Larry Devich
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Sunday in Week 11 of Pentecost - Commemoration of Samuel
Daily Lectionary
Joshua 24:1-15
Acts 28:23-31
Mark 2:23-28
Joshua 24:14-15
14"Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
All along there were those in Israel who did not follow the LORD, from the time of the Exodus and throughout all of Israel's history there were those who followed other gods. I have read accounts by archaeologists who find temples to other gods all over Israel who have tried to say that this means the bible is not true because they expect to see all Israel following the LORD. But the bible actually says that it was only for very short periods that Israel didn't follow other gods, even Solomon had temples to false gods set up for his wives.
Daily Psalms
Morning 101, 102 Evening 103, 104
Higher Things Commemoration of Samuel
It is fun to be a “secret shopper.” Various restaurants and stores have programs where people are selected to be patrons, then report on how well they were treated, how efficiently they were served, and how their quality compares to competitors.
What makes the “secret shopper” concept effective is that the business does not know the time of his visitation. This way, the shopper gets no special treatment; he is “undercover.”
In a way, some people may claim that Jesus was like a secret shopper. He came and many did not recognize Him. He saw how He was treated, and then, 40 years after He ascended, their “business,” the Temple, was destroyed by Roman soldiers, and they “got what was coming to them.”
But that’s not a perfect comparison. Jesus’ coming was not a secret to those who had listened to the Word of God, awaiting the coming of the Christ. His conception, birth, and ministry all bore witness to the Savior. As Isaiah had prophesied some 700 years earlier, Jesus proclaimed Good News to the poor and liberty to the captives. He gave the blind their sight and proclaimed the year of Jubilee. No, Jesus was no secret.
Yet, many in Israel failed to recognize the Christ for whom they had waited. They were waiting for Immanuel: God-with-us. But in their search, they overlooked they very One for whom they waited. They did not know the time of His visitation. They stopped their ears from hearing the Word of God, and refused to recognize the sacramental presence of the Christ.
Centuries earlier, a youth named Samuel served the Lord in His Tabernacle. When God called him, he was confused and ran to Eli the priest. As God’s spokesman, Eli told Samuel how to listen to the Lord. Thus began Samuel’s called ministry. Hearing God’s counsel through Eli, Samuel now knew the time of the Lord’s visitation – the time of God coming to Him through His spoken Word.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus weeps for the lost. But He cries for joy for you! He is pleased that you hear His Word and receive His Holy Supper; in these precious Gifts, He bodily visits you. You too may cry for joy as you give thanks for the Savior whose visitation is no secret! He publicly comes to you, visits you, and reminds you of your blessed eternity with Him!
“O God, as You declare Your almighty power above all in showing mercy and pity, mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly treasures; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” (Collect for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joshua 24:1-15
Acts 28:23-31
Mark 2:23-28
Joshua 24:14-15
14"Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
All along there were those in Israel who did not follow the LORD, from the time of the Exodus and throughout all of Israel's history there were those who followed other gods. I have read accounts by archaeologists who find temples to other gods all over Israel who have tried to say that this means the bible is not true because they expect to see all Israel following the LORD. But the bible actually says that it was only for very short periods that Israel didn't follow other gods, even Solomon had temples to false gods set up for his wives.
Daily Psalms
Morning 101, 102 Evening 103, 104
Higher Things Commemoration of Samuel
“You did not know the time of your visitation.” (St. Luke 19:44c)
It is fun to be a “secret shopper.” Various restaurants and stores have programs where people are selected to be patrons, then report on how well they were treated, how efficiently they were served, and how their quality compares to competitors.
What makes the “secret shopper” concept effective is that the business does not know the time of his visitation. This way, the shopper gets no special treatment; he is “undercover.”
In a way, some people may claim that Jesus was like a secret shopper. He came and many did not recognize Him. He saw how He was treated, and then, 40 years after He ascended, their “business,” the Temple, was destroyed by Roman soldiers, and they “got what was coming to them.”
But that’s not a perfect comparison. Jesus’ coming was not a secret to those who had listened to the Word of God, awaiting the coming of the Christ. His conception, birth, and ministry all bore witness to the Savior. As Isaiah had prophesied some 700 years earlier, Jesus proclaimed Good News to the poor and liberty to the captives. He gave the blind their sight and proclaimed the year of Jubilee. No, Jesus was no secret.
Yet, many in Israel failed to recognize the Christ for whom they had waited. They were waiting for Immanuel: God-with-us. But in their search, they overlooked they very One for whom they waited. They did not know the time of His visitation. They stopped their ears from hearing the Word of God, and refused to recognize the sacramental presence of the Christ.
Centuries earlier, a youth named Samuel served the Lord in His Tabernacle. When God called him, he was confused and ran to Eli the priest. As God’s spokesman, Eli told Samuel how to listen to the Lord. Thus began Samuel’s called ministry. Hearing God’s counsel through Eli, Samuel now knew the time of the Lord’s visitation – the time of God coming to Him through His spoken Word.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus weeps for the lost. But He cries for joy for you! He is pleased that you hear His Word and receive His Holy Supper; in these precious Gifts, He bodily visits you. You too may cry for joy as you give thanks for the Savior whose visitation is no secret! He publicly comes to you, visits you, and reminds you of your blessed eternity with Him!
“O God, as You declare Your almighty power above all in showing mercy and pity, mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Your grace that we may obtain Your gracious promises and be made partakers of Your heavenly treasures; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” (Collect for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Samuel, last of the Old Testament judges and first of the prophets (after Moses), lived during the eleventh century B.C. The child of Elkanah, an Ephraimite, and his wife Hannah, Samuel was from early on consecrated by his parents for sacred service and trained in the house of the Lord at Shiloh by Eli the priest. Samuel's authority as a prophet was established by God (1 Sam. 3:20). Samuel anointed Saul to be Israel's first king (10:1). Later, as a result of Saul's disobedience to God, Samuel repudiated Saul's leadership and then anointed David to be king in place of Saul (16:13). Samuel's loyalty to God, his spiritual insight and his ability to inspire others made him one of Israel's great leaders. [From "Commemorations Biographies," Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship]
¶ 8/20/2006 12:01:00 AM 0 Comments
