Fourth Sunday in Lent –March 31, 2019 –Psalm 32:11
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice,
O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm
32:1-7—key verse
7a—The Psalm appointed for this coming Sunday is an exuberant proclamation of
the happy and blessed state of those who experience God’s forgiveness.
Blessed…Blessed. Repetition is underscored—you are forgiven…are covered…the
Lord does not count your sin against you. Paul will pick up on this theme in
Romans 4:6-8 “Blessed are those whose
lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man
against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
“Blessed are you," Jesus said, "when they insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil
against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your
reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:11-12). "Blessed are you" does not mean "untroubled are you" or "healthy are you" or "admired
are you" or "prosperous are
you." It means "between you
and God all is well." You are deeply secure, profoundly content in God – even if you are weeping over
the pain of a struck body, a perplexed mind, or a heartbreaking relationship.
Circumstances do not dictate the Lord’s attitude toward you. Because of Christ –
you are blessed.
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from
heaven to be the true bread, which gives life to the world: Evermore give me
this bread, that he may live in me, and I in him; who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen[1]
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[2]
On the church calendar
today - Joseph Patriarch –
Lord Jesus, scepter that rises out of Jacob, Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world, rule our hearts through Your suffering cross and
forgive us our sins, that we may become partakers of Your divine life; for You
live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[3]
[1]Collect
for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm
[2] Collect
for Lent 4, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3] Collect
for Joseph, Patriarch, © 2006 Concordia Publishing, St, Louis
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