Category: Moments of Meditation

September 3, 2024

Broadcast

                           Wisdom -- Part 2
                           Proverbs 4:12-13
                              09/03/2024


        12   When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and
             if you run, you will not stumble.
        13   Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard
             her, for she is your life.  (ESV)

        King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, desired the
   best for his children.  He taught them that the ``fear of the
   LORD is the beginning of wisdom.''[2] He pleaded with them to
   listen to his words of wisdom, to take to heart the truth of
   God's rich grace, love, and mercy.  Solomon was well aware of the
   promise once given to Adam and Eve, once passed from Abraham to
   Isaac to Jacob and to the children of Israel that God would send
   a Redeemer to pay the price of the sins of all people.  Solomon
   passed this truth to his sons and daughters.

        What is the benefit of Solomon's teaching?
        When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if
        you run, you will not stumble.  Keep hold of
        instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your
        life.


        Jesus made the same promise to those whom He taught.  ``But
   seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
   these things will be added to you.''[3]

        The wise person trusts in the Triune God, Father, Son, and
   Holy Spirit, not out of compulsion, but out of love.  God calls
   us to Himself through the revelation of His Word, longing to be
   loving and gracious to us.  Those who hear Him are eternally
   blessed.

        May our Lord grant us faith to learn of His mercy and to
   love Him above all things.  Amen.
   ____________________

   2. Proverbs 1:7

   3. Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

September 2, 2024

Broadcast

                           Wisdom -- Part 1
                           Proverbs 4:10-11
                              09/02/2024


        10   Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years
             of your life may be many.
        11   I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led
             you in the paths of uprightness.  (ESV)

        What is wisdom?  That is the question for this week as we
   look at the words written by King Solomon to his sons.  Both King
   David and King Solomon wrote: ``The fear of the LORD is the
   beginning of wisdom.''[1] Both of these mighty kings desired the
   same thing, namely that their children understand the importance
   of knowing the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
   Because of his love for his sons, Solomon pleaded:
        Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of
        your life may be many.  I have taught you the way of
        wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.


        What is the fear of the LORD?  Is it terror caused by seeing
   His power and might?  Is it trembling at the condemnation we
   deserve because we have sinned against Him in thought, word, and
   deed?  Is it the realization that we cannot be assured of life as
   we conform ourselves to the devil or the world?  Certainly that
   is one sort of fear, which is caused by the stark reality of
   God's holy law.  But David and Solomon were not talking of that
   fear, but of respect and reverence for God because He is truly
   merciful and loving.  The fear of the LORD comes from knowing
   that we are His creation, that He cares for us, and He desires
   that we be part of His family forever.

        David and Solomon are telling us of the response of faith
   that we have when we learn of God's gracious love and mercy.
   Their instruction points us to Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and
   rose again for our salvation from sin and eternal death.

        May our Lord grant us the faith which fears Him, which holds
   Him in reverence and high esteem because of His grace.  Amen.      
____________________

   1. Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10

August 30, 2024

Broadcast

                            Mercy -- Part 5
                          2 Chronicles 28:16
                              08/30/2024


        15   And the men who have been mentioned by name rose
             and took the captives, and with the spoil they
             clothed all who were naked among them. They
             clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them
             with food and drink, and anointed them, and
             carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys,
             they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho,
             the city of palm trees. Then they returned to
             Samaria.  (ESV)

        Two thousand seven hundred years ago, the prophet Oded and
   the princes of the kingdom of Israel called for mercy to be shown
   to the captives of a raid on the kingdom of Judah.  Two hundred
   thousand men, women, and children had been captured and taken to
   Samaria to be enslaved.

        The army who had brought the captives to Samaria listened to
   the Word of God and the princes, repented, and entrusted the
   captives to the men who called for mercy.
        And the men who have been mentioned by name rose and
        took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all
        who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them
        sandals, provided them with food and drink, and
        anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them
        on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at
        Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to
        Samaria.


        God calls us to be merciful, to love our neighbors as
   ourselves.  This is impossible by our own reason and strength
   because we are by nature sinful, we are by nature selfish, we are
   by nature power-hungry.  Yet God, in His mercy, has sent His
   only-begotten Son to pay the price of our sin, to redeem us from
   the powers of this world, and to give us everlasting life.  As we
   confess our sin, as we are showered with God's grace and love,
   like Oded the prophet and the princes of Israel, we will desire
   to reflect God's mercy in this world.

        Where do we learn of God's mercy?  He graciously has given
   us the Church to proclaim His love, to bring us the forgiveness
   of our sins, and to comfort us when we are distressed.  Please
   join us on Sunday morning at Trinity Lutheran Church as we gather
   at 9:00 a.m. to receive God's rich gifts of grace and mercy.  May
   our Lord grant you peace.  Amen.

August 29, 2024

Broadcast

                            Mercy -- Part 4
                          2 Chronicles 28:14
                              08/29/2024


        14   So the armed men left the captives and the spoil
             before the princes and all the assembly.  (ESV)

        This week we are talking about mercy, the compassion shown
   to those who are in distress and need.  Mercy certainly includes
   love and forgiveness, the acceptance that each person is a unique
   individual who needs to be treated with kindness.

