Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: December 2021

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Isaiah 7,10-14. Christmas II

Isaiah 7,10-14 0822

Christfest II 08

Stephen, Deacon and Archmartyr. Martyr in Jerusalem 34

11 Nigerians Martyrs 2019 in NE Nigeria by Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP)

26. Dezember 2021

1. ℣ The Word was made flesh. Alleluia:

℟ And dwelt among us. Alleluia (John 1,14).

Help, dear Lord God, that we may become and remain partakers of the new birth in the flesh of Your dear Son and be delivered from our old sinful birth. Amen. (Luther 53,131-32)

2. »Again Yahweh spoke to Ahaz: „Ask a sign of Yahweh yourGod; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.“ But Ahaz said: „I will not ask, and I will not put Yahweh to the test.“ And Isaiahsaid: „Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore Yahweh Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and will call His name Immanuel.“

3. Ahaz, the son of David, the ruling king and Judah from 735–15, did not believe the sign that Yahweh would redeem Israel. But Yahweh would not fulfill His promise in Ahaz’s day. Syria and Israel will be deserted; Judah will also become a target for Syrian aggression (7,10-17; Gibbs 110). The promised Immanuel did not show up during Ahaz’s reign. Isaiah sealed the testimony and pointed the people forward beyond the time of thick darkness to the advent of the Child who would be God with us and Mighty God (7,14; 9,6; Gibbs 113).

4. After the 8. century bc when Syria, Ephraim and Assyria had come and gone, there was still darkness over the people of Judah (Gibbs 113). Their idolatry had corrupted them, and in 587 bc Yahweh sent them into Babylonian Exile for 70 years, and yet when they returned and rebuilt the temple the people were still in darkness. Yahweh then delivered the people from the persecution of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and while the mennorah candles miraculously burned far longer than they should have, there was still darkness over the people. Even the exacting and rigorous keeping of the law by the Pharisees could not drive the darkness away, because Isaiah promised a Light in Galilee of the Gentiles – that promise still awaited fulfillment (Gibbs 113).

5. Matthew writes: »But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: „Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.“ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the Prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel (which means, God with us). And leaving Nazareth Jesus went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the Prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.« (Matthew 1,20-23; 4,13-16). Matthew tells us that this Light in Galilee of the Gentiles is fulfilled in Jesus (Gibbs 113). Jesus is Immanuel – God is with us; in Jesus God is with His people to deliver them and to bring light to the nations (Gibbs 113). Ahaz, who represented the house of David in the 8. century bc, did not accept Yahweh’s offer of a sign, nor believe in the significance of the Child who was promised in Isaiah 7,14 (Gibbs 113). But 8 centuries later, Joseph, who represented the house of David, does except Yahweh’s sign and does believe what Yahweh declares about the Child present in the Virgin Mary’s womb (Gibbs 113). Today we are invited to believe as well, for all who believe the message of Matthew’s Gospel, the Child Jesus will be known as God is with us (Gibbs 113). God’s presence with His people cannot be known apart from this Jesus who is the Glory of Israel and the Light to the Gentiles.

6. John writes at the beginning of his Gospel: »In the Word of God was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome It. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His Glory, Glory as of the Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth« (John 1,4-5.14).

7. You came to hear the good words of the gospel once more today (Nagel 32). This gospel is received where we are at: joyous, or perhaps depressed; excited, or perhaps overwhelmed; optimistic, or perhaps pessimistic. The gospel of Christ’s birth is for you in the good times and also the bad. For our heart is now fixed where true joy is found, and that is more than anything that the world’s perception of Christmas offers (Nagel 32). The gospel tells us that we have a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Nagel 32). He is given to us this day in hymns, in the Word and in His body and blood.

8. O Child [Jesus], with all my heart

I will love You very much

In joys and sorrows,

More and more.

Yea, indeed all the longer more and more. (Zu Bethlehem geboren. In Bethlehem Was Born. ELGB 341,3). This is most certainly true.

9. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4,7). Amen.

11. Let us pray. O Lord God, dearest Father, help us to take part in the new birth of Your Beloved Son Jesus Christ in the flesh, and to set aside our old sinful birth. Amen. (The Pomeranian Church Order and Agenda, 1854 p. 282.2; Stratman 29).

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Micah 5,2-5a. Christmas Eve Vespers

Micah 5,2-5a 0522

Christvesper 05

Adam and Eve

24. Dezember 2021

1. ℣ Unto us a Child is born. Alleluia!

℟ Unto us a Son is given. Allelulia (Isaiah 9,6).

Help, dear Lord God, that we may become and remain partakers of the new birth in the flesh of Your dear Son and be delivered from our old sinful birth. Amen. (Luther 53,132).

2. »But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be Ruler in Israel, whose advent is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore He shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And He shall stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of yahweh, in the majesty of the Name of yahweh His God. And they shall dwell secure, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth. And He shall be their peace.«

3. Micah was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Hosea; he prophesied from 737-696 bc during the reins of the Jewish kings Jotham (good), Ahaz (evil) and Hezekiah (good). Micah directs much of his writing to Jerusalem and says Judah will be exiled to Babylon, but later Yahweh will redeem them from their enemies (4, 10).

4. Micah sees beyond this redemption from Babylon to a time in the far future when deliverance will come forth once more from a little town called Bethlehem. »But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose advent is from of old, from ancient days.« This little town, literally the House of Bread, is located 10 km/6.2 miles south of Jerusalem. King David was from this town, and it is popular for the Tomb of Rachel and the Church of the Nativity. David was crowned king here and as Micah tells us the Messiah, the Son of David, would be born here too.

5. Like His ancestor, the Messiah would be a shepherd to His people. It is fitting that the first people to bear witness to His birth would be shepherds, and Luke points this out in his Gospel. This Messiah would be the Peace of His people. The angelic choir proclaimed this peace to the shepherds: »Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.«

6. Micah concludes his book by writing: »Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old« (Micah 7,18-20).

7. 2000 years ago the angels proclaimed that the birth of Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise. Through Micah, yahweh promised that the remnant of Judah will remain and survive. This remnant would be among the nations (Micah 5,7-8). And among the nations, yahweh did His work to prepare the nations for the advent of the Christ. Micah exhorts the people to: look to yahweh and wait for the God of their salvation, for He will hear us (Micah 7,7). Our God removes our iniquities and passes over our wickedness. He delights in mercy. He has compassion upon us. God the Father shows this compassion and mercy when He sent His Only Son to this earth to redeem us back to Him. Tonight we remember and praise God for the gift of the little Lord Jesus, born this night in the town of Bethlehem.

8. Let the earth now praise the Lord,

Who has truly kept His Word

And at last to us did send

Christ, the sinner’s help and friend (lsb 352,1 Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord). This is most certainly true.

9. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Almighty and Eternal God, we thank You for seeing us in our sorrow and sending Your Only Son to become fully human. Graciously enlighten our hearts so that we may hold fast to His blessed comfort, rejoice greatly in the birth of Your beloved Son, praise and rejoice in You with all the holy angels, patiently endure all trouble and overcome all by Your grace. Amen. (The Pomeranian Church Order and Agenda, 1854 p. 282.3; Stratman 29).

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Luke 1,26-38. Rorate Caeli

Luke 1,26-38 0422

Rorate Caeli 4. Advent 04

Abraham, Patriarch

Ulrik Vilhelm Koren, Pastor, Theologian, and Patriarch of Norwegian-American Lutherans. ✠ 1910. Born in Bergen, Norway.

19. Dezember 2021

1. ℣ Shower down, ye heavens from above:

℟ And let the skies pour down righteousness (Isaiah 45,8).

O Jesus, The adoration of heaven; tear our hearts and dry our tears, so that whether joy or sorrow, hopes or fears and whatever shall befall us, you comfort us this in every year. Amen. (lsb 353,4 Jesus came, the heavens adoring)

2. »In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he went to her and said: „Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!“ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her: „Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name Him God. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His reign there will be no end.“ And Mary said to the angel: „How will this be, since I am a virgin?“ And the angel answered her: „The Holy Spirit will descend upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.“ And Mary said: „Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.“ And the angel departed from her.«

3. Since Eve, the world had awaited the arrival of the Messiah. From Eve, the promise passed through Seth’s wife, Noah’s wife, Shem’s wife, Sarah, Rebecca and Leah; through Ruth, Bathsheba and, finally, through Mary. The promise of the Messiah branches through 76 matriarchal generations (from Luke … 3040 years with 40 years per generation).

4. 2000 years ago the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to Mary; he addressed her: »Greetings, O favored one, Yahweh is with you. You have found a favor with God. You will conceive and bear a son; you shall name him Jesus. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.«

5. To find favor with God is no small thing. Gabriel puts Mary in the company of Noah, Abraham, Joseph and Moses who also found favor with God. We are told of Noah, that he found favor in the eyes of Yahweh (Genesis 6,8). חנ grace, charm, favor; χάριν grace, favor, delight; from the same root as χαίρω: to be happy. Noah was a righteous man and blameless in his generation (Genesis 6,9). Yahweh saved the human race through Noah; and Yahweh saved the human race through Mary.

6. Τηε declaration to Mary that her son Jesus will be given a throne of David fulfills what Yahweh told the Prophet Isaiah »Yahweh called me from the womb, from the body of My mother He named My name: You are My servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified. It is too light a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make You as a Light for the nations, so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth. In a time of favor I have answered You; in a day of salvation I have helped You« (Isaiah 49,1.3.6.8).

7. Mary’s response to Gabriel is: »I am the servant of Yahweh; let it be to me according to your word.« Mary, the servant of Yahweh will bear the Son of God who is likewise a Servant of Yahweh. With the announcement of Jesus’ forthcoming birth, what Yahweh spoke through the Prophet Isaiah is about to be fulfilled: »Say to the daughter of Zion: „Behold, your salvation arrives; behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.“ And they shall be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of Yahweh« (Isaiah 62,11-12).

8. The O antiphon for this day points us to the Christ who fulfilled the words of Isaiah:

℣ O Root of Jesse, standing as an Ensign of the people, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the Gentiles will seek:

℟ Draw near quickly to deliver us (Isaiah 11,10; Psalm 40,13).

9. Jesus, the Root of Jesse does deliver us: from our sinfulness, from the tribulation of this cursed, fallen world, from illness and infirmity, from pandemics and pestilence. He is the Light that shines in the darkness; He is the Beacon that shines forth from heaven. Mary followed Him as a servant and we also follow Him as servants. We bring forth His Light in the corners of the world still in darkness.

10. God is your Treasure, He your joy,

Your Life and Light and Lord,

Your Counselor when doubts annoy,

Your Shield and Great Reward (lsb 737,2 Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing Gerhardt). This is most certainly true.

10. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4,7). Amen.

11. Let us pray. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, by Your Son You have revealed to us that heaven and earth will pass away, that our bodies will rise again and that we all must appear before the judgment throne. Keep us in Your Word by Your Holy Spirit, establish us in the true faith, graciously defend us from sin and preserve us in all temptations, so that our hearts may not be obsessed with carousing, drunkenness and foolish cares, but that we may always watch and pray, trust fully in Your grace, await with joy the glorious advent of Your Son and at last obtain eternal salvation. Amen. (The Pomeranian Church Order and Agenda, 1854 p. 283.1; Stratman 26-27).

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Saturday, December 18, 2021

1. Corinthians 4,1-5. Gaudete

1. Corinthians 4,1-5 0322

Gaudete 3. Advent 03

Epimachus and Alexander, Martyrs 250

12. Dezember 2021

1. ℣ Rejoice, in Yahweh always:

℟ And again I say, Rejoice (Philippians 4,4).

O Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Refuge; send to us the Holy Spirit, so that in meditating upon the Holy Scriptures our faith is strengthened in You our great Reward. Amen. (lsb 344,3 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry).

2. » This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord arrives, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.«

3. The Prophet Isaiah proclaimed: »The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.« The Apostle Paul wrote: »The Lord will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.« Advent is a season of preparation: we are transitioning from darkness to light. During Advent we remember the nearly 400 years of prophetic silence among God’s people. Yahweh spoke through the Prophet Malachi proclaiming: »Behold, I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the great an awesome day of Yahweh arrives« (Malachi 4,5). Four centuries of silence followed until John burst on to the scene baptizing people and proclaiming: »Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!« (Matthew 3,2). John’s baptism was one of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3,3). John’s message was: Rejoice, for Yahweh is at hand! (Philippians 4,5). Hence Gaudete – the 3. Sunday in Advent.

4. John’s preaching was one of pruning and purging. »You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves: ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire« (Matthew 3,7b-12). His cry of repentance is one we must also hear during Advent. We examine ourselves and confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed by our fault, our own fault, by our own reverse fault (Compline lsb 254).

5. Christ has shone a light upon those in the darkness of sin and its curse. The blind received their sight, the lame walked, lepers were cleansed, the deaf heard, the dead were raised up and the poor had the gospel preached to them (Matthew 11,5). We no longer need remain lost in, and afraid of, the darkness of our sins nor the darkness of the world, for Christ is our Light. John reminds us in the beginning of his Gospel: »To all who did receive the true Light, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God who were born of the will of God« (John 1,12-13).

6. We rejoice in the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ, for in Him we receive our commendation from God. Christ forgives our iniquity and covers our sin (Psalm 85,2). His salvation is near to those who trust in Him (Psalm 85,9). Blessed is the one who is not offended by Christ (Isaiah 35,5; 61,1; Matthew 11,6), for Christ is gracious, righteous and merciful (Psalm 116,5). There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because we are justified by His shed blood (Romans 5,9).

7. Behold, the Lamb, so long expected,

Arrives with pardon down from heaven.

Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,

One and all, to be forgiven (lsb 345,3 Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding). This is most certainly true.

8. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.

9. Let us pray. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, we thank You with our whole heart that You ordained and sent Your Son Christ as a Messiah to comfort us poor sinners, to be a Righteous King and Savior who would redeem His people from sin and the Devil’s tyranny, and save us from eternal death. We humbly pray that You would also enlighten, rule and lead us by Your Holy Spirit that we may rightly know our Righteous King and Savior, trust Him alone instead of our own meager strength, obey His word and not complain about His rule, but in true faithfulness remain forever blessed. Amen. (The Pomeranian Church Order and Agenda, 1854 p. 282.2; Stratman 26).

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Isaiah63,15-64,3. Ad te Levavi

Isaiah 63,15-64,3 0222

Ad te Levavi 2. Advent 02

Crispina, Martyr in Africa 304

5. Dezember 2021

1. ℣ Prepare ye the way of Yahweh:

℟ Make His paths straight (Mark 1,3).

Dear Lord God, awaken us so that when Your Son arrives we may be prepared to receive Him with joy and to serve You with clean hearts. Amen. (AE 53,131)

2. »Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and beautifulhabitation. Where are Your zeal and Your might? The stirring of Your inner parts and Your compassion are held back from me. For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; You, O Yahweh, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is Your Name. O Yahweh, why do You make us wander from Your ways and harden our heart, so that we do not fear You? Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage. Your holy people held possession for a little while;our adversaries have trampled down Your sanctuary. We have become like those over whom You have never ruled, like those who are not called by Your Name. O that You would rend the heavens and descend, so that the mountains might quake at Your presence – as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil – to make Your Name known to Your adversaries, and so that the nations might tremble at Your presence! When You did awesome things that we did not look for, You descended, the mountains quaked at Your presence.«

3. The conclusion of Isaiah 63 is a prayer for mercy and help. The Prophet Isaiah reminds us why Yahweh is merciful and helpful: He is our Father and our Redeemer. That is a powerful word — Redeemer; we could also use Deliverer or Savior (גאל; ορομενος). Yahweh has been in the redeeming business since Adam plunged mankind into sin.

