Category: Turn Your Radio On 2024

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.

August 20, 2024

Broadcast

                      Redeeming Israel -- Part 2
                             Isaiah 29:19
                              08/20/2024


        19   The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and
             the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One
             of Israel.  (ESV)

        Confessional Lutherans speak of the ``theology of glory''
   versus the ``theology of the cross.''  The theology of glory
   expects to see the victory of God, the faithful blessed with
   great riches, and the Christian land overflowing with milk and
   honey.  The theology of the cross says that the glory of Christ
   Jesus is seen in His suffering, death, and resurrection.
   Christians will be persecuted in this world because of their
   beliefs.

        Isaiah wrote, ``The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD,
   and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of
   Israel.''

        Jesus, the King of Creation, was born in a humble barn.  He
   said, ``Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the
   earth.''[1] It was the humble tax collector who prayed, ``God, be
   merciful to me, the sinner,''[2] who returned home justified,
   forgiven, with the hope of salvation.

        Each Sunday we confess our sins before God, acknowledging
   that we are by nature sinful and unclean.  We confess that we
   have not done that which should be done towards God and neighbor,
   while actively doing that which denies God and harms those around
   us.  Yet, because of God's love and mercy, He pronounces that we
   are forgiven for sake of Jesus Christ.  We therefore have the joy
   of His salvation and praise Him for His goodness.

        May our Lord keep our eyes on the cross of Christ Jesus, who
   has purchased and won us from sin and death by His holy precious
   blood and innocent suffering and death.  Amen.
   ____________________

   1. Matthew 5:5

   2. Luke 18:13

August 19, 2024

Broadcast

                      Redeeming Israel -- Part 1
                            Isaiah 29:17-18
                              08/19/2024


        17   Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon
             shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the
             fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
        18   In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a
             book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes
             of the blind shall see.  (ESV)

        We believe, teach, and confess that the Bible is the
   inspired Word of God.  Therefore, the prophecies about the coming
   of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, are also accurate.  This week's
   Gospel lesson speaks of Jesus healing a deaf-mute.  This week's
   Old Testament foretells not only this physical healing, but the
   redemption of the world by the Messiah.

        Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall
        be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field
        shall be regarded as a forest?  In that day the deaf
        shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom
        and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.


        There are two interesting things about these verses from
   Isaiah.  First, God acts in His own time, at a time we least
   expect.  Second, the acts of God are unexpected.  Lebanon, known
   for its great forests, will be an open field, while the field
   becomes a forest.  The things of God are hidden, not presented in
   the way we expect.  That which redeems us from sin, death, and
   the power of the devil, the death of Jesus on the cross, is far
   from the glory we expect to see.

        The deaf, the Gentile nations, now hear the Word of God,
   they now see the grace, mercy, and love of our heavenly Father.
   Meanwhile, at the time of Isaiah the ten tribes of Israel were
   captured and removed from history.

        This week we will be looking at Isaiah's description of the
   blessings which come from God as the Messiah, the Chosen One,
   comes to redeem us from the guilt of our sin.

        May our Lord grant us ears to hear and eyes to see His rich
   grace and mercy.  Amen.

August 16, 2024

Broadcast

                        Cain and Abel -- Part 5
                            Genesis 4:11-15
                              08/16/2024


        11   ``And now you are cursed from the ground, which
             has opened its mouth to receive your brother's
             blood from your hand.
        12   When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield
             to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a
             wanderer on the earth.''
        13   Cain said to the LORD, ``My punishment is greater
             than I can bear.
        14   Behold, you have driven me today away from the
             ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I
             shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth,
             and whoever finds me will kill me.''
        15   Then the LORD said to him, ``Not so! If anyone
             kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him
             sevenfold.'' And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest
             any who found him should attack him.  (ESV)

        ``And now you are cursed from the ground, which has
        opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from
        your hand.  When you work the ground, it shall no
        longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a
        fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.''  Cain said to
        the LORD, ``My punishment is greater than I can bear.
        Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground,
        and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a
        fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds
        me will kill me.''  Then the LORD said to him, ``Not
        so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on
        him sevenfold.'' And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest
        any who found him should attack him.


        The story of Cain and Abel ends, not with everlasting
   punishment, but God's rich grace, love, and mercy.  Cain deserved
   death.  Cain received a lesser punishment, but was given the
   assurance of God's love and protection.

        We suffer the consequence of our sin, but that does not take
   away God's mercy.  Rather, our heavenly Father sent His Son to
   bear the price of our sin, to suffer and die to bear our guilt.
   In rising from the dead, Jesus showed His victory over sin,
   death, and the devil.  He gives us His righteousness, the
   complete pardon of our sins.  We therefore fear, love, and trust
   in God above all things.

        Please join us at Trinity Lutheran Church at 9:00 a.m. on
   Sunday to hear more about God's grace, love, and mercy.  May our
   Lord grant you faith that trusts in Him, which receives from Him
   pardon and peace.  Amen.

August 15, 2024

Broadcast

                        Cain and Abel -- Part 4
                            Genesis 4:8-10
                              08/15/2024


        8    Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were
             in the field, Cain rose up against his brother
             Abel and killed him.
        9    Then the LORD said to Cain, ``Where is Abel your
             brother?'' He said, ``I do not know; am I my
             brother's keeper?''
        10   And the LORD said, ``What have you done? The voice
             of your brother's blood is crying to me from the
             ground.''  (ESV)

        Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in
        the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and
        killed him.  Then the LORD said to Cain, ``Where is
        Abel your brother?'' He said, ``I do not know; am I my
        brother's keeper?''  And the LORD said, ``What have you
        done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me
        from the ground.''


        The story of Cain and Abel is a warning about pride,
   jealousy, and sin.  Repeatedly Moses speaks of the relation
   between the two men, they were brothers, the eldest of Adam's
   children.  Rather than being the hope of redemption as desired by
   Eve, Cain showed how sin and rebelliousness is passed from father
   to child.  No one born of a human father can redeem another from
   sin and eternal death.

        Yet, God accused Cain saying that we are our brother's
   keeper.  The way we treat each other is a reflection on the way
   we accept God's rich grace and mercy.  Those who reject the
   physical and spiritual gifts from God also are selfish towards
   their neighbor.

        Many years after Cain introduced murder as the ultimate harm
   to another, God indeed sent the Redeemer expected by Eve because
   of God's promise.  Jesus, who is truly the son of man, born of
   the virgin Mary, and the Son of God, conceived by the Holy
   Spirit, bore the price of our sin.  As we are called by the
   Gospel, given faith in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit working
   through Word and Sacrament, we reflect God's love in our dealings
   with others.  We delight in loving our neighbors, in being our
   brother's keeper.

        May our Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it
   to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.