Psalm 116:12-13, 15 - Antiphon, verse 17: “I will offer to You the sacrifice of
thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.” – This psalm is a song of
deliverance from death. David or another king such as Hezekiah may have written
it. (See Isaiah 38:10-20)
Isaiah sets the tone reminding us Hezekiah
was sick and near death. Isaiah the
prophet went to him and said to him, "Thus
says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'"
The King responds, “In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be
robbed of the rest of my years?”
Death is no respecter of persons. It will strike at any time to persons
young and old alike, even those in the prime of their life.
Hezekiah had looked forward to a long life,
and to a prosperous and peaceful reign. Then he became ill and everything
changed. Sickness often has this effect on the minds of people. It changes our
focus.
Hezekiah did recover and went on to purify
and repair the Temple, purged its idols, and reformed the priesthood. He is one
of the kings mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
(Matthew 1:10)
Recovery from illness, from trauma and stress
can have a profound effect on people. It brings back to our memory the times in
which the Lord was with us as we recall His guiding hand.
Today is Holy Cross Day. A day we remember
our Savior; the wounded healer who carried our sin and sickness to the cross. Isaiah
would later write, “Surely he hath borne
our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of
God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised
for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his
stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every
one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” -Isaiah 53:4-6
As you recall the mercies of your Savior
respond with words of praise and acts of mercy to your neighbor. For the Lord
has had mercy upon us.
Prayer for Holy Cross (September 14) – Merciful
God Your Son Jesus Christ was lifted high upon a cross that He might bear the
sins of the world and draw all people to Himself. Grant that we who glory in
His death for our redemption may faithfully heed His call to bear the cross and
follow Him;[1]
Prayer for Psalm 116 – God
of power and mercy, through the Passion and resurrection of your Son you have
freed us from the bonds of death and the anguish of separation from you. Be
with us on our pilgrimage, and help us offer you a sacrifice of praise, fulfill
our vows, and glorify you in the presence of all your people; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. [2]
[1] Collect for Holy Cross, Lutheran
Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[2] Collect for Psalm 116, For All
the Saints A Prayer Book for and by the Church Vol.2 © 1995 American Lutheran
Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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