4. Τηε Scriptures record a number of redeeming events in history: Noah and the ark, Israel’s exodus from Egypt and Judah’s return from Babylonian exile are 3 of the major ones, but there are many other redemptive acts in the pages of the Bible. Job and his Redeemer comes to mind.

5. „As Job fights his way “out of the depths” and strives to regain his spiritual equilibrium, it is widely recognized that his famous “I know that my Redeemer lives” declamation of 19:25 ff. is one of the high points“ (Hummel 476). Job is seeking a neutral mediator who will reestablish a fair hearing between God and Job (Hummel 476). Job’s friend, Elihu (He is my God), does point out the „communications gap“ between God and man, and the need for an intercessor who will be enough like God to speak to him, but also enough like man to speak for us (Hummel 480).

6. Job also teaches us that God’s ability to redeem is based on His ability to create — and recreate, and redemption is finally cosmological as well as anthropological (Hummel 484). Jesus highlight this in our Gospel pericope this morning. »And there will be signs in sun, moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves. … For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man descending in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.« (Luke 21,25.26-28).

7. The great cosmological and anthropological redemption has happened on the cross. At the cross we stand before the Son of Man in awe, fear and wonder as the very Son of God dies in our place for our sin. Luke tells us that from 12 noon to 3 pm the sun’s light failed and darkness was over the whole land (Luke 23,44-45). In forsaking God, man descended into great misery, blindness, shame and disgrace (Walther Advent II Wednesday). „Nevertheless, God turned His face, full of mercy, toward man. He appeared in visible form in Eden, and full of fear, Adam and Eve drew near to their Creator“ (Walther Advent II Wednesday). The Prophets draw attention to God’s mercy and help; they assure us that He will redeem us from sin and the curse of our Fall. The promise is now fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Walther Advent II Wednesday). Great is the grace that caused Jesus Christ to enter the world to save sinners (Walther Advent II Thursday).

8. Creation itself will also be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of glory of the children of God at Christ’s return (Romans 8,19-23). Yahweh reminds Job that only His Divine justification enables and maintains justice – in the cosmos, in mankind, in ethics and over all the beastliness and brutishness in this world, yes, even over the diabolical powers of Satan and his fellow fallen angels (Hummel 487).

9. May Christ our intercessor be

And through His blood and merit

Read from His book that we are free

With all who life inherit.

Then we shall see Him face to face,

With all His saints in that blest place

Which He has purchased for us (lsb 508,6 The Day is Surely Drawing Near). This is most certainly true.

10. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4,7). Amen.

11. Let us pray. Dear Lord God, awaken us, so that we may be ready when Your dear Son arrives, so that we may receive Him with joy and serve You with pure hearts. Amen. (The Pomeranian Church Order and Agenda, 1854 p. 282.2; Stratman 26).

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Jeremiah 23,5-8. Populus Zion

Jeremiah 23,5-8 0122

Populus Zion 1. Advent 01

Guenther, Bishop of Regensburg, Germany. ✠ 938

28. November 2021

1. ℣ Show me Your ways, O Yahweh:

℟ Teach me Your paths. (Psalm 25,4 tlh)

O Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man; as we prepare our selves for Your advent, remind us once more that You stepped forth from Your Kingly hall to begin Your heroic course, doing so that You would save us. Amen. (lsb 332,4 Savior of the Nations, Come)

2. »„Behold, the days are coming, declares Yahweh, when I will raise up for David a Righteous Branch, and He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘Yahweh is our righteousness.’ Therefore, behold, the days are coming, when they shall no longer say: ‘As Yahweh lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As Yahweh lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where He had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”«

3. In Jeremiah’s day, Israel was beleaguered with false prophets who lead the people astray. They claimed to speak for Yahweh, but they did not. Yahweh accuses these false prophets of prophesying by Baal and going after things that do not profit (Jeremiah 2,8). Many in Israel approved of these prophets because they too had forsaken Yahweh for Baal (Jeremiah 2,13). Solomon wisely reminds us: there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1,9). Even today people claim to speak for God, but what they say is contrary to the Holy Scriptures, yet people follow their every word.

