Psalm 12

 Psalm 12

Psalm presents an answer of the LORD to two challenges: (1) lips and tongues; (2) perversion of justice.

David begins with a call to save (v. 1).

Ultimately, the psalm describes a situation of life for a godly person in an extremely ungodly society. Similar account we will find later in the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120 – 134). The whole series begins with the almost identical claims – lying lips and deceitful tongue (Psalm 120:2). Knowing that the words are prime means of interaction, the society is in deep … trouble when all the people are lying, flattering, and boasting.   

 

vv. 2-4 lips and tongues.

Lips in the Bible are symbols of worship. See Ps. 51:15. It is the Lord who opens the lips (+). 

When the lips are properly opened, then we can share the words – creating the culture of life around us using our tongues.  

But it can be used otherwise too. The parade example of lips and tongues/mouth destructive powers is the story of the Tower of Babel, Genesis 11:1-10.

When lips are sharing vanities (better than lies v. 2a) and hearts are “doubled,” meaning have double standards, then the society can be fixed only by God. So, He comes and talks (vv. 5-6). 

 

vv. 5-6, LORD fixes justice in the land by His WORD.

The LORD identified the poor and needy – providing safety for him. Those who are poor – they are needy. The problem is solved by the word of God. The word is a conversational speech. The Hebrew language has three main words to describe a speech: to converse, to [give a] talk, to instruct (as a parent to a disobedient child). Here we have the first one – God brings His words in the midst of the people, so humans can interact with Him. In the past God would send prophets to talk to men. Who is the Word of God, who walked and talked among the people? Jesus – John 1:1-3, 14, 18.     

v. 7, Call upon the LORD to guard.

The idea of guarding is expressed in two verbs: to keep and to preserve. To keep is to defend from an assault. To preserve is to protect from the inner rottenness or corrosion. There are always two main challenges for the Church – attacks from outside and hypocrisy within. See Nehemiah 4:15-20, Israelites constructing the walls of Jerusalem.    

v. 8 not “a happy ever after”

David gives a realistic picture. Until the very end – the Second coming of Christ – the faithful ones (v. 1) will be under stress from the wicked. They are going to paise what should’ve been despised. As a result, the wicked walk around freely. This sad reality makes our desire to see Jesus sooner even stronger. For the wicked don’t give up easily. As Dr. Luther commented: “This does not happen without cross and agony. As silver is purified in the fire, so the saints also must suffer in the meantime, and by this means become even more pure and perceive the truth so much more clearly.” (Reading the Psalms with Luther, p. 36).  

PSALM 6 - NIGHT CRY

Psalm 6 – night prayer

Structure:

a. 6:1-4, appeal for help: o LORD, save my life [bones are troubled, turn…]

  b. 6:5-7, description of despair 

a’. 6:8-10, appeal for help: LORD have heard my supplication! [enemies are troubled, turn…]

Commentaries:

Three important notes before we’ll go into the text. First, the psalm is a night cry for help. Somehow David finds himself in trouble, deep trouble. His situation impacted his emotional life, spiritual life, and even physical aspects of life (bones are troubled, v.2). It is “natural” to experience troubles in life. They can be caused by other people or being self-afflicted. The main thing: it is a myth that Christians don’t have turmoil in their lives. Or, saying it differently, the turmoil is a result of your sin. Maybe, but maybe not…

Second, in any trouble it is important to reverse the steps of Adam. He walked away from God (Genesis 3:10). Instead of that, a believer should come closer to God. Even if it is “my” fault/sin – Father invites me to come, confess and be restored. Dr. Martin Luther wrote it this way: In all trials and affliction man should first of all run to God; he should realize and accept the fact that everything is sent by God, whether it comes from devil or man… for this is the way to learn patience and the fear of God (LW, 14:140).

Third, in the midst of troubles and trials, coming to God, it is normal to cry. We are not emotionless robots. Even Jesus expressed anger (John 2:13-17), fear (Matthew 26:38), sorrow, shedding His tears (John 11:33,35). That’s why it is good to study Psalter – then, when temptations come, a believer will be ready to react in a godly way.

