Isaiah 29,17-24. 12. Trinity

Isaiah 29,17-24  4223

12.  Trinitatis 59 

Monica, Widow mother of Augustine, ✠ 387

Caesarius, Bishop of Arles, France, ✠ 542

27. August 2023 

1. ℣ Make haste, O God, to deliver me: 

℟ Make haste to help me, O Yahweh!  (Psalm 70,1). 

O Yahweh, blessed be Thy Name at all times; make us humble and glad, so that when we hear of Thy mercy we rejoice and boast in Thee.  Amen. (Psalm 34,1-2 Gradual). 

2. »Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest? In that day the deaf will hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. The meek shall obtain fresh joy in Yahweh, and the poor among mankind will exult in the Holy One of Israel. For the ruthless will become nothing and the scoffer will cease, and all who watch to do evil will be cut off, who by a word make a man out to be an offender, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right. Therefore thus says Yahweh, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: „Jacob will no more be ashamed, no more will his face grow pale. For when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will sanctify My Name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. And those who go astray in spirit will understand, and those who murmur will accept instruction.“«  

3. The Prophet Isaiah lived at a time when Judah was living wicked by worshipping idols, forsaking Yahweh and mistreating their neighbors. Isaiah summarized their sin by writing: »And Yahweh said: This people draw near with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, while their hearts are far from Me« (Isaiah 29,13). »Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah: „Hear the word of Yahweh Sabaoth: Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left. And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.“« (Isaiah 39,5-7). 

4. Judah wasn’t the only one punished for their wickedness. The Gentiles likewise suffered for their wickedness. Sickness, deafness and blindness afflicted them as results of the sinful curse. Creation was also subjected to this curse so that draughts, famines and natural disasters, like devastating wildfires, inflict sorrow and destruction upon people as a consequence of the fall into sin (Romans 8,20). 

5. Yahweh’s prophets and pastors exhort His people to repent of their sin and seek  God’s mercy. Jesus began His ministry preaching: »Repent, for the reign of heaven is in your midst!« (Matthew 4,17). In His homily to Nazareth’s synagogue Jesus read these words from the Prophet Isaiah: »The Spirit of the Lord who is Yahweh is upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me to bring the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Yahweh’s favor« (Isaiah 61,1-2), then Jesus proclaimed: »Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing« (Luke 4,21). 

6. The Prophet Isaiah foresaw a time when the deaf will hear and the blind will see; the meek will be refreshed with joy and the poor will exult Yahweh (Isaiah 29,18-19). Isaiah’s vision was fulfilled by Jesus in His ministry. Mark tells us in his Gospel that Jesus healed a man who was both deaf and mute (Mark 7,32.35). The crowds zealously proclaimed this miracle (Mark 7,36), which also fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that the poor would exult Yahweh; in fact, they declared that Jesus has done all things rightly (Mark 7,37). The people realized that Jesus taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes and Pharisees (Mark 1,22).

7. Jesus correctly fulfilling the Messianic prophecies is evidence that He is the prophesied Messiah! This Messianic confession of the crowd was based on more than just one act of healing. Prior to this miracle in Chapter 7, Mark records 13 miracles performed by Jesus ranging from healing various ailments, casting out demons, calming a storm and feeding 5000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fish. The crowds have seen Jesus exhibit Divine power and authority in different circumstances over several months. Jesus’ ministry involved preaching the Scriptures and performing miracles; both of these attested to His power and authority. The Psalmist proclaimed: »Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure« (Psalm 147,5 lxx); Jesus fulfilled the psalm as well. 

8. Moses and the Prophets prepared the way for the Messiah; Jesus shows Himself to be  this Messiah who has arrived to redeem the world. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one goes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14,6). 

9. »Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear Him and who hope in His merciful steadfast love.« King Solomon teaches in his Proverbs: »The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge« (Proverbs 1,7). Martin Luther exhorts us to take these verses to heart as he encourages us to fear, love and trust God. Jesus furthers our knowledge of God by revealing to us the mysteries of the reign of God (Mark 4,11). The great mystery of God’s reign is revealed by Jesus when He tells His apostles: »The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, the scribes and be killed, then after 3 days rise again« (Mark 8,31). At first, the apostles could not accept this and they tried to convince Jesus to walk another path, a path they think is befitting their interpretation from the Scriptures of the Messiah who arrives with power and ruling authority over the land. But Jesus would not be deterred from walking the path that led Him up to the Roman cross. The chief priests and the scribes mocked Jesus as He hung on the cross (Mark 15,31), but when Jesus had breathed His last a centurion confessed: »Truly this man was the Son of God!« (Mark 15,39). The great mystery of the Messiah revealed by Jesus is that the Son of God has arrived to lay down His life as a ransom, and in doing so will redeem the world from its sin (Mark 10,45). 

10. We thus praise Jesus with hymns of joy for He has saved us from our sinful state; He has healed our broken hearts and bound up our wounds. We have faith in Jesus, and He promises us: »For to the one who has, more will be given« (Mark 4,25). Go in peace, for you have Jesus; He has purchased your forgiveness; He strengthens you through life’s tribulation; He is preparing your abundant and eternal inheritance in His presence.  Amen. 

11. All sin is now forgiven

and is fully covered

I’m no longer shamefully ridden

before my Lord and God.

I am newly clothed

with a beautiful dress

adorned and gifted

with salvation and righteousness. 

(Ich freu mich in dem Herren elkg 566,3 2021 Bartholomäus Helder (vor 1635) 1646/1648). 

This is most certainly true. 

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

15. Let us pray. O Lord, who dost, not willingly afflict the children of men, behold from Thy holy habitation of heaven the multitude of miserable souls and lives among us, and have mercy upon us; have mercy on all ignorant souls, and instruct them; on broken hearts, and heal them; are struggling with temptation, and rescue them; all that are fallen from Thee, and raise them; all that stand with Thee, and confirm them; O blessed Jesus, that didst shed Thy blood for our souls to save them, shed Thy Holy Spirit on all, and heal them; for Thy pity’s  sake.  Amen.  (12. Trinitatis, 2. Vespers Collect. The Daily Office.)

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 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover. 

The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.  

Luke 7,36-50. 11. Trinity

 Luke 7,36-50 4123

11. Trinitatis 58 

Samuel, Prophet ✠ 1010 bc

Bernard of Clairvaux, France, Hymnwriter, Theologian, and Abbot, ✠ 1153 (19. in Treasury) 

20. August 2023

1. ℣ God is in His holy habitation: 

℟ He is God who setteth the solitary in families (Psalm 68,5). 

O God, our Trust and Helper; we call upon You and plead for mercy, that You may deliver us from sin and every evil.  Amen. (Psalm 28,7b.1a.2a Gradual) 

2. »One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself: „If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.“ And Jesus answering said to him: „Simon, I have something to say to you.“ And he answered: „Say it, Teacher.“ „A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii [$29,000 at $7.25 x 8 hours. A denarius was a day’s wage.], and the other fifty [$2900]. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?“ Simon answered: „The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.“ And He said to him: „You have judged rightly.“ Then turning toward the woman He said to Simon: „Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, because she loved much. But the one to whom little is forgiven little loves little.“ And He said to her: „Your sins have been forgiven.“ Then those who were at table with Him began to say among themselves: „Who is this, who even forgives sins?“ And Jesus said to the woman: „Your faith has saved you; go in peace.“« 

3. In the conventional Jewish worldview in Jesus’ day it was held that the Pharisees were righteous and justified men who had God’s forgiveness and salvation. Sinners were unrighteous and unjustified people who would bear God’s anger and wrath. There was a general distain among the Pharisees towards the sinners, particularly tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers and Gentiles, because these individuals did not keep the law of Moses. The Pharisees adhered to a strict interpretation of the Torah and the tradition of the elders; they would not associate or eat with these sinners.

4. While Jesus held many things in common with the Pharisees, especially a great respect for the Scriptures, He had heated disagreements with the Pharisees on how to   treat sinners. Jesus said: »I must preach the gospel of the reign of God, for I was sent for this purpose. Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not arrived call the righteous, but sinners to repentance« (Luke 4,43; 5,31-32).

5. The reign of God is about justification: how is a person justified and righteous before God? The Pharisees epitomized the self-righteous path whereby one earns God’s righteousness. The Pharisees insisted that they have merited righteousness in their keeping, and obedience to God’s covenant: they tithed, fasted, sacrificed and lived a moral life as Moses taught. For the Pharisees: God’s mercy is not given but earned. Jesus taught that righteousness is imputed: you cannot earn it nor merit it; God gives you His mercy.

6. The self-righteous path leads away from God. A person simply cannot do enough to overcome death, hell, the Devil, sins and give the conscience peace (Apology 4, 277 (156 )). The Old Testament makes this abundantly clear: animals must be daily and yearly sacrificed to cover sin; it could never stop because those sacrifices were not perfect in taking away sins, (Hebrew 10,4).

