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. 6th century bc Judah had forsaken Yahweh for Gentile idols, and 1st century ad Judah had rejected their Messiah.
5. Josephus , a Jewish 1st 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 6th 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).
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