Psalm 9

Psalm 9

Comments: Psalm is too long to tackle it verse by verse. So, we’ll pick up the main themes.

Thankfulness to God (my whole heart). Even though the psalm will tackle some tough themes, David begins with the words of thanksgiving. If I have to limit the signs of godliness to one element it would be “thankfulness” – a missing link in the Garden story. If we compare what Jesus does at the Last Supper and Adam and his wife, we can notice the lack of thankfulness. Because it is impossible to be thankful for a stolen fruit…

Enemies in life of a believer – who are they? This is tri-folded question. First, we need to think about people wo opposed the rule or life of David. His life was a life of struggle. His father-in law brought him closer only for a single purpose – it would be easier to get rid of a young lad. Then he had to face armies and armies of neighbors – Philistines, you name it… There was a moment when his own son became a mutineer. Many people can be marked in the life of David as “enemies.” Second, there is a spiritual aspect of these assaults. From the time of the Garden the “enmity” is between the humans and the serpent… (no wonder Goliath is armed or covered with scales, which makes him look like a snake/serpent). Sometimes the lives of people are the battleground for God and diabolical forces (see the evil spirit attacking king Saul, 1 Samuel 16). Third, there are inner sinful inclination with a person – in theology it’s called fleshly desires. David’s story with Bathsheba is not a conspiracy of the Philistines or an attempt to compromise his kingship by some court provocateurs… No, it was his own inability to overcome sexual passions. So, there are three types of enemies: people/world, demons, and flesh.       

Another very big theme in the psalm is the actions of the nations or, saying it differently, a global scale of God’s influence. After the Flood and rebellion at the Tower of Babel, God chose a single family – Abram and Sarai. Through their descendants He developed them into a nation – people of Israel. He gave them the land. After the loss of the land and going through the Babylonian exile, they became a part of the empires that God erected. Then with the coming of Jesus Christ everything found its consummation – He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. But throughout of all the periods of salvation history the people of God should’ve been witnessing to their neighbors. David, who lives in the period of the kingdom of Israel in the land, brings the good news to some Philistine territories (see 1 Samuel 27:1-7). So, even when the nations conspire against God and His anointed (see psalm 2:1-2), God will turn the tables, and they will sing in their own pits (v. 15). Reflecting on the beginning of the psalm: nations have the same choice as individuals – giving thanks or to sing to the pit of our own makings.     

Death and resurrection. The more I read Psalter, the more I see this theme. Every person should have the answers for the ultimate questions – purpose of life, what will happen after death etc. v. 17 says that the wicked will go to Sheol – a place of abandonment. The reason is – they forgot God, on the national level. There ungodly nation has godly people (see Genesis 18, an argument of Abraham and God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah). Their spiritual needs and hopes will be answered (v. 18), but it is important to share the Gospel with the people on a national level. For the countries and nations can come and go – the Church is going to stand forever.      

Man vs. God. The psalm presents a strong case for rebellious human anthropology. On national and individual level men rebel against God (vv. 5, 19, 20). They try, try hard to set their own plans in motion, but God is stronger, and justice is His. That’s why David, being a man, asks the LORD to rise (v. 19). Risen Lord Jesus is the One Who prevails over men (see Acts 9 – meeting of Saul and Jesus on the road to Damascus), and He judges the nations according to His standards.    

LENT: EXODUS 2

Lenten devotions: Exodus 2 

(please read the chapter before reading this devotion)

This is an interesting chapter for our Lenten Journey. I’m not saying that the Bible has non-interesting chapters, but some of us try to avoid genealogies or description of sacrifices or ... (have freedom to feel the blank). This chapter is interesting with its content, but I can guess you have not heard this interpretation before – so, my devotional comments might be interesting too.

Exodus chapter 2 tells us a story of Moses’ birth, adoption into daughter of Pharaoh house. He was raised as a part of the royal court. When the first Christian martyr told his story, he summarized it in this way: “Moses was instructed in the all wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds” (Acts 7:22).

ROMANS 8. Part 2

ROMANS 8 (part 2, vv. 18-39)

the structure of the chapter as a whole can be found here.  

Part A’, vv. 18-30

St. Paul concludes the previous part with the claim of our heirloom in Christ, as long as we suffer with Him to be glorified with Him. Latin saying: “per aspera ad astra.” Through perils to stars…

Then he goes into a consideration of suffering and glory. Two things: (1) the level of suffering is not compatible to the “amount” of glory we will receive in Christ, example of groaning creation (vv. 19-25). 

