PSALM 11

PSALM 11

s [superscription] – chief musician to David

a. 1, I trust, my soul

  b. 2, wicked

    c. 3, what can righteous do?

      d. 4a, LORD is in His temple, His throne is in heaven

      d’. 4b, His eyes behold and tried the children of Adam

    c’. 5a, righteous is tried 

  b’. 5b-6, wicked

a’. 7, the LORD loves the righteous

In the times of David there were worship in the hills. That’s why “you/they” suggest that his soul should flee to the hills.

It is not obvious in English translation but “the wicked” is plural. “They” are wicked. Wicked set the bow and arrows to shoot the upright in the heart – cp. Ephesians 6:16, arrows of the wicked. What defends from the arrows? Using the shield of faith – creed.

What can righteous do when the foundations are destroyed?

Flee to the LORD

Who is in His Holy Temple, while His throne is in heaven (v. 4).

The LORD tries the righteous – righteous goes through training, development, and path of maturation. Cp. James 1:12.

The wicked is caught by snares, burned by brimstone, and dismissed by the wind (spirit), cp. Ps.1:4.

The LORD is righteous, Loves the righteous deeds, and the upright looks at His face, cp. Num. 6:24-26. We are not hiding from God, unlike Adam (or sons of Adam, see v. 4b). We are righteous in Christ and through Christ – the second Adam, therefore we can trust in the LORD, Who rules from His heavenly throne. 

NEW READING of ANNA KARENINA

 

New reading of Anna Karenina. 

Leo Tolstoy begins his famous novel with these words (literally, an opening line):

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. 

I've never thought about it in the context of Eph. 5:22-33. She is definitely not a submissive wife. At the same time I am not sure that Karenin was ready or willing to die for her... And that's what makes their relationship unique - as Tolstoy said - to create a beautiful novel.  

RECONCILIATION in ONE BODY

Reconciliation in One Body

Based on Ephesians 2:11-22

Some years ago (February 2011) I proposed a structure of this passage

a. 11-12, uncircumcised, alien to Israel, no hope  

  b. 13, were far, became close

    c. 14-15a, He is peace, breaking the partition, stopping the hostility

    c’. 15b-16, in Himself, reconcile both to God

  b’. 17-18, blessings to those who are near and far

a’. 19-22, not strangers, but fellow citizens and members of God’s household

Most important – Jesus is the One who in Himself reconciled to God, giving access to the Father by the Holy Spirit.

Reading Thomas M. Winger commentary on Ephesians got me to re-consider the structure.

Winger points out three main blocks in the pericope (p.340):

2:11-12, The Gentile Christians’ former status, alienated from God and His people

2:13-18, The reconciling work of Christ on the cross

2:19-22, the resulting new temple, Jew and Gentiles built on Christ

Now, the elaborate structure of the passage (p.341):

a. 2:11a, Gentiles in the flesh.

 b. 2:11b, Circumcision (made in the flesh, by hands)

  c. 2:12a, separated from Christ.

   d. 2:12b, alienated from Israel.

    e. 2:12c, strangers to covenant and promise.

     f. 2:12d, no hope and godless in the world

      g. 2:13, you were far off.

       h. 2:14, He is our peace, destroyed partition, the hostility, in his flesh.

        i. 2:15, nullifying the Law, creating two into one, making peace

       h’. 2:16, reconcile both… by killing the hostility in Him.  

      g’. 2:17, you were far off.

     f’. 2:18, access in one Spirit to the Father.

    e’. 2:19a, you are no longer strangers and sojourners.  

   d’. 2:19b, you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household.

  c’. 2:20, cornerstone being Christ Jesus Himself.

 b’. 2:21, grows into a holy temple, in the Lord.  

a’. 2:22, a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

 

He also did a great job on putting a chart together of “then” (2:11-12) and “now” (2:13) (p. 339)

	Then, 2:11-12	Now, 2:13
1	In the flesh, 2:11	In the Lord, in the Spirit, 2:21-22
2	Separated from Christ, 2:12	Built up upon… Christ, 2:20
3	Alienated from… Israel, 2:12	Fellow citizens with the saints, 2:19
4	Strangers and sojourners, 2:12,19	Members of God’s household, 2:19
5	Godless, 2:12	Access… to the Father, 2:18
6	Far off, 2:13,17	Near 2:13,17
7	Hostility, 2:14,16	Peace, 2:14-17
8	Dividing wall of partition, 2:14	Joined together, holy Temple, 2:21

  

Letter of St. Paul to Ephesians

 

Letter of St. Paul to Ephesus  

Title: Paul came to Ephesus at least twice: during his second and third missionary journeys. First time it was a very short visit to the local synagogue (Acts 18:19-21), but the second visit resulted in the founding of the local congregation, riot of the Jews, and near miraculous release (Acts 19).    

Date of writing: Based on the fact that St. Paul wrote a few times about chains (3:1; 4:1; 6:20), it is safe to assume that the letter is written either during his “trip to Rome, or at Rome. Also, he had a demonic/cultic attack during his second visit to Ephesus than anywhere else. No wonder, he writes to THEM about spiritual warfare. Therefore, it should be dated around 60 AD.

Structure:

a. 1:1-2, Greetings

  b. 1:3-14, spiritual blessings

    c. three aspects of unity

God in Christ	Christ in Church	Among the members
1:15-23, “mystery” of God in Christ	3, Mystery of Gospel	5:22-33, wives and husbands (mystery 5:32)
2:1-10, by grace	4, Unity in the Body of Christ	6:1-4, children and parents
2:11-22, One in Christ	5:1-21, walk in love	6:5-9, servants and masters

  b’. 6:10-20, spiritual warfare

a’. 6:21-24, Final greetings

Main themes:

Spiritual blessing

Submission in Christ

Salvation by grace

Spiritual warfare

Main Characters:

Paul, Tychicus (Acts 20:4).

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: 4:11 is the layout of ministerial functions of the church parallel to the orders of the priests and Levites of the tabernacle and the Temple.

5:1-2 refers to fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Therefore, the knowledge of the sacrificial system is presupposed for the readers/hearers of the letter. 

Pairs of husband and wife, of children and parents, and of servants and masters also find their description in Colossians 3.

Lutheran teaching: The whole discussion of the relations of grace, faith, and works is heavily dependent on the proper understanding of Eph 2:8-10. This passage is discussed at length in AC VI:1; XX:11, 27; Ap. IV (II):73, 85, 87, 93; XV (VIII):6; SA II, IV:24 etc.

Dr. Luther saw the Sacrament of the Altar as a prime means of defense against the dark arts, which are described in Ephesians 6:16 “if you could see how many knives, darts, and arrows are every moment aimed at you” (LC V:82).

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 504:3-4 – Father most holy (see TLSB, p. 2028, note for 6:21-24)

LSB 528 – Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Relevancy of the Book:

People are still fighting and struggling with the assaults, yet we always need to remember that the battle is done with the spiritual spheres, not among people. People should be converted – not killed. We need to learn to use the spiritual armor to protect ourselves and advance the Gospel.   

Memory verses:  

2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.