Time
in the Word
06-11 March 2023
Preparation for next week, Lent 3
06-11 March 2023
Preparation for next week, Lent 3
Water Is Life
The Gospel and Old
Testament lesson are obviously connected because of the theme of water,
physical and spiritual water. The Epistle lesson has no reference to water, but
to the life that follows justification by faith: peace, access, hope, and joy.
Justification is based on the love of God shown in Christ’s dying for the
ungodly. Psalm 95 is closely related to Lesson 1 because it refers to the
Israelites’ putting God to the test. The Gospel lesson gives an insight into
the human-divine Jesus. We see His humanity: He is tired from walking and
thirsty from the noonday heat. Like any of us, He asks for a drink of water. On
the other hand, His divinity shows: He offers living water of eternal life,
teaches about true worship of God, and admits He is the Messiah.
Monday, 06 March 2023—Psalm 84:1-4; antiphon, Psalm 84:5—In the Introit for Sunday, we pray, Blessed are those whose
strength is in You in whose heart are the highways to Zion. This psalm has
three main divisions: 1-4, 5-7, 8-11 as well as a conclusion in verse 12.
In the Hebrew text, a six-line unit precedes and follows a three-line
reflection on the blessedness of those free to make a pilgrimage to Zion. Each
of these six-line divisions contains three references to the “Lord” while the
seventh reference (symbolizing completeness or perfection) appears in the conclusion.
Tuesday, 07 March 2023—Psalm 95:1-9—key verse, verse 6—Come, let us bow down in worship let us kneel before the Lord our
Maker. These words we pray in the liturgy when we sing the Venite in the
order of Matins. This we do when Paul encourages us to worship the Lord with
Psalm songs, and spiritual songs. The exhortation to submit to the Lord with
obedient hearts and bent knee is not enough. For a New Testament reflection on
these verses in light of the coming of Christ, see Hebrews 3:7-4:13.
Wednesday,
08 March 2023—Exodus 17:1-7—Water is
necessary for physical life. Upon the Lord’s direction, Moses brings water out
of a rock for the wilderness people. God’s people are in the wilderness and are
thirsty. This is one of a series of complaints of the Israelites during their
forty-year stay in the wilderness. This episode follows the pattern of the
others: The people complain to Moses, Moses takes the complaint to Yahweh, and
Yahweh graciously answers the need. In this case, Moses is directed to strike a
rock out of which comes water. The account points out the faithlessness of the
people by threatening Moses and, by putting God to the test, the obedience of
Moses and the goodness of God in answering the need. In this instance, there
was the sin of putting God to the test.
Is God with us or not?
Thursday, 09 March 2023—Romans
5:1-8—Life flows from Justification.
Christians have peace with God through the reconciliation made possible by the
cross. This lesson is a part of a transition from justification by faith to a
life of faith beginning with chapter 6. Hence we have Paul’s “therefore.”
By grace through faith, we are one
with God in peace and harmony. Out of this relationship comes reasons to
rejoice: we share in the glory of God (verse 2); we experience suffering that
eventuates in hope (verses 3, 4); and we are reconciled to God through
Christ (verse 11). In our suffering,
sin, and weakness, God comes to us in love expressed in the death of Christ.
Friday, 10 March 2023—John 4:5-26—In the Gospel lesson Jesus is the
water of eternal life. Jesus offers
living water to a Samaritan woman to whom He reveals himself as the Messiah. In
this Gospel lesson we are given several important subjects: the attitude of
Jesus toward a Samaritan woman, Jesus’ humanity in wanting a drink and offering
living water, the moral condition of the woman, the proper place and nature of
worship, Jesus’ declaration that He is the Messiah, and the woman’s response of
witnessing. In relation to the other lessons, the main theme of the Gospel is
that Jesus is the water of life giving eternal life. He can give this living
water because He is the Messiah.
Jesus says, “Salvation is from the Jews.” Our salvation has its roots in the
history of the Hebrews. It began with Abraham. Through the centuries God has
been writing a salvation history through words and events culminating in Jesus
the Jew. The New Testament cannot be fully understood apart from the Old.
Saturday, 11 March 2023—Psalm
67:1-2; Psalm 96:10-13; Isaiah 55:10-11;
Isaiah 62:1-2—Sunday’s Hymn of the
Day is May God Bestow on Us His Grace (LSB #824). The inspiration for this Luther hymn is a
prayer of David echoing the priestly benediction recorded in Number 6:24-26.
Father, You have taught us to overcome
our sins by prayer, fasting and works of mercy. When we are discouraged by our
weakness, give us confidence in Your love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus
Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Eternal Lord, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world
through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your
word and obey it, so that we become instruments of your redeeming love.
Collect
for Psalm 95: Almighty
God, neither let us go astray as did those who murmured in the desert, not let
us be torn apart by discord. With Jesus as our Shepherd, bring us to enjoy the
unity for which He prays; and
to You be the glory and the praise now and forever.
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006
Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series A by John Brokhoff ©
1980 CSS Publishing Lima OH
For All the Saints A Prayer Book for and By the Church
Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
Schnorr von Carolsfeld, woodcuts, The Crucifixion copyright © WELS
Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and
congregational use
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