(2) the Spirit (v. 26) helps us! For even do not know how to pray, but Spirit intercedes for us in our groaning…

For God knows us, predestined us, called us, being justified, and glorified! (vv. 29-30).

Conclusion (vv. 31-39). It begins like the other famous parts of Romans – 4:1, 6:1, 7:7. Later he will use it twice more in the next block (9:14, 30).

This paragraph can be an answer/conclusion to

Chapter 8, compare 8:1 reinforced by 8:38-39.  

Chapters 5-8, the name and the title if Jesus is the same in 5:1 and 8:39 (5:11, 21; 6:23; 7:25). So, it is the end of many-side discussion of the assurance we have in our LORD Jesus Christ. 

Chapters 1-8, it can be a answer to righteousness/faithfulness of God (1:17) set at the beginning and “challenged” in 3:1-8 (set of rhetorical question).  

God’s love shown in the sacrifice of Jesus is a proof and guarantee of our heirloom (v. 32):

Death and life

Angels or rulers

Things present or things to come (future)

Powers

Height or depth

ANYTHING in the created world – total 10 “units”

Can’t separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our LORD.       

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. 

2 John

 2^nd Letter of St. John   

Title:  This time [unlike the unidentified 1 John] St. John identifies himself as “the elder” (cp. 3 John). Looks like he sent a general “sermonic” epistle to establish the theological frame of refence, then he sent to letters: this one, addressed to the church, and another one (3 John) to one of the members of the congregation. 

Date of writing: If these two epistles (2 and 3 John) are written at the same time, then we can assume that later date of writing (still prior to 70 AD). The reasoning is based on the usage of names: Gaius and Demetrius (3 John 1, 9, 12).

Structure:

a. 1-3, Greetings

 b. 4-6, walking in the truth

  c. 7-8, deceivers/watch yourselves

 b’. 9-11, abide in the teaching

a’. 12-13, Final greetings

Main themes:

Truth – used 5 times in the letter. Twice he connects love and truth (v. 1 and 3). Also, he personifies the truth [v. 2] which “will be with us forever” making an allusion to John 14:6.

The deception – the rejection of Jesus Christ in the flesh (beginning of gnostic theology). This rejection had both historical and eschatological application.  

The Elect Lady has children (Cyprian, d. 258: No one can have God for his Father, who does not have the Church for his mother).

Priority of a meeting-in-person over a correspondence or a “meeting on-line”.

This small letter also testifies to the concept of a house as a micro-church – the need to notice who comes in and who does a Christian should “greet”.

Main Characters:

The elder, elect lady (or Donna), her children, and the children of her elect sister. That needs an identification: if the epistle is addressed to the congregation in Corinth (community of Jewish and Gentile’s believers in a pagan environment), then the elect sister can/should be the messianic congregation in Jerusalem.     

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: The concept of “from the beginning” is a hallmark of St. John’s appropriation of Genesis and Creation theology.

It is very important notice the close relationship between 2 John and Song of Songs. In both cases we have a female figure as a representation of the Church.

The idea of meeting face-to-face corelated with Pauline concept one-another (cp. Col. 3:16 etc.).  

Lutheran teaching: The Book of Concord quotes 2 John only once – during the discussion of the Power of Jurisdiction of Bishops (Tr. 60-62). The fact that St. John identifies as the Elder, shows that St. Peter did not have a superiority of ruling over the Church – both St. John and St. Peter are called the elders in their respective epistles. Also St. Paul charges Titus to set the Elders in every town of Crete (Tit. 1:5-6).   

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 571 – For All the Saint in Warfare (v. 8 – St. John, Apostle and Evangelist).

LSB 878 – Abide with Me.

Relevancy of the Book:

There are (at least) three points which make the 2nd letter of John carry a relevant message for today. First, it is very important for a believer to understand himself/herself as a part of the Church: both Universal church and a local congregation (see the quote for Cyprian above). Second, the basis for the unity within the church is the acceptance of the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and the ministry of the incarnate Son Jesus Christ for redemption of the world. Third, this unity of believes (communion of saint) is not a couple of hours a week entertainment, it is reflected in our daily (24/7) walk with God. The way we deal both with follow believers and non-churched people should be an example for all around us to give thanks to the Father for His love given in Jesus Christ.               

Memory verses:

4: I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.  

 

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.