Heaven Will Direct It
For those of you unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the above title is actually a quotation in Act 1, Scene 4 that was spoken by the least recognized of the three characters in that Scene. The three characters are of course Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, his best friend Horatio, and a soldier named Marcellus, another of Hamlet’s friends.
In the scene, Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus are standing on the ramparts of Elsinore in the bitter cold, waiting for the ghost of Hamlet’s father to appear. Sounds of Hamlet’s Uncle Claudius and his courtiers feasting and drinking merrily echo from inside the castle, and Hamlet tells his friends that Claudius’ constant revelry is soiling Denmark’s reputation, blotting out all that is good in the country.
The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears and beckons Hamlet to speak with him about exacting revenge for Hamlet’s uncle Claudius having murdered him (Hamlet’s father).
An interesting conversation ensues between the three friends concerning whether or not Hamlet should follow and speak with the ghost. Hamlet is determined to follow and bids Horatio and Marcellus not to try and stop him.
It was also during that conversation that Marcellus utters the famous line:
“Something is rotten in the State of Denmark,” to which Horatio responds with a far less famous line:
“Heaven will direct it.”
As one summary tells us, concerning the situation in Denmark,
Something is rotten because ghosts don’t just tend to appear in normal times when everything is spiritually well with the kingdom.
But more than that: for the ghost (or supposed ghost) of the late king to appear: something’s not right, and Marcellus, as a soldier and a sentinel keeping watch on the castle battlements, is trained and primed to know when something’s wrong.
It was Horatio’s “Heaven will direct it.” forthright conclusion concerning the ongoing State of Denmark that caught my attention when I only recently read it.
Perhaps Horatio’s response grabbed my attention because I’ve thought many times in recent days and months that “Something is Rotten in the State of Denmark.” perfectly describes what we see all around us in our own nation and indeed in our fallen world. Between natural disasters, wars and rumors of wars, and the rampant lies from the halls of political power is it any wonder that some of us might question if our nation will even survive and return to a time of national stability and prosperity?
I have to also admit that Horatio stating matter-of-factly that “Heaven will direct it” sort of jumped off of the page and hit me between the eyes. One library of notable quotations remarked that Horatio was expressing his Christian faith. It’s well known that Shakespeare’s England was a primarily a Protestant Christian nation. The words “Heaven will direct it.”, while acknowledging God’s providence and sovereignty over the affairs of men, seem, in this old soldier’s small brain, to carry a weightier meaning than just saying something like “God will sort it all out in the end.”
By saying “Heaven will direct it,” we are wading into connected streams, the sovereignty of God and God’s providence. John Piper provides helpful and easily digestible definitions for both:
“God’s sovereignty is his right and power to do all that he decides to do.”
God rules over and owns everything in His entire creation, precisely because He made everything. What God decides to do can be called His sovereign purposes. God’s providence can then be defined as the ‘how’ of what God decides to do; how He carries out His divine purposes:
“Absolutely everything that needs to be done to bring about his purposes, God sees to it that it happens.”
Perhaps one of the clearest illustrations of both the sovereignty of God and His divine providence is found in Peter’s sermon at Pentecost:
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” (ESV)
We know that God, our sovereign creator, after Adam and Eve rebelled in the Garden of Eden, determined to save His people from their sins and restore His perfect creation after the rebellion and sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Peter, speaking to the assembled crowd, tells his Jewish audience that Jesus was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God (providence), then was crucified by the hands of lawless men (providence), but then was raised up by God (sovereignty & providence).
Back to Shakespeare, Hamlet and his companions. Something certainly was rotten in the state of Denmark, just as something is rotten in our world and in our beloved nation. Will the nation survive? Will there be an end times great revival, or is a once great country under God’s judgment? A sovereign God can decide to save the world, ‘resurrect’ a nation lost in sin, or He can decide to consign it to the dust bin of history, just as He did with the Roman Empire.
Theologians, speculators, and prognosticators abound. We, as Christians and believers in the resurrected Savior know what we would like to see in our future, but none of us can be certain, even from scripture, exactly what lies ahead.
But we do know at least two things:
First, we can agree with Horatio’s response to Marcellus’ “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” that “Heaven will direct it.”
Second, and perhaps more importantly, our commission from God and mission as believers, to preach the gospel to a lost world, and make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19-20), is still our business until He comes (Luke 19:13). As we have said many times through the years, “The main thing is still the MAIN THING!!!
i Hamlet Act 1, Scene 4 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts &
ii Ibid.
iii Ibid.
iv Heaven will direct it. - William Shakespeare, Horatio in Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 4 (allgreatquotes.com)
v Are God’s Providence and God’s Sovereignty the Same? | Desiring God
vi Ibid.
SGM Daniel Cartwright, USA (Ret.) is a 28-year veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces and long-time member of Christian Military Fellowship. Dan is a Local Rep at Ft. Carson. He currently serves as Chairman of the CMF Board of Directors.
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This program provides a safe space for individuals to explore spiritual, emotional, and psychological wounds. By addressing trauma holistically, we see remarkable transformations as participants learn practical coping strategies, experience community support, and find renewed purpose through faith in Christ. We are blessed to witness the profound impact it is having on the lives of those we serve.
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TAPS: In Memoriam
It is always with great sadness to us remaining here on earth to learn of the passing of our beloved friends and co-laborers in the Kingdom. Yet we rejoice as they have been promoted to their great reward, for as it is written “...no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him…” (1 Cor 2:9). Indeed, what is sorrow for us is not sorrow for them, and their homecoming is precious in the eyes of our Heavenly Father (Ps 116:15).
CDR James “Jim” Shafovaloff, USCG (Ret) — 10/15/1952—02/17/2024. Jim, a long-time CMF member, was a graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy. His career as an officer exemplified his spirt of love of country and service to the safety and common good of all. He had a reputation of servant leadership and kindness. From Coast Guard members who said, “Jim is that guy who I would always want to be in the foxhole with me” … to deep father-child talks, playing chess online with his loved children, to making sure he conveyed thankfulness to a waitress or waiter by their first name - Jim was caring and authentic.
Jim is survived by his best friend and wife Ruth; his children, David (Amy), Jason, Sam (Brooke), Ali (Matt), Erica and Jack (Lacey); and his cherished grandchildren, Paige, Kate Madison, Katie, Eli, Seija, and Sybil. He is interred at Quantico National Cemetery.
Diane Elaine Rapp
09/15/1956—09/16/2024 Diane worked as a church secretary / office manager. She served her country with the Woman's Army corps from 1974 to 1976. She was honorably discharged on May 6, 1976 at Ft. Bragg, NC. She was an active and founding church member at Cornerstone Church, now called Life Connections Ministries. She loved to sing in local chorus and volunteered at her church. Diane and her husband, Ron, have been long-time members of Christian Military Fellowship.
Diane was loved and cherished by many people including: her parents, Frederick J. Walker and Lois E. Walker Sr. (Bader); her husband Ronald Rapp; her children, David Rapp and Sarah Staat (Michael); her grandchild Finley Staat; and her siblings, Peggy Walker (Jim) and F. John Walker (Sandy). Diane is interred at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, KS.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4
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