Eulogy - "A Silent Sermon - Seek the Face of Almighty God" - Psalm 80

“A Silent Sermon – Seek the Face of Almighty God” (Psalm 80)

The Revised and Edited Eulogy of

The Reverend Robert Thomas, Sr.

On Saturday, 14 May 2005

Shortly after arriving at First Baptist Church Capitol Hill, I asked the late Rev. Robert Thomas if he would like to be in the monthly preaching rotation.  He responded, “Reverend, I really don’t preach.  I‘d rather sit, listen and worship.”  Not surprisingly, I found his comment and its attendant humility rather odd.  I do not know many clergypersons who pass up opportunities to preach.  Nevertheless, over the last five years, I came to appreciate Rev. Thomas’ method of silent preaching.  He did indeed preach but he did so silently.  He proclaimed the gospel through his life.

As we celebrate his life today, we recall the silent sermon of Rev. Thomas’ faithfulness to Almighty God and the members of our church family.  He leaves a legacy of “A Silent Sermon.”  Through his countless cards celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and expressing condolences, Rev. Thomas fulfilled the scriptural requirement of “rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.”  He consistently visited with members who were hospitalized.  In times of bereavement, he devotedly practiced the ministry of presence.  I do not recall a funeral in the last five years that he missed. 

In his witness to Christ, Rev. Thomas prioritized obedience to the will and Word of God.  As long as his health permitted, he came to Sunday worship without fail.  He strove for integrity in all that he did. The coherence of thought and action is integrity, practically speaking.  His many trips to the church office to ascertain the location of a hospitalized member were part and parcel of his faithfulness to Christ.  His understanding of the Lord’s love compelled him toward the service that he offered to the honor and glory of Christ and the benevolence that he showed to others.

Referring to his favorite passage of scripture, Psalm 80, I entitle the silent sermon of Rev. Thomas’ life, “Seek the Face of Almighty God.”  Three times in this psalm, David appeals to Almighty God for restoration.  Further, the psalmist asks that the face of God shine upon the people of Israel so that they would be saved.   Despite the various trials and tribulations of the people, they can seek the favor of God.  In his meek and formidable manner, Rev. Thomas taught us to emulate the behavior of the psalmist.  During the twists and turns of his illness, Rev. Thomas never complained.  Constantly, he gave thanks and praise to Almighty God for His all-sufficient grace.  Although he underwent surgery and a couple of subsequent setbacks, Rev. Thomas loyally pleaded “make Your face shine upon [me], that [I] may saved.”  His life was a silent sermon, which encouraged those who observed Rev. Thomas to “Seek the Face of Almighty God.”

The second verse of Psalm 80 concludes with a petition, “Awake your might and come and save us.”  This prayer is actually a request for enlightenment.  The psalmist hopes that God’s presence will remind the people of His saving power, which works within them as they rightly, relate themselves to Almighty God.  Difficult times necessitate that we flee to the shelter of God’s presence, which automatically includes His ability to protect and nurture us.  Rev. Thomas’ example consistently taught us to imitate the psalmist’s prayer life.

In the fourth through the sixth verses, the psalmist describes a rather dire situation.  He questions the length of God’s “smoldering anger” and inquires about its inhibition of the people’s prayers.  Then, he depicts a very graphic image of feeding on “bread of tears” and drinking a “bowlful of tears.”  Elsewhere, David speaks of tears being his food by night and sustenance in the day.  An extended and multifaceted illness is a time of countless tears.  Next, the psalmist considers that he and his kinsfolk have become the butts of their neighbors’ joke.  He imagines that they wonder anyone would serve that “God,” since He leaves them in desperation for such a long time.  Yet, like the psalter, Rev. Thomas constantly leaned on then Lord.  He genuinely relied upon God by asking for restoration and the good favor of God’s face.

I imagine that Rev. Thomas periodically implored God about the circumstances in which he found himself.  I find such an inquiry to be perfectly natural.  Considering Rev. Thomas’ obedience to the call of God on his life and his willingness to pursue the ministry with integrity, he probably wondered how such a brilliant dawn could give way to such a dreary dusk.  Similarly, the psalmist reminds God that He providentially “brought a vine [Israel] out of Egypt.”  Moreover, He planted it in the Promised Land; it grew to the lengths and height of shading mountains and the “mighty cedars” of the land.  The wild boars of the forests and beasts of the field eventually trampled the vine, although it extended to the sea.  Still, the psalmist, in the fourteenth and fifteenth verses, begs for God to turn His eyes toward the vine,  “Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted.”  Undoubtedly, in episodes of pain and frustration, Rev. Thomas called for God’s remembrance of His original and sovereign plan for his life.  Whereas those petitions did not remove the unfortunate circumstances, they were enough to remind Rev. Thomas of God’s favor.

The final verse of Psalm 80 reiterates, for the third time, the psalmist’s steadfast desire to “Seek the Face of Almighty God” no what the surrounding conditions may be.  The presence of God includes restoration and salvation, which is a synonym for inner healing and wholeness.  In his shy, quiet, humble and forceful way, Rev. Thomas taught us this important spiritual lesson.  In so doing, he preached a marvelously silent yet powerful sermon!