        The northern kingdom of Israel, about 740 years before the
   birth of Jesus Christ, had plundered the southern kingdom of
   Judah.  As the victorious army brought two hundred thousand
   captives to Samaria with the intent to enslave them, the prophet
   Oded and several prominent leaders stopped this atrocity.  Oded
   that the leaders called for mercy.

        ``So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before
   the princes and all the assembly.''  The army, seeing the great
   harm they were about to inflict, repented of their sin and acted
   with kindness.  As warriors, the army knew they were not able to
   properly care for these captives.  Therefore, those who called
   for mercy accepted the responsibility for returning the captives
   to their homes.

        In this election season, where tensions run high, where
   opinions are loudly expressed, we are tempted to divide this
   nation in the same way the kingdom of David and Solomon was
   divided.  Yet, in the heat of the moment, can we show love,
   respect, and mercy to those with whom we disagree?  Can we allow
   each person to express their opinion, knowing that all have
   sinned against God and neighbor, thus need the forgiveness
   offered by Christ Jesus?  This incident which happened almost
   2,800 years ago is also a call for us to love each other, show
   mercy, and repent of our own sins.

        May our Lord grant us the wisdom and strength to hear His
   Word, to know of His mercy, and to reflect His grace to each
   other.  Amen.

August 28, 2024

Broadcast

                            Mercy -- Part 3
                         2 Chronicles 28:12-13
                              08/28/2024


        12   Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim, Azariah
             the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of
             Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and
             Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those
             who were coming from the war
        13   and said to them, ``You shall not bring the
             captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us
             guilt against the LORD in addition to our present
             sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great,
             and there is fierce wrath against Israel.''  (ESV)

        Around 740 years before the birth of Jesus, the northern
   kingdom of Israel attacked and plundered the southern kingdom of
   Judah.  The army returned with two hundred thousand captives with
   the intent of making them slaves.  Not only did the prophet Oded
   speak against this, but several leaders of the kingdom of Israel
   called for mercy.

        Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim...  stood up
        against those who were coming from the war and said to
        them, ``You shall not bring the captives in here, for
        you propose to bring upon us guilt against the LORD in
        addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt
        is already great, and there is fierce wrath against
        Israel.''


        In the excitement of the moment, we often lose sight that we
   are sinners who properly deserve God's wrath and punishment.
   Should the army of Israel have plundered their relatives in
   Judah?  Should they have carried away so many people with the
   intent to enslave them?  Fortunately, the chiefs and rulers
   repented of this action and refused to allow this great sin.

        When we are in a position to impose our own will, do we take
   the time to truly repent, to show mercy, to help rather than
   harm?  We, who have received the mercy of the almighty Father as
   He sent His Son to bear the guilt of our sin, are called upon by
   God to reflect His love.

        May our Lord grant us the strength to be merciful to all
   people.  Amen.

August 27, 2024

Broadcast

                            Mercy -- Part 2
                         2 Chronicles 28:9-11
                              08/27/2024


        9    But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name
             was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that
             came to Samaria and said to them, ``Behold,
             because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was
             angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but
             you have killed them in a rage that has reached up
             to heaven.
        10   And now you intend to subjugate the people of
             Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your
             slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the
             LORD your God?
        11   Now hear me, and send back the captives from your
             relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce
             wrath of the LORD is upon you.''  (ESV)

        Our text this week is about mercy, the love and compassion
   shown to another even when the one showing mercy has power to
   cause harm.  Two hundred thousand captives were brought from the
   southern kingdom of Judah to Samaria as spoils of war.
        But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was
        Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to
        Samaria and said to them, ``Behold, because the LORD,
        the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave
        them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage
        that has reached up to heaven.  And now you intend to
        subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and
        female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own
        against the LORD your God?  Now hear me, and send back
        the captives from your relatives whom you have taken,
        for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.''


        God allowed the northern kingdom to defeat Judah as a way of
   showing Judah their sin of idolatry.  Yet the ten tribes of the
   northern kingdom were overly ruthless and violent in their
   treatment of the captives.

        The prophet Oded called the victorious army to repent of
   their sin, to acknowledge that they, too, had rebelled against
   God and deserved the same fate as the captives.

        As we seek revenge, as we seek advantage over others, do we
   stop to realize that we also have sinned against God and deserve
   His wrath?  If so, will we not show mercy because He first showed
   us mercy?  This is the argument given by Oded.

        May our Lord grant us faith to acknowledge our sin and to
   forgive those who have sinned against us.  Amen.

August 26, 2024

Broadcast

                            Mercy -- Part 1
                           2 Chronicles 28:8
                              08/26/2024


        8    The men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their
             relatives, women, sons, and daughters. They also
             took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to
             Samaria.  (ESV)

        This week's Old Testament lesson comes from the book of
   Second Chronicles where the author shows both the sin of the
   southern kingdom of Judah, the desire for revenge, and the mercy
   which comes as we realize and confess our own sin.  The theme of
   this week is built on God's mercy, both in the Old Testament
   lesson and in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

        Mercy is the compassionate treatment of those who are in
   distress, especially when it is within the ability of the one who
   is merciful to bring harm.  It encompasses also forgiveness and
   expressions of love.

