Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: Hebrews 4,12-13. Sexagesima

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Hebrews 4,12-13. Sexagesima

Hebrews 4,12-13 1422

Sexagesima 22

Tyrannion, Bishop of Tyre, Martyr 310

Rasmus Jensen, First Lutheran pastor in North America (Canada) ✠ 1620

20. Febuar 2022

1. ℣ Awake , why steepest Thou, O Yahweh? : Arise, cast us not off forever.

℟ Our soul is bowed down to the dust : arise for our help and redeem us (Psalm 44,23.25.26).

O Yahweh, Thy Word is highly praised give us Thy Holy Spirit, so that we may at all times accept it with meekness, honor, love and joy. Amen. (Herr, für din Wort sei Koch gepreist elkg 200,1 2021 David Denice)

2. »For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.«

3. The Apostle Paul is fond of describing the Word of God as a sword: a sharp, two-edged sword piercing to the division of soul and spirit in Hebrews, and as the sword of the Spirit in Ephesians (6,17). A sword is an offensive weapon, and one that is quite effective in the hands of one well-trained in techniques, like fencing.

4. Like a sword, the Word of God can cut deep when it reveals our sinfulness. King David was cut to the heart when the Prophet Nathan spoke the Word of God: Behold, you are the man (2. Samuel 12,7)! Following Nathan’s rebuke, David replied: I have sinned against Yahweh (2. Samuel 12,13). When we confess our sins, we confess that we are poor, miserable sinners; we, too, have sinned against Y and have hurt our neighbor.

5. The Apostle John assures us that: »If we confess our sins, then Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness« (1. John 1,9). The Word of God cuts away and removes all our sins. The Word of God is both our repentant confession and our absolution. The Word tells us we are sinners, but more importantly it tells us that we are forgiven. Redemption is the cornerstone of both the old and new testaments. God intends to save us, and the testaments tell us how His grace and mercy is given to us. God’s mercy is connected to sacrifice and the shedding of blood; an innocent must take the place of the sinner and bear the sin. The Apostle Paul then writes later in Hebrews: »Christ has obtained the ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the testament He mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first testament had been faultless, then there would have been no occasion to look for a second. In speaking of a new testament, He makes the first one obsolete« (8,6-7.13).

7. The new testament is better because it is enacted upon God Himself. The scarce is the Son of God and the blood shed is His blood. God provides Himself to be our vicarious sacrifice. Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses and He had been tempted in every respect as we are (Hebrews 4,15). Through Jesus we receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need; let us therefore draw near to Him with confidence (Hebrews 4,16).

8. The Prophet Isaiah promises: »a bruised reed the Lord will not break, and a faintly burning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice« (Isaiah 42,3). Christ did not break on the cross; He endured the cross to overcome sin and death. Christ poured out His grace upon us; we bear our tribulations and overcome them by gospel. Christ gives us this gospel and pours out His grace on us through His Word and Sacraments: the Word points us to Christ and His mercy; the Lord’s Supper gives us forgiveness and eternal life. We receive these gifts with faith and in trusting in the Christ who gives them we receive His grace to bear all things in His Name.

9. God’s Word is our great heritage

And shall be ours forever;

To spread its light from age to age

Shall be our chief endeavor.

Through life it guides our way,

In death it is our stay.

Lord, grant, while worlds endure,

We keep its teachings pure

Throughout all generations. (God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage lsb 582 Nikolai Grundtvig)

This is most certainly true.

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

12. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, You alone are the Redeemer of the world; be gracious and merciful to us, and bless, prosper, defend and preserve us from all evil, so that we may rest in Your Providence this and every day. Amen. (Wilhelm Löhe, Seed Grains of Prayer # 132 Morning Prayer for Tuesdays; Stratman 35).

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.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Hebrews 4,12-13. Sexagesima

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