Thursday
after Pentecost 5
July 17,
2014
The Lord be
with you
This coming
Sunday is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the Commemoration of
Elijah. As is the case for all commemorations in LSB, there are no
assigned propers (Scripture lessons, Introit, etc.) for the day. So we will be
using the propers for Pentecost 6. We will use the Service of Prayer and
Preaching (page 260) for our liturgy. This service uses the appointed Psalm for
the Day instead of the Introit for the Day. The scripture readings for the day
are: Psalm 119:57-64 (antiphon verse 89); Isaiah 44:6-8; Romans 8:18-27;
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
The prophet
Elijah, whose name means “My God is Yahweh [the Lord],”
prophesied in the Northern Kingdom of Israel primarily during the reign of Ahab
(874-853 bc). Ahab, under the
influence of his pagan wife Jezebel, had encouraged the worship of Baal
throughout his kingdom, even as Jezebel sought to get rid of the worship of
Yahweh. Elijah was called by God to denounce this idolatry and to call the people
of Israel back to the worship of Yahweh as the only true God (as he did in 1
Kings 18:20-40). Elijah was a rugged and imposing figure, living in the
wilderness and dressing in a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt (2
Kings 1:8). He was a prophet mighty in word and deed. Many miracles were done
through Elijah, including the raising of the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24) and the
effecting of a long drought in Israel (1 Kings 17:1). At the end of his
ministry, he was taken up into heaven while Elisha, his successor, looked on (2
Kings 2:11). Later, the prophet Malachi proclaimed that Elijah would return
before the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6), a prophecy that was fulfilled
in the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:14). (Treasury of Daily Prayer, CPH)
Normally
with Prayer and Preaching we use three hymns. However, this coming Sunday we
will be installing our newly elected officers. Therefore we will be including
an “Installation hymn.” The installation will happen following the sermon. The
congregation will sing the first two verses while the officers gather at the
Altar Rail. Following the installation the congregation will sing the final
verse as the officers return to their seats. (There will be a pot luck lunch
following the service. See the “quick notes” at the end of this post for more
about the pot luck.)
Our opening
hymn will be “Lord, This Day We’ve Come to Worship” (LSB 911). This is
the hymn we are learning. Our sermon hymn will be “Sing with All the Saints in
Glory” (LSB 671). We learned this hymn a couple of years ago. Our installation
hymn will be “Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord” (LSB 497). Our closing
hymn will be “Saints, See the Cloud of Witnesses” (LSB 677).
This has
been a very busy week so I haven’t been able to get to posting a Bible study
based on one of Sunday’s hymns yet. God willing I will do so tomorrow. The
study will be inspired by our closing hymn, which in turn was mainly inspired
by Hebrews 11.
Below is a video
from St. Lorenz Lutheran singing our Installation Hymn, “Come, Holy Ghost, God
and Lord.” The words are included.
Our Sunday morning Bible hour begins at 9:00 am. We will continue in chapter two of Ruth, and probably
finish it. Everyone is welcome.
What now
follows is first a modification of the summary of Sunday’s lessons, provided by
the LC-MS, and then the actual lessons. This gives me a chance to write a bit
about the difference between exegesis and doctrine. Exegesis is the practice of
reading something and getting the meaning out of it. Without even knowing it,
we do it every time we read (or listen to) anything. When you pick up the
newspaper you use different rules to understand the front page or the comic
section. Doctrine is the information drawn from the scriptures (through
exegesis) and presented as propositional truths. All correct doctrine is
supported by sound exegesis. The “rule of faith” is an exegetical rule. It
states that no passage is to be understood in a way that conflicts with other
clear passages. This does not guarantee that a passage is understood correctly,
only that the understanding of the passage will be orthodox, that it will not
conflict with clearly revealed truth. So, for example, I might look at Genesis
1:1 (In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth) and say the
passage teaches Jesus was born of a virgin. My doctrine is correct (or
orthodox) but my exegesis is flawed. This is so even if I might draw
a strained line between the two (God was creatively active in both cases, for
example). The reason I have modified the synopsis is that I found the exegesis
flawed, though the doctrine was true. Our unity in the Lutheran Church –
Missouri Synod is founded on agreement in doctrine, not necessarily exegesis
(though our exegesis tends to also be remarkably harmonious).
The Word of the Gospel Bestows the
Righteousness of Christ and Brings Forth Faith
The good
Seed, which is planted by “the Son of
Man,” Jesus Himself (Matt. 13:37), are believers in this world (Matt.
13:38). Whatever is sown apart from Jesus is of the devil, who plants the weeds
of unbelief and sin in in the form of unbelievers in God’s creation.
Thankfully, the Lord is patient and He does not uproot the weeds, lest the
plants also be destroyed. He lets “both
grow together until the harvest” (Matt. 13:30) which is at the Second
Coming (Matt. 13:29). Thus, He preserves, in the world, His Church in
righteousness, because He alone is “the
King of Israel and his Redeemer” (Is. 44:6). Since all things are in His
gracious care and keeping, “fear not, nor
be afraid” (Is. 44:8). For “the
creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God”
(Rom. 8:19), and in this hope we also wait with patience. Though we do not yet
see it, “the Spirit helps us in our
weakness” (Rom. 8:26) and, in truth, “the
sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is
to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18).
Psalm
119:57-64 (89)
57 The
Lord is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.
58 I
entreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according
to your promise.
59 When
I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your
testimonies;
60 I
hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
61 Though
the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.
62 At
midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous
rules.
63 I
am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your
precepts.
64 The
earth, O Lord, is full of your
steadfast love;
teach
me your statutes! …
89 Forever,
O Lord, your word
is firmly fixed in the
heavens.
Isaiah
44:6–8
6 Thus
says the Lord, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
7 Who
is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it
before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to
come, and what will happen.
8 Fear
not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of
old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not
any.”
Romans
8:18–27
18 For
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing
with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation
waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For
the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who
subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free
from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the
children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been
groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not
only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our
bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is
not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what
we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise
the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we
ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for
words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the
Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of
God.
Matthew
13:24–30, 36–43
24 He
put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared
to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25but while his men were
sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26So
when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27And
the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you
not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28He
said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do
you want us to go and gather them?’ 29But he said, ‘No, lest in
gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30Let
both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the
reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but
gather the wheat into my barn.’” …
36 Then
he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him,
saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37He
answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The
field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are
the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the
devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just
as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the
age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out
of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42and throw
them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the
kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
Some Quick Notes:
- POT LUCK, Sunday, after worship. This fellowship meal will serve three functions. 1) a way to say thank you to all who are serving as officers and board members at Lamb of God; 2) an opportunity for the various boards and auxiliary groups to inform the congregations about upcoming events and opportunities to serve; 3) a chance to enjoy each other’s company. So bring something to share and join in the gathering.
- Information for the August newsletter is due Sunday.
- Though last week was the first time we did setting four of the morning service, everyone did very well. It looks like we will have no problem learning this service.
- Our Summer Series, “Resolving Everyday Conflict,” has now met four times. We will continue to meet every Wednesday, through August 13.
- A new page has been added to this blog. On it you will find links to the Bible Studies, inspired by our hymns, which I have posted.
Well, I pray
we will see you Sunday morning.
Blessings in
Christ,
Pastor John
Rickert
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