4. Israel rejected Jeremiah because he spoke for Yahweh. 500 years later the scribes and Pharisees rejected Jesus who spoke for Yahweh. Both Jeremiah and Jesus called the people to repent. Likewise, we repent of our sins each Gottesdienst (Divine Service). Jesus preached: repent, for the reign of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4,17).

5. Advent is a season of both repentance and preparation. The Prophet Jeremiah tells us that Yahweh will raise up for David a Righteous Branch who would bring justice and righteousness. The Prophet Amos tells us that Yahweh declares justice to roll down like waters and righteousness like an overflowing stream (Amos 5,24). Yahweh’s Messiah would be the one to bring justice and righteousness to Israel and all the nations. This anointed one was referred to as a priest (Leviticus 4,3.5.16.17), a king (Psalms) and a savior (Daniel 9, 25-26). The apocalyptic approach of Daniel and the later prophets emphasizes that the only way to escape the catastrophic circumstances of the era was through direct Divine intervention, the sending of the Messiah, to save humanity from a chaotic world. In the mid-2. century bc the Messiah signaled the end of time, the day of judgment and the inauguration of the reign of God. This was the Jewish expectation when Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

6. Perhaps the pandemic furor we have lived through these past 2 years has reignited an apocalyptic viewpoint for people. We have been reminded again that there are things beyond our grasp to control. A pandemic virus that continues to mutate reminds us that even with all our scientific achievement we cannot completely eradicate some illnesses. There are still things in this fallen creation that thwart our attempts to bring order to its chaos. We need to rely on God and His providence to overcome the apocalyptic time we live in. We need Christ Jesus to triumph over those catastrophes that render us powerless.

7. The conventional wisdom of our age has ignored and diminished the very real spiritual catastrophes that effect human beings. Sin and its wicked consequences effect all humanity globally on a daily basis. The Bible reminds us again and again that we cannot resolve these spiritual catastrophes; we need God’s direct intervention in our world to be victorious. Israel could not rescue themselves from Egyptian slavery; God Himself redeemed them. Jesus arrived at His first advent to redeem us from sin, death and the Devil. He is the Righteous Branch who executed justice and righteousness in the world through His cross and resurrection.

8. Jesus has given His Church the Word and Sacraments to dispense this justice and righteousness to individual people. These Sacraments are signs of the New Testament, i.e., signs of propitiation and the remission of sins (Apology XII,42). Sacraments are signs of God’s will toward us and are signs of grace (Apology XXIV,69). Through the Word and Sacrament the gospel is proclaimed that Christ has been a victorious in His apocalyptic struggle against the spiritual forces that are arrayed against us, and that His mercy and grace are out upon us to declare us justified and righteous. This is most certainly true.

9. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4,7). Amen.

10. Let us pray. Awaken us, O Lord God, with Your grace for the future. As You graciously forgive our sins, protect and strengthen us from all danger of future sins, so that we may serve You with a clear conscience and joyfully receive our Lord Jesus Christ when He returns in glory; He lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever forever. Amen. (The Pomeranian Church Order and Agenda 282.1 © 1854).

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

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Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Isaiah 7,10-14. Christmas II

Micah 5,2-5a. Christmas Eve Vespers

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Luke 1,26-38. Rorate Caeli

Saturday, December 18, 2021

1. Corinthians 4,1-5. Gaudete

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Isaiah63,15-64,3. Ad te Levavi

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Jeremiah 23,5-8. Populus Zion