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Ephesians 6:14-20

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

You may have seen pictures of Roman soldiers.  They seem quite ancient from a modern perspective.  But, if you were to see such a soldier, even today, you would be impressed.  

These soldiers were able to project the power of the Roman government across the known world.  Their equipment was state of the art.  From their armor to their weaponry, they were a terrifying sight to those who opposed them. 

St. Paul used this imagery, of what was, to most people in that day a terrifying foe, to describe God power to defend them against all evil.  He teaches us to dress in God’s armor and to enter battle fearlessly so that we will remain faithful in our calling.

In our day and age we have many terrifying enemies.  But, our God-given armor is still up to the challenge.  God protects our faith and gives us strength to stand firm in Him.  He will not let us fall, but give us everything that we need to sustain us to eternal life.

Our Savior Jesus, who suffered the worst of this world and our sins on the cross, will not run from any challenge that we may face today.  Trust in Him.  Receive the forgiveness of your sins and the strength to follow in His path to life everlasting.

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord Jesus for continuing to guard and protect your people.  Help me to find security and comfort in your care.  Remind me of your promises in my baptism.  Help your church to be faithful in sharing your gifts and gospel both here and around the world.  In your name I pray, AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Ephesians 6:10-20

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Do you remember a time in your life that was difficult?  You probably remember the feeling that it seemed things would never get better.  Time stands still when we are having a hard time, suffering serious illness, or feeling angry, depressed, or anxious emotionally. 

St. Paul helps us understand such times for what they are.  He calls them “the schemes of the devil.”  No wonder such trials seem so eternal.  We are being tempted to doubt in the Lord and think that there is no way out for us. But, is this true? Absolutely not!  But, our perception is limited to our short lifespan and understanding time and history.

For example: If you ask a 6 year old about something 10 years ago, you are talking of pre-historic times for that little boy or girl.  It is the same way for a 20 year old who is asked to think of something before his or her birthday.  Even the very oldest among us, who often have better perspective,  haven’t lived all that long.  

God is eternal.  His plans for us are eternal.  So He gives us a faith that can stand the schemes of the devil and His eternal armor for our faith.  He does this so that we will be able to face the challenges of life, and in the end, Stand firm!

The events of holy week must have felt like an eternity to the first disciples. From Jesus’ arrest to His burial was actually not that long, even for us.  But, it was an eternity to those who watched Jesus suffer.  It seemed unending to the disciples who were in hiding, fearing for their lives as they grieved Jesus’ death.

But now, through God’s Word, we see God’s plan more completely.  The disciple’s great sorrow was followed by great joy!  Jesus rose from the dead and taught His disciples that His death and resurrection were for the life of the world!  Trusting in Jesus our sins are forgiven and our greatest trials are set against the timeline of eternal life.  As St. Paul would also write in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

Fellow redeemed, when times of trial and testing are in your life, I pray that you would find comfort in your faith.  God gives you this faith and the armor you will need spiritually to points you to Jesus. God will sustain you and show you His eternal plans for your salvation.  Though the evil one will try to discourage us, God is greater.  Therefore, in all things, even our most difficult trials, we can know that we have a destination, namely, life eternal with our Savior.

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord Jesus for your great love.  Please sustain my faith in the midst of all trial, temptation, sickness, anxiety, and trouble.  Especially help me, and all your saints, to find solace in your gifts: the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  AMEN

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Psalm 119:129-136

129 

Your testimonies are wonderful;

therefore my soul keeps them.

130 

The unfolding of your words gives light;

it imparts understanding to the simple.

131 

I open my mouth and pant,

because I long for your commandments.

132 

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

133 

Keep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

134 

Redeem me from man’s oppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

135 

Make your face shine upon your servant,

and teach me your statutes.

136 

My eyes shed streams of tears,

because people do not keep your law.

In this beautiful Psalm, God’s Word is adored.  God’s Word contains truth, beauty, wisdom, and blessings.  If you were to give a gift to a dearly loved friend or family member, there could be no greater gift that the Word of God.  If you could impart the greatest truth, it would come from God’s commandments.

This Psalm is beautiful and uplifting