A, vv. 1-4. When David addresses the LORD, he understands that there are two ways to approach Him: on our own or in His grace. Let’s start with the second one – even in the times of the Old Testament, the believers knew of gracious God, merciful LORD, whose steadfast love abounds to His children. It was fully realized in Jesus on the Cross. The sacrifice of Calvary provides an “umbrella” for us. On the other hand, when we come on our own, we are stepping out of this umbrella – God’s wrath hits us with the full force.

The gracious God is the source of healing – completely: physically (bones), emotionally/mentally (soul), and spiritually (deliver my life).

B, vv. 5-7. This leads to David’s meditation about the grave and Sheol. The verb – to remember is an interesting example of a great translation. On one hand, it is a mental exercise of bringing something from memory. On the other, it can be read is reassembling of members: re-member – that’s what death does: members of a body slowly but surely come to decay. As a result, this body without remembrance will not be able to “worship” God (no praise, v. 5). Similar idea can be found in Ps. 115:17-18.

Thinking of this, David is “crying himself to sleep,” flooding bed with tears and couch with weeping. This, again, reflects on the physical condition – growing weak (v. 7).   

A’, vv. 8-10. The final block begins and ends with a pushback toward the evil ones and enemies. Now, they shall be troubled (like the bones of the worshiper used to be). The reason for this is the acceptance of prayer (night cry) by God. The personal Name is repeated three times (see, Numbers 6:24-26). The LORD has heard the sound, the plea, and accepts the prayer. The first two use the same verb with two aspects of its meaning: hearing the sound and paying attention (hear and listen). As a result, psalmist is sure that his prayer is accepted!

Being accepted by the Creator of the Universe is a great privilege we have in Jesus. It is He, Who restored us to the Father (2 Corinthians 5:19); it is He, Who gives us words to talk to God (Philippians 4:6-7); it is He, Whom we praise, to Whom glory belongs (Revelation 5:13)! 

PSALM 87

Psalm 87

There are two main parts:

(a) vv. 1-3 – Zion vs. dwelling places of Jacob

(b) vv. 4-7 – Zion vs. other nations 

A. Zion vs. dwelling places of Jacob

Holy mountain – mountain is a higher ground, remember that the first great judgment was the Flood. After the Flood Noah builds the altar – mini-mountain – lifting up or elevating the place of worship above the ground as a remembrance of the Flood.  

  City founded by the Living one – interesting to notice that the first city was founded by wicked Cain, build on a spilled blood of his brother Abel. It should not be surprising for us – the great technological progress needs a sacrifice. So, should Christians leave cities? No, for our city of found by Jesus, who didn’t sacrifice “a brother” but spilled His own blood for our citizenship.  

    The gates are protected by Himself – if the gates are secure, the city/citizens are safe. He is protecting us by His Word and Sacraments – marking the perimeter of the city.  

      City of God is a place where the glorious things are spoken – it is easy to understand the claims of the pagan deities: many sacrifices, lots of smoke (and mirrors). Yet, Jesus has a different glory – dying for the ungodly, see Romans 5:6-8.    

 

B. Zion vs. other nations

vv. 4: 5 geography pointers

Rahab – Egypt (see Isaiah 30:7) – West

Babylon – East

Philistia and Tyre – seashores

Cush – Ethiopia – deep south

Dr. Martin Luther commented on this: it shall be a city as wide as the earth is, and in it shall be born Ethiopians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Philistines, residents of Tyre, and peoples of other lands and tongues. (RPL, p. 206)

v. 4b-6: Zion IS a birthplace for the God of LIFE is the founder of the city. Two things here: first, Zion is a place where the first commandment can be fulfilled – Genesis 1:28a: be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth. Second, It is paralleled with the idea that other places are places of spiritual death, as a place of absence/rejection of God.  

 

Conclusion:

v. 7: the words of singers and dancers (!).

Two words about dancers – it might look like a discotheque reading. It reality, we have a dance to perform every Sunday (at least), it’s called Divine Service or Liturgy. When a congregation is standing up in a proper time, when it sits down, when clergy, elders, and laity move in the appointed way – it is a liturgical and biblical dance.  

All my springs are in YOU: Springs are the sources of life in the desert climate: no water – no life, very simple.

Jesus identifies Himself with the springs of the living water – John 7:37-39.

He is the founder of the City of God – Revelation 21:10-14.       