7. The imputed righteousness path is from God and leads to God. There is a sacrifice that can fully and perfectly cover a person’s sin: God Himself must be the sacrifice, and for God to become the sacrifice, He must be born a man. Adam, a man, brought sin into the world, and Jesus, the Second Adam, brought forgiveness to the world. »For by a single sacrifice, Jesus has completed for all time, those who are being sanctified« (Hebrews 10,14).

8. All self-righteous Pharisees will leave the house of God unjustified, and unforgiven; all sinners who fall on the mercy of Jesus will leave the house of God justified and forgiven. Everyone who trusts in Jesus alone, and His righteousness will by faith receive the promised gift of imputed righteousness as his or her own.

9. The gospel changes people, those who have received the mercy and forgiveness of Christ, reciprocate in kind with love to others. A sinful woman showered Jesus with love as evidence of her forgiveness that Jesus graciously lavished upon her. The tax collector who bowed before God entreating His mercy received that very mercy from his God who observed him of his many sins and declared him justified and righteous in His Divine sight.

10. Jesus redeemed the world by humbling Himself. »Though He was in the form/nature of God, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be regarded but emptied Himself by having taken the form/nature of a slave [this statement is always true] being been appeared in the form/nature of men He humbled Himself having become for Himself obedient/submissive to the point of death, death on a cross« (Philippians 2,6-8). Jesus’ love surpasses all human comprehension: He loves all, and He has purchased forgiveness for all. »For our sake God the Father made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin so that in Him we may become for ourselves the righteousness of God« (2. Corinthians 5,21). »The blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from unrighteousness« (1. John 1,7).

11. As ones who have been forgiven a great sinful debt by Jesus, let us abound in love for one another. For one who is forgiven much, loves abundantly, and the one who loves abundantly shows that Jesus is a gracious and merciful Savior. 

12. Though our sins are many, 

With God there is abundant grace;

His helping hand will always carry,

Us to a secure, safe place,

Our Wonderful Shepherd alone is He,

Who shall His Israel redeem and free

From each sinful thought and deed. (Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir selk 257,5 2021 Martin Luther 1524 nach Psalm 130) 

This is most certainly true. 

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

14. Let us pray. O Lord God, we pray Thee to keep us from all self-confidence and vainglory and to bestow upon us Thy great grace of humility and self-forgetfulness; to Thee may we look up, in all that we do, alike for the will and for the power; and to Thee may we ascribe with a sincere heart all the praise. Amen. (11. Trinity, Vespers Collect 1. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.) 

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 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover. 

Romans 11,17-24. 10. Trinity

Romans 11,17-24  4023

10.  Trinitatis 57 

Cassianus, Martyr 362

Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus II, Pastor and Theologian. ✠ 1994

13. August 2023 

1. ℣ As for me, I will call upon God: 

℟ He hath delivered My soul in peace (Psalm 55,16a). 

O God, our Deliverer; vindicate Thy Church from her enemies, so that the nations behold Thy righteous justice.  Amen. (Psalm 17,8.2 Gradual). 

2. »But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, then do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, then remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say: „Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.“ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, then neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, then how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.«  

3. trinity x is the remembrance of the destruction of the temple; this happened twice on the exact date on the Jewish calendar: 10. Av 587 bc and 650 years later on 10. Av ad 70. The Jewish calendar is lunar, so 10. Av falls on a different day every year in the Gregorian calendar in 587 bc it was 3. August, in ad 70 it was 31. August and in 2023 it was 19. July. 

4. The Prophet Zechariah proclaims: »For thus says Yahweh Sabaoth: „As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent/regret/change My mind, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good/something beautiful to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not“« (Zechariah 8,14). The temple’s destruction both times involved idolatry. 6^th century bc Judah had forsaken Yahweh for Gentile idols, and 1^st century ad Judah had rejected their Messiah. 