        After the death of King Solomon, the Jewish kingdom split
   into Israel in the north and Judah in the south.  As in any
   divided nation, there was animosity and war between the two
   groups.  Our text speaks of a defeat of Judah by Israel around
   740 years before the birth of Jesus.  ``The men of Israel took
   captive 200,000 of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters.
   They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to
   Samaria.''

        In war, in taking captive almost a quarter million people,
   the northern kingdom was not showing mercy.  Their plan was to
   make slaves of these captives from Judah, the same way any
   foreign conqueror would enslave a defeated nation.  But, these
   people were not the spoils of war, but descendants of Abraham,
   Isaac, and Jacob, cousins and relatives of the people of the
   north.

        This week we will look at the mercy shown to these captives,
   learning from their story how we also show mercy to others.

        May our Lord grant us the grace to hear His Word and to
   learn of His love.  Amen.

August 23, 2024

Broadcast

                      Redeeming Israel -- Part 5
                            Isaiah 29:23-4
                              08/23/2024


        23   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 come to
             understanding, and those who murmur will accept
             instruction.  (ESV)

        On Easter morning, Jesus' grave was empty.  He who died on
   the cross, He who was wrongfully condemned to suffer, abandoned
   the grave.  Jesus showed Himself to the women, to the disciples,
   to five hundred followers.  His resurrection foreshadows our own
   resurrection when He returns to judge both the living and the
   dead.  We have seen the salvation of our God.

        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 come to understanding, and those who murmur will
        accept instruction.


        Those who have faith in Jesus Christ, who has revealed the
   love of our heavenly Father, will join their voices in praise and
   thanksgiving in response to His mercy.  Many will come to know of
   the redemption from sin and death, the promise of heaven, and
   will turn to God and receive eternal life.

        The message you hear each Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church
   when we gather at 9:00 a.m. is the message of hope.  You are
   saved from sin and eternal death because of God's love and grace
   alone, because of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection
   alone.  There is no need to fear, for God, Himself, has given you
   life.

        May our Lord grant us faith, by the working of the Holy
   Spirit, to trust in Him.  Amen.

August 22, 2024

Broadcast

                      Redeeming Israel -- Part 4
                             Isaiah 29:22
                              08/22/2024


        22   Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed
             Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: ``Jacob
             shall no more be ashamed, no more shall his face
             grow pale.''  (ESV)

        Isaiah, the prophet, foretells the future by looking at the
   past.  ``Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham,
   concerning the house of Jacob: `Jacob shall no more be ashamed,
   no more shall his face grow pale.'''

        God called Abraham from a pagan land, from worshiping idols,
   to be the patriarch of the people from whom the Messiah would
   come.  Abraham believed God's promises, left Ur of the Chaldees,
   and traveled to Canaan.  He trusted God, Abraham had faith, and
   that was counted for righteousness in God's sight.

        God also called Jacob's descendants from Egypt and settled
   them in the land once promised to Abraham.  Isaiah, who foretold
   the Babylonian captivity, showed that God would again return His
   chosen people to Jerusalem.

        In the same way that we were held captive to sin and death,
   we also were redeemed, returned to God, by the death and
   resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We, who are no longer ashamed of
   our sin and rebellion, for we have been declared righteous in
   God's sight, can call upon our heavenly Father in times of
   trouble, and praise Him with songs of thanksgiving.

        May the God who redeemed Abraham and Jacob bring us also the
   blessings of His salivation from sin, death, and the power of the
   devil.  Amen.

August 21, 2024

Broadcast

                      Redeeming Israel -- Part 3
                            Isaiah 29:20-21
                              08/21/2024


        20   For the ruthless shall come to nothing and the
             scoffer cease, and all who watch to do evil shall
             be cut off,
        21   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.  (ESV)

        Both those who persecute the faithful, and those who
   proclaim false doctrine as the truth of God's Word will come to
   ruin.  Isaiah spoke of the coming judgment, when the Messiah,
   Jesus, returns to judge both the living and the dead.
        For the ruthless shall come to nothing and the scoffer
        cease, and all who watch to do evil shall 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.


        Where Jesus promises that those who are humble, those who
   confess that they have sinned, those who acknowledge that they
   cannot save themselves, will be redeemed from death and
   condemnation, the ones who reject Him have no hope.  Ruthless
   people serve themselves at the detriment of others.  Scoffers
   deny the truth of God's Word, even actively working against the
   truth that Jesus came to save sinners.

        Does God desire for those who reject Him to be condemned?
   No, He sent Jesus Christ to pay the price of sin for all people
   of all time.  When Jesus cried out, ``It is finished,''
   redemption from sin and death became an accomplished fact which
   stands forever.

        May our Lord turn our hearts to Him, that we trust Him,
   receive His blessings, and reflect His love to those around us.
   Amen.