, ‘the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him’. God’s covenant grace brings many additional blessings in its wake and it is wonderful to detect and trace the Lord’s hand intervening in our lives.
A worthy soldier
Paul would have the Philippians receive Epaphroditus home with love, joy and respect as a worthy soldier and ambassador of Christ who had blessed Paul on their behalf and in their absence. His ministry to the Apostle had been sacrificial to the point of losing his health and almost his life. Holding him in reputation doubtless means more than thinking highly of him in an abstract way. Whatever needs Epaphroditus continued to have as a result of his sacrifice were to be supplied by those for whom his service was expended.
They also serve
It is noticeable that Paul identifies and classifies Epaphroditus’ service as ‘the work of Christ’. It is possible this man preached the gospel while he was in Rome although we are not told so explicitly. It seems better to attribute Epaphroditus’ ministry to the whole work performed on behalf of the Philippian church and his menial service to Paul in Rome. This work he undertook and fulfilled for Christ’s sake and as done to Christ. By this we see Christ’s work is any work done for Him; it is any service, be it ever so small, undertaken for Christ’s glory and for the sake of His people.
A work of grace
Epaphroditus’ name means lovely, graceful, even handsome. Notwithstanding his physical looks it does appear that the Apostle highly esteemed this brother and admired his lovely spirit and graceful attitude in all his service and duties. Epaphroditus embodied the affection of the Philippian believers for the Apostle Paul, which complemented the Apostle’s love for them. Though we know nothing more of this man than is written here in this short epistle he will continue to shine until the end of time as an example of Christian service in the pages of our New Testament.
Amen
Hymn 93
“It is finished.” John 19. 30
J. Evans 8.7.4.
1
Hark! the voice of love and mercy
Sounds aloud from Calvary!
See! it rends the rocks asunder,
Shakes the earth and veils the sky!
“It is finished!”
Hear the dying Saviour cry!
2
“It is finished!” – O what pleasure
Do these charming words afford!
Heavenly blessings, without measure,
Flow to us from Christ the Lord.
“It is finished!”
Saints, the dying words record.
3
Finished, all the types and shadows
Of the ceremonial law;
Finished all that God had promised;
Death and hell no more shall awe.
“It is finished!”
Saints, from hence your comfort draw.
4
Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs;
Join to sing the pleasing theme;
Saints on earth, and all in heaven,
Join to praise Immanuel’s name.
Hallelujah!
Glory to the bleeding Lamb!
Hymn 12
The All-Sufficient Mercy of God. Ps. 89. 28
R. Burnham 8s
1
All glory to mercy we bring,
The mercy that reigns evermore,
The infinite mercy we sing,
The mercy eternal adore.
2
The mercy converting we prize;
In mercy forgiving delight;
For conquering mercy we rise,
We rise and triumphantly fight.
3
[And when we are wounded by sin,
And scarcely a prayer can repeat,
The mercy that heals us again,
Is mercy transportingly sweet.]
4
What though in the furnace we fall,
Free mercy the Saviour proclaims;
Free mercy in Jesus we call,
And glorify God in the flames.
5
For mercy upholding we pray;
For mercy confirming aspire;
And mercy will bear us away
To God and the glorified choir.
Our God showed mercy to Epaphroditus by saving His soul from sin and death and saving his body from sickness. God's mercies are a continuous source of blessing for His people for which He is to be thanked.