2. Corinthians 1,8-11 1122
4. Sonntag nach Epiphanius 17a
Aldegundis, Virgin, Abbess at Maubeuge, France. ✠ 680
30. Januar 2022
1. ℣ Worship Him, all ye angels: Zion heard and was glad.
℟ The daughters of Zion rejoiced: because of Thy judgments (Psalm 97,7b-8).
O Jesus Savior, our Eternal guide; pilot us over life’s tempestuous sea, so that we safely sail this temporal life and reach the shores of heaven’s eternal life to dwell in everlasting peace. Amen. (Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me lsb 715,1.3 2021).
2. »For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope so that He will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.«
3. As he does in so many of his epistles, the Apostle Paul begins with greetings and thanksgivings. Paul greets the Corinthian church as »those sanctified in Christ Jesus who are called to be saints with the Church universal« (1. Corinthians 1,2). He reminds them that they have »the grace of God given to them in Christ Jesus« (1. Corinthians 1,4), and therefore »they are not lacking in any gift as they await the parousia of our Lord Jesus Christ« (1. Corinthians 1,7). He reminds them, and us, that Christ will sustain us to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, for God is faithful« (1. Corinthians 1,8).
4. With all this grace, faith and gifts, nevertheless Paul writes »We experienced affliction in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received a sentence of death.« Paul reminds us that Christians are prone to trials and tribulations. The Devil shows up and attempts to snatch away the gospel that has been sown within our heart (Matthew 13,19). The Devil is a master of deception and has thousands of years sowing suffering and sorrow among men and women. His first victims were Adam and Eve, and he sows chaos and doubt still today. Trials and tribulations also ebb and flow through our Christian life (Matthew 13,20-21). How many times have you heard someone say: „I can’t believe in God anymore because He allowed something bad to happen in my life.“ or „I can’t believe in a God who lets bad things happen to good people; that’s not a loving God.“ Finally, the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches tempt us to abandon the faith (Matthew 13,22). The ultimate goal is to discourage a Christian so that they reject the faith and give up on God. Job is a good example of this.
5. It’s probable that the affliction Paul refers to here is the events in Ephesus an Asia recorded by Luke in Acts 19-20,3: A great disturbance arose against the Christians. So persuasive was the gossip that people were deposing the popular goddess Artemis from her worship in the area. A riot nearly erupted before Paul and his companions left for Macedonia and Greece where the Jews plotted against him. Paul tells the Corinthians that they had been utterly burdened and despair of life itself.
6. Christians are not immune from the trials and tribulations of this world. We experience the suffering the pandemics, inflation and fear of war inflict upon all people. We are not spared tribulations that result from jealousy, envy and greed; at times, simply being a Christian increases the antagonism and hatred some lash out with The Apostle Peter exhorts us: »Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour« (1. Peter 5,8).
7. Some may ask, as some Christians have asked for 2000 years, why must we endure such heartache, pain and tribulation? Paul’s answer is: to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. When we are suffering, we turn to God more fervently, our attention is more devoted to Him and we put our trust in His hands. How often in challenging times we do pray the words of Yahweh in the Psalmist: »Call upon Me, Yahweh, in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me« (Psalm 50,15).
8. You can page through the hymnal and prayers and hymns for times of trial and tribulation. On pages 316-17 there are 12 prayers to be used in time of need. Hymns 708-40 are hymns of trust. Hymns 741-65 are hymns of hope and comfort. Prayers and hymns have been a source of comfort in the Church since the days of the apostles.
9. Our Lord Jesus Christ will never fro us depart but He will cheer us with His tender mercy. May our trust in Him never shake, for He is our God and God who has bought sour salvation with His precious blood (Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart lsb 708,1).
10. Yet even though [we] suffer
The world’s unpleasantness,
And though the days grow rougher
And bring [us] great distress,
That day of bliss Divine
Which knows no end or measure,
And Christ, who is [our] pleasure,
Forever shall be mine (lsb 713,6 From God Can Nothing Move Me).
This is most certainly true.
11. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.
12. Let us pray. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, as the Magi were not afraid of any hardship or anger when they were following the star, may we also put all our trust in You only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, as our only Savior. Amen. (Veit Dietrich, Summaria christlicher lehr, 1548; Stratman 33).
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.
ELKB. Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern. www.bayern-evangelisch.de/www/index.php. Copyright © 2019 Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern.
VELKD. Vereinigte Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche Deutschlands. www.velkd.de. Copyright © 2020 Vereinigte Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche Deutschlands.
Hopper, Edward. „Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me“. Lutheran Service Book. Copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
Helmbold, Ludwig. „From God Can Nothing Move Me“. Lutheran Service Book. Copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
Stratman, Paul C. Prayers for the Evangelical-Lutheran Heritage. Copyright © 2017.
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