 

Prayer: Thanks be to YOU, our heavenly Father, because You have called us into the Church of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and have begotten us again unto a lively hope through the Gospel. Keep us steadfast in the faith, that we may remain living stones in this Your spiritual temple to our last day, and cause us to rejoice over Your salvation. Amen.  

JAMES: FAITH and WORKS

Faith and Works

(recording on YouTube [beginning 31:00]: https://www.youtube.com/live/E2CkpYqBJHI )

 Texts: James 2:1-10, 14-18 and Mark 7:31-37

I. Intro – we have three weeks of Epistle readings from the Letter of James.

Dr. Luther on the Letter of James – is it really “a straw epistle”?

Look at Luther Works v. 35, page 395: "I praise it [the Letter of James] and consider it a good book, because it sets up no doctrines of men but vigorously promulgates the law of God." 

Read it in the context of James 2:10!

 

II. Let’s cut to the chase – James 2:18

How do faith and works relate to each other?

It’s not what was first a chicken or an egg question –

it is more of a match or gas valve illustration.

Lutheran teaching – Augsburg Confession (AC) IV: Justification and

AC VI: New Obedience. 

 

III. Take away

What is a proper bridge between inner faith and external works – prayer

Mark 7:31-37 – God gives an ability to hear right and speak plainly.

First: our faith is reflected in the acknowledgement that God exists, Jesus is the Way, and Holy Spirit is your Comforter

Then (!) we have four types of prayer – connecting faith to works  

1. Confession of sins – reconciliation 

2. Praise or Glorification – evangelism

3. Petitioning – acts of mercy

4. Thanksgiving – sharing    

LABORING for CHRIST!

Laboring for Christ!                 Newsletter - September 2024 

The month of September begins with Labor Day weekend. The very first Monday of the month is a national holiday. It has an interesting history in its separation from the old May 1^st  celebration. While May Day had more of a political flavor (honoring socialist and anarchist roots on the regulation of work hours and such), Labor Day was designed to honor and celebrate laborers by giving  an additional opportunity for family time to those working hard to provide for their loved ones.      

This is exactly the position Dr. Martin Luther holds in his discussion “Work as a vocation.” He divided the Table of Duties in his Small Catechism into four main sections: Church (Bishops/pastors and hearers); Civil realm (governments and citizens); Family (Husband and Wives; Parents and Children); and last but not least a vocation (workers and employers/supervisors) (SC, section 3).

For Martin Luther, a godly baker was as important a part of the Kingdom of God as a faithful pastor. Unlike the teaching that dominated the church of his day which elevated the priesthood and monastic lifestyle over the people with their regular lives, Dr. Luther had a great respect for the laborers of his congregation; perhaps because he came from the family of a hardworking and successful man, Hans Luder, and he knew firsthand the value of earned coins. Or maybe because he had studied the Scripture so earnestly and learned that work is not a part of the curse of the Garden, but a blessing that God provided for Adam even before the Fall (Gen. 2:15). After the Fall, the work was not as joyful and productive (Gen. 3:17-19).  

Till the Day of His glorious return, we are occupied by work activities. The world makes a huge difference between owning a successful company and the simple routine of a housewife. Yet, the Biblical view of each of them is measured by the condition of the hear. Giving your all to a vocation might be a way of bringing glory to God. Even the sobering words of Ecclesiastes teaches us that though life can seem meaningless, there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot (Eccl. 3:22).   

It is also worth noting that the root of the word for “work” and “labor” in the Bible is the same as “worship.” Don’t get me wrong, by no means am I going to teach that we are working out our salvation, or a time of worship is heavy labor or a burden. None of that.  Yet, the Bible teaches a parallel between our devout life of prayer and thanksgiving to God with the dutiful fulfillment of our labor responsibilities. St. Paul teaches us in the Letter to Colossians (3:23): Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the LORD and not for men, knowing that from the LORD you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. May He be glorified through the toils of our daily life!

Psalm 30

PSALM 30

The picture is taken from "The Book of Psalms in the Authorized version", New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 1986, p. 46.  

I think, when Jesus was talking to His disciples about His death and resurrection referring to the Law of Moses (Torah), Prophets, and Psalms (Lk. 24:44-46), He was referring and/or using this psalm.

As a fan of structural analysis, I am happy to present a case where two (or even three) layouts are possible.