“The Fire of God’s Word” is the theme for this coming
week.
The readings for this coming
Sunday focus upon the Word of God as a fire. In the Gospel (Luke 12:49-53) the
fire of God’s Word divides. Jesus, the incarnate Word says He came to send fire
upon the earth resulting in not harmony but in division in the most intimate
and integrated areas of life, the family. In the Old Testament lesson (Jeremiah
23”23-29) the fire of God’s Word destroys. Here the LORD describes His Word as
a fire which destroys. In the Epistle lesson (Hebrews 12:1-13) the fire of God’s
Word disciplines. The writer explains suffering as a discipline of God. Since
discipline is allied with cleansing, the theme of the Word as fire can be seen
as well.
Jeremiah 23:16–29—In the time when Jeremiah prophesied (late 7th and early 6th century
B.C.), there was no shortage of false prophets, purporting to speak for the
LORD, but really speaking only their own words and what the people wanted to
hear. Not much has changed in the intervening 2,700 years. Many people are
still drawn to false prophets who prophesy lies and speak that which people
want to hear, in order to grow wealthy from the donations of those whom they
dupe. Even though it may not lead to churches which are bursting at the seams,
orthodox Lutheran pastors must speak [the LORD’s] word faithfully (v. 28).
Nations are ever seeking the latest weapons in
sophistication and power. God has the best weapons which cannot be improved;
His Word which Jeremiah describes as a fire and hammer. The Lord needs this
weapon in the conflict with evil. In Jeremiah’s day the conflict was between
the words and dreams of the prophets and the true Word proclaimed by Jeremiah.
The Word of God is still the only weapon of the Christian. In His Hymn ‘A Mighty Fortress” Luther referred to this
weapon against Satan, “One little word
shall fell him.”
An emphasis today has been
on the immanence of God. God has become localized, and humanized to the point
that God has become to some more of a man then God. While his immanence is an
essential attribute, we must not overlook His transcendence. This is the point
Jeremiah is making in our lesson. God is also one who is far off. The prophets
of history were making God too little and intimate. God was to be understood as
One above and beyond the petty wishes and promises of the false prophets. His
Word has a majesty and a power that transcended all human thinking and efforts.
Collect for the Pentecost Season: Merciful Lord, cleanse and defend Your
Church by the sacrifice of Christ. United with Him in Holy Baptism, give us
grace to receive with thanksgiving the fruits of His redeeming work and daily
follow in His way; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives
and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [2]
[1] Lift High the Cross, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St., Louis
[3] Collect for Wednesday of the week of Pentecost 9, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
No comments:
Post a Comment