Pr. DFD

Monday, March 11, 2013

Pharaoh

Exodus 14- 15

Pharaoh lets the people go

It took ten plagues for Pharaoh to finally allow the children of Israel to leave the land of slavery. It took the slaughter of a lamb, blood on the doorposts, and the death of the first-born to bring deliverance to God’s people.

The Lord, we are told, hardened Pharaoh’s heart. That’s what happens when sin had played itself out in the life of an individual. That’s the danger of resisting God. We can harden our own heart toward God. Nine plagues had visited Egypt, each with convincing proof that this was done by the Lord’s hand. Each time Pharaoh’s heart grew harder. He would not let God’s people go. Finally, it took the death of the first-born without the sign of the blood of the lamb upon the door of the house to convince Pharaoh that it was time; the children of Israel must go.

God continues to be patient with His people when they are terrified by the trials of their faith. He comes to help them with His words and promises, “Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36) When we stand firm in our faith, we will see without fail “the salvation of the Lord.” (Exodus 14:13)

Lord God Almighty, even as You bless Your servants with various and unique gifts of the Holy Spirit, continue to grant us the grace to use them always to Your honor and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with permission © WELS

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Jezebel

1 Kings 21; 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 9

Jezebel is killed

Jezebel was pure evil. She orchestrated the brutal death of Naboth and was killed in a similar fashion.

There can be nothing good, not one positive word spoken concerning Queen Jezebel. She stole Naboth’s vineyard for her husband Ahab by falsely accusing him of blasphemy and treason. Jezebel's domination of her husband was directly responsible for the whole of Israel falling into the sin of idolatry. The whole nation suffered a famine caused by the lack of rain. This was God's judgment on them. (1 Kings 17) This was particularly humiliating for Jezebel, since Baal was supposed to be the god of weather. Jezebel directly attempted to overthrow the worship of God - she commanded that the people forsake the Lord - and murdered as many of His prophets that she could find. (1 Kings 18:4) The remainder, were forced to hide in caves in the wilderness. (1 Kings 18:13) She met a horrible end at the hands of Jehu. (2 Kings 9:14-34)

A lesson drawn from Jezebel's life is that the deeds of a few can adversely affect a whole nation. Evil people sometimes live long. God could be giving them the chance to repent and yet, destruction waits for them if they do not. A part of our prayer life must include petitions that God would break and hinder every evil counsel and will which would not let us hallow God’s name nor let His kingdom come and that He would preserve us steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end. Review the third petition of the Lord’s prayer as well as the first and second commandments.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning, and though we have in no way deserved Your goodness, You still abundantly provide for all our wants of body and soul. Give us, we pray, Your Holy Spirit, that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness toward us, 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.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with permission © WELS

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Moses

Hebrews 3:2-5, 16; 7:14; 8:5; 9:19; 20:28; 11:12-29; Jude 1:9; Revelation 15:3

Crossing the Red Sea

Moses made Israel into a great nation. He led them out of bondage in Egypt and through the wandering years in the desert. He gave them the law on Mt. Sinai. Yet he could never be more than God’s faithful servant. Jesus is God’s only Son.

When Jesus met Nicodemus at night, He compared Moses' lifting up of the bronze serpent in the wilderness, which any Israelite could look at and be healed, to His own lifting up. Moses’ serpent brought physical health and restoration. By His death and resurrection, Jesus brings complete restoration and the promise of eternal life. And who provided manna in the wilderness? It was not Moses, but God, who provided. Jesus, the lamb of God takes away the sin of the world. Jesus, the Father’s only Son feeds us with His own body and blood, as He is the bread of life.

Heavenly Father, God of all grace, govern our hearts that we may never forget Your blessings but steadfastly thank and praise You for all Your goodness in this life until, with all Your saints, we praise You eternally in Your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with permission © WELS

Friday, March 8, 2013

Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11, 12; 1 Kings 1:1-37; 2:10-2

Solomon, born to Bathsheba, to whom David had no right, and though not in line for succession, was chosen by David and approved of God to be David’s successor. Solomon had inherited the throne of the most powerful kingdom at a time of great peace and prosperity. Solomon had vast business enterprises, and was famous for his literary works. He wrote 3000 proverbs, 1005 songs, and scientific works on botany and zoology. He wrote three books of the Bible; Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.

For all of his good qualities, for all of the great things Solomon accomplished he will also be remembered for his sin of compromise. His father David won the peace through war and conquest. Solomon held the peace through diplomacy and negotiation. He married the daughters of foreign kings to secure goodwill between Israel and other nations. These wives introduced different gods to the people and over time, their worship was commonplace in the nation.

In Lent, we are called to return to the Lord, to worship Him with pure hearts. In Lent, we are given opportunity to witness of Him who has redeemed and saved us. May we be found faithful; faithful to the Lord, faithful to His Word, faithful to each other.

Almighty God, grant us a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, a cheerful hope in Your mercy, and a sincere love for You and one another, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Schnorr von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with permission © WELS

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Joseph

Genesis 30-50; Acts 7:10-18; Hebrews 11:22

Joseph was Jacob’s eleventh son, but Rachael’s first-born. Rachael was Jacob’s favorite wife and Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son. Thus started a bitter rivalry within a family that found Joseph being sold into slavery, falsely charged, imprisoned, and left for dead.

Joseph rose to become the second most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh. When famine struck Egypt, he brought Jacob and his other sons to Egypt, where they were settled in the Land of Goshen. The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod commemorates him as a patriarch on March 31.

Joseph was minding his own business going out into the fields to see his brothers. They plotted to kill him. Sold into slavery he was falsely accused and imprisoned for two years. Joseph experienced suffering and misery but he put up with these difficulties without complaint. He lived in the sure and certain confidence that God would defend him despite the hurt and agony he was experiencing. We may be tempted to speak out, complain and to demand justice. Joseph gives us a new face, the face of a constant faith especially when facing false accusations. Joseph stands as an excellent example of how to live out of faith confidently despite unpleasant conditions.

Almighty and ever-living God, You make us both to will and to do those things that are good and acceptable in Your sight. Let Your fatherly hand ever guide us and Your Holy Spirit ever be with us to direct us in the knowledge and obedience of Your Word that we may obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Delilah

Judges 16

Samson’s hair is cut

Samson from the tribe of Dan on the Philistine border was, before birth, appointed by God to be Israel’s deliverer. God endowed him with superhuman strength, and under God, his exploits were simply amazing. Samson would be the last of the Judges mentioned in the book of Judges.

Samson told his wife Delilah that he would lose his strength with the loss of his hair. Delilah calls for a servant to shave Samson's seven locks, since that broke the oath that was given him before his birth; the Philistines, who blind him, capture Samson. After being blinded, Samson is brought to Gaza, imprisoned, and put to work grinding grain. Samson died when he grasped two pillars of the Temple of Dagon, and “bowed them.” Thus, he killed many more as he died than while he lived.

Here is yet another account of the Lord using someone with a less than stellar and seedy past to work the Lord’s will and way. God was not only willing to hear and forgive Samson, but God was still willing to use him in doing His work of deliverance for Israel. It doesn't matter what kind of mistakes you have made. No matter how bad your past, there is always hope. Our Father in heaven is in the business of new beginnings. That’s the point of Samson’s story that’s the message of the cross and of Lent. Repent, believe the Gospel, there is still plenty of living to do, our Lord can still use you.

Almighty God, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts that He may rule and direct us according to Your will. Comfort us in all our temptations and afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth that we, being steadfast in faith, may increase in all good works and in the end obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Jacob

Genesis 25-37, 42, 45-49

Jacob who had already received the birthright from his brother Esau deceived his father in receiving the blessing. Although Esau thought nothing of his birthright, Jacob received it from the deception of his mother. At Bethel the Lord reminds Jacob not only that the blessing was his but that through him and his descendant a bridge between earth and heaven would be established. Jesus affirms that He is that ladder. (see John 1:51)

Jesus is the mediator between God and man. For our salvation, to win our peace He broke into time and space to be our only Savior. Sin, which caused a deep wedge of separation between God and man, has now been removed through the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. We now have peace with God through His Son Jesus. Jacob’s dream revealed this reality. You now know it by faith. Christ makes all the difference in the world. He is the stairway to heaven, the gate that leads to eternal life. Through Him, we now have peace with God.

Merciful Father, through Holy Baptism You called us to be Your own possession. Grant that our lives may evidence the working of Your Holy Spirit in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, according to the image of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior.