Little Bilney Leads The Way

Psalm 143:1-6

A psalm of David.

1Hear my prayer, O LORD;

listen to my plea!

Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.

2Don’t bring your servant to trial!

Compared to you, no one is perfect.

3My enemy has chased me.

He has knocked me to the ground.

He forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.

4I am losing all hope;

I am paralyzed with fear.

5I remember the days of old.

I ponder all your great works.

I think about what you have done.

6I reach out for you.

I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

Interlude

You may find Hugh Latimer’s name listed among England’s religious reformers, but you probably won’t find the name of Thomas Bilney, or “Little Bilney” as they called him. And that’s a pity.

As a fellow at Cambridge, Bilney became a Christian. At that time Hugh Latimer was the most eloquent orator at the university, and Bilney prayed, “O God, I am but Little Bilney and shall never do any great thing for you; but give me the soul of that man Hugh Latimer, and what wonders he will do for you.”

At a private meeting with Latimer, Bilney shared how he had received God’s forgiveness and peace. To Bilney’s astonishment, Latimer bowed before him and confessed that this was what he, too, had been seeking. Soon they were preaching the gospel together, with Latimer in the lead and Little Bilney following.

During the reign of Henry VIII, however, Bilney was arrested and sentenced to death for his beliefs. At first he feared that he wouldn’t be courageous enough to die for his faith. But as the fire was lit beneath him, Bilney bravely recited Psalm 143:1-2, repeating the phrase “compared to you, no one is perfect” three times. Little Bilney knew he was a sinner, saved by a great Savior.

You may be a Little Bilney, too, but God isn’t relying on your greatness. He wants you to rely on his. And he has great plans for you.

Still to the lowly soul

He doth Himself impart,

And for His dwelling and His throne,

Chooseth the pure in heart.

JOHN KEBLE

Bible Networking

Verses 3 and 4 are heavy with distress. These emotions are similar to those of our Lord in Matthew 26:37 and Hebrews 5:7-8.

Notable Quotable

“Delight yourself in all your heavenly Father’s handwork, and make it to be a ladder by which you climb to Himself.”

CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON