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SUMMARY OF LAST WEEK’S TEACHINGChapter 9: The Meeting at Stable Hill
—Tirian and company realize that the Tisroc has been using the Ape all along, and that they must battle the Calormenes on two fronts
—Tirian tries to send Jill and Eustace to a safe place, but they resist, while also realizing they have no means of returning to their own world
–The company plans carefully, trying to use their gifts and natural advantages
–Jill and Eustace have a deep moment of fellowship sharing their fears
–Following a dangerous journey through the woods, they arrive at Stable Hill
—Rishda Tarkaan and Ginger the Cat use the Ape as their mouthpiece to proclaim that an impostor Aslan is about, a donkey wearing a lionskin, and must be dealt with
Themes in Chapter 9:
Proclaim the Truth and take the adventure
Vulnerability and sharing burdens brings comfort even when the situation is dire
Fighting for a noble cause, even if risky, is better than hiding and avoiding the fight
Fellowship and doing the next thing in the midst of crisis helps to avoid despair
Communicating love and forgiveness in extreme circumstances is important
When you make an alliance with Evil, Evil will end up controlling you
Lies with a little truth mixed in are the most dangerous type of deception and can cut the ground out from under the Truth
Proclaim the Truth and take the adventure
“Nothing now remains for us seven but to go back to Stable Hill, proclaim the truth, and take the adventure that Aslan sends us. And if, by a great marvel, we defeat those thirty Calormenes who are with the Ape, then to turn again and die in battle with the far greater host of them that will soon march from Cair Paravel.”
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:22-24
When they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. Acts 5:40-42
Vulnerability and sharing burdens brings comfort even when the situation is dire
“This time Jill and Eustace walked together. They had been feeling very brave when they were begging to be allowed to come with the others, but now they didn’t feel brave at all. “Pole,” said Eustace in a whisper. “I may as well tell you I’ve got the wind up.” “Oh you’re all right, Scrubb,” said Jill. “You can fight. But I — I’m just shaking, if you want to know the truth.” “Oh shaking’s nothing,” said Eustace. “I’m feeling I’m going to be sick.” “Don’t talk about that, for goodness’ sake,” said Jill. They went on in silence for a minute or two.
“Pole,” said Eustace presently. “What?” said she. “What’ll happen if we get killed here?” “Well, we’ll be dead, I suppose.” “But I mean, what will happen in our own world? Shall we wake up and find ourselves back in that trail? Or shall we just vanish and never be heard of any more? Or shall we be dead in England?” “Gosh. I never thought of that.”
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. I Cor. 2:3-4 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35
Fighting for a noble cause, even if risky, is better than hiding and avoiding the fight
“It’ll be rum for Peter and the others if they saw me waving out of the window and then when the train comes in we’re nowhere to be found! Or if they found two — I mean, if we’re dead over there in England.” “Ugh!” said Jill. “What a horrid idea.” “It wouldn’t be horrid for us,” said Eustace. “We shouldn’t be there.” “I almost wish — no I don’t, though,” said Jill. “What were you going to say?” “I was going to say I wished we’d never come. But I don’t, I don’t, I don’t. “Even if we are killed. I’d rather be killed fighting for Narnia than grow old and stupid at home and perhaps go about in a bathchair and then die in the end just the same.”
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Hebrews 10:36-39 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city…Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Hebrews 11:13-16, 35-38
Fellowship and doing the next thing in the midst of crisis helps to avoid despair
“While Jill and Eustace were talking about this, the others were discussing their plans and becoming less miserable. That was because they were now thinking of what was to be done this very night and the thought of what had happened to Narnia — the thought that all her glories and joys were over — was pushed away into the back part of their minds. The moment they stopped talking it would come out and make them wretched again: but they kept on talking. Poggin was really quite cheerful about the nights’ work they had to do. He was sure that the Boar and the Bear, and probably all the Dogs would come over to their side at once. And he couldn’t believe that all the other Dwarfs would stick to Griffle. And fighting by firelight and in and out among trees would be an advantage to the weaker side. And then, if they could win tonight, need they really throw their lives away by meeting the main Calormene army a few days later?”
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8 Turn away from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart 2 Timothy 2:22 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Communicating love and forgiveness in extreme circumstances is important
“Tirian, with his head against Jewel’s flank, slept as sound as if he were in his royal bed at Cair Paravel, till the sound of a gong beating awoke him and he sat up and saw that there was firelight on the far side of the stable and knew that the hour had come. “Kiss me, Jewel,” he said. “For certainly this is our last night on earth. And if ever I offended against you in any matter great or small, forgive me now.” “Dear King,” said the Unicorn, “I could almost wish you had, so that I might forgive it. Farewell. We have known great joys together. If Aslan gave me my choice I would choose no other life than the life I have had and no other death than the one we go to.” Then they woke up Farsight who was asleep with his head under his wing (it made him look as if he had no head at all) and crept forward to the stable.”
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-4 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again…. And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship. Acts 20:24-25, 36-38
When you make an alliance with Evil, Evil will end up controlling you
“Three figures appeared. One was Rishda Tarkaan, the Calormene Captain. The second was the Ape. He was holding onto the Tarkaan’s hand with one paw and kept whimpering and muttering, “Not so fast, don’t go so fast, I’m not at all well. Oh my poor head! These midnight meetings are getting too much for me. Apes aren’t meant to be up at night: It’s not as if I was a rat or a bat — oh my poor head.” On the other side of the Ape, walking very soft and stately, with his tail straight up in the air, came Ginger the Cat. Rishda Tarkaan dragged the Ape up close to the fire. The pair of them turned to face the crowd, and this of course meant that their backs were towards Tirian and his friends. “Now, Monkey,” said Rishda Tarkaan in a low voice. “Say the words that wiser heads have put into thy mouth. And hold up thy head.” As he spoke he gave the Ape a little prod or kick from behind with the point of his toe. “Do leave me alone,” muttered Shift. But he sat up straighter and began, in a louder voice — “Now listen, all of you. A terrible thing has happened. A wicked thing. The wickedest thing that ever was done in Narnia. And Aslan — ” “Tashlan, fool,” whispered Rishda Tarkaan.”
Gandalf to Saruman: “There can be only one Lord of the Rings, only one who can bend them to his will. And he does not share power!” Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 2 Cor. 6:14 If your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matthew 6:23 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:7-8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Gal. 6:8
Lies with a little truth mixed in are the most dangerous type of deception and can cut the ground out from under the Truth
“Yes,” said the Ape. “At this very moment, when the Terrible One himself is among us — there in the stable just behind me — one wicked Beast has chosen to do what you’d think no one would dare to do even if He were a thousand miles away. It has dressed itself up in a lionskin and is wandering about in these very woods pretending to be Aslan.” Jill wondered for a moment if the Ape had gone mad. Was he going to tell the whole truth? A roar of horror and rage went up from the Beasts. “Grrr!” came the growls, “Who is he? Where is he? Just let me get my teeth into him!”…Jill looked at the King: his mouth was open and his face was full of horror. And then she understood the devilish cunning of the enemies’ plan. By mixing a little truth with it they had made their lie far stronger. What was the good, now, of telling the Beasts that an ass had been dressed up as a lion to deceive them? The Ape would only say, “That’s just what I’ve said.” What was the good of showing them Puzzle in his lionskin? They would only tear him in pieces. “That’s taken the wind out of our sails,” whispered Eustace. “The ground is taken from under our feet,” said Tirian. ”
No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. Ps. 101:7 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. Prov. 12:17 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Mt. 24:24 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. I John 1:6 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Cor. 4:2
O CHURCH ARISE
Stuart Townend & Keith Getty, 2004
O Church arise and put your armor on! Hear the call of Christ our captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong in the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of truth we’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle cry is love reaching out to those in darkness.
Our call to war, to love the captive soul, but to rage against the captor
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole we will fight with faith and valor
When faced with trials on ev’ry side, we know the outcome is secure,
And Christ will have the prize for which He died, an inheritance of nations.
Come, see the cross where love and mercy meet, as the Son of God is stricken
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet, for the Conqueror has risen
And as the stone is rolled away, and Christ emerges from the grave,
This vict’ry march continues till the day ev’ry eye and heart will see Him
So Spirit, come, put strength in ev’ry stride, give grace for ev’ry hurdle,
That we may run with faith to win the prize of a servant good and faithful
As saints of old still line the way, retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls and hunger for the day when, with Christ, we stand in glory.