5. Josephus , a Jewish 1^st century ad Roman historian spends many pages describing the conquest and destruction of Jerusalem. He writes in conclusion: „(435) And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month of Gorpieus [Elul]. It had been taken five [sic six] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; (436) for Shishak, the king of Egypt, [sic Josephus reckons a 6^th in Antiq. 12.1.1, who should have been here inserted in the second place, then Ptolemy, the son of Lagus], and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sossius and Herod took the city, but still preserved it; (437) but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it and made it desolate, 1468 years and 6 months after it was built. (438) But he who first built it was a potent man among the Canaanites, and is in our tongue called [Melchisedek], the Righteous King, for such he really was; on which account he was [there] the first priest of God, and first built a temple [there], and called the city Jerusalem, which was formally called Salem. (439) However, David the king of the Jews, ejected the Canaanites, and settled his own people therein. It was demolished entirely by the Babylonians, 477 years and 6 months after him. (440) And from king David, who was the first of the Jews who reigned therein, to this destruction under Titus, 1179 years; (441) but from its first building, till this last destruction, were 2177 years; (442) yet hath not its great antiquity, nor is vast riches, nor the diffusion of its nation over all the habitable earth, nor the greatness of the veneration paid to it on a religious account, been sufficient to preserve it from being destroyed. And thus ended the siege of Jerusalem“ (The War on the Jews 6.10.1 750). 

6. The commemoration of the temple’s destruction is to first remind us that God punishes the unrepentant, even if they are His people. When the Church is persistent in false doctrine, God will discipline her with the intent to bring her back upon the path of pure doctrine. Thus the Church should never take for granted repentance and confession of sin. The Holy Scriptures and the Church’s liturgy conform our Christian life to be a life of confession. 

7. The second reason we commemorate the temple’s destruction is to remind us that God is merciful to the repentant. The Prophet Zechariah writes to the Jews who have returned from Babylonian Exile; Jerusalem has been rebuilt and the temple is about to be rededicated. But they were still living as if they were still in exile. They were still fasting several months each year like they did in Babylon as an expression of their sorrow and desire to return to the Promised Land. Zechariah writes: »Thus says Yahweh Sabaoth: „The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace“« (Zechariah 8,19). He tells them: you have been restored in the land; this is a time for feasting because Yahweh is back and His house has been rebuilt. 

8. Zechariah tells the people: »For thus says Yahweh Sabaoth: „As I purposed to bring disaster to you when your fathers provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent/regret/change My mind, so again have I purposed in these days to bring good/something beautiful to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not“« (Zechariah 8,14-15). The second destruction of the temple was punishment upon faithless Judah, but from it Yahweh brought something wonderful from it. There is no longer a need for the temple in Jerusalem with its daily sacrifices for sin. 

 9. Again Zechariah says: »Thus says Yahweh Sabaoth: „Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of Yahweh and to seek Yahweh Sabaoth; I myself am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek Yahweh Sabaoth in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of Yahweh. Thus says Yahweh Sabaoth: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying: ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’“« (Zechariah 8,20-23). 

10. What Zechariah describes was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Our Lord declared to the Jews: »Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up« (John 2,19). He was speaking of His crucifixion and resurrection (John 2,21-22). On that day, Jesus saved us; His goodness and beauty is great and gracious. [1] 

11. Jesus is not simply speaking metaphorically or allegorically about the temple and Himself. The temple truly is a Christological structure and a means of grace where the forgiveness of sin is given to the people via the sacrificial system. The temple must be destroyed and rebuilt because it points forward to Christ who must be crucified and resurrected for the forgiveness of our sin. And on account of Christ the Tree we are grafted in as the people of God, a tree that is, always has had and always will have Jewish and Gentile branches. 

12. Out of deep need we petition Thee,

O God, hear our heartfelt cry.

O be merciful to us, we plead:

Save us from our evil enemy.

Also every sin and iniquity

Which our flesh is committing, 

Our dear Father is forgiving. (Aus tiefer Not lasst uns zu Gott elkg 258,1 2021 Michael Weiße 1531). 

This is most certainly true. 

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

15. Let us pray. Bless, O Lord, we beseech Thee, remember Thy holy Church that is from one end of the earth to the other, and pacify her that Thou hast purchased with Thy precious blood, and stablish  her even unto the end of the world; remember them that bring forth fruit and do good works in Thy holy churches and are mindful of the poor and needy; recompense them with Thy rich and heavenly gifts; remember every Christian soul, especially the afflicted and oppressed and struggling and those needing Thy mercy and helping hand, supplying return to the wanderers, health to the sick and rest to them that have fallen asleep in Jesus Christ, Thy  Son, our Lord.  Amen. (10. Trinitatis, mVespers Collect. The Daily Office.)

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 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart. 

Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover. 

The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House. 

[1] »On that day Yahweh their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on His land. For how great is His goodness, and how great His beauty!« (Zechariah 9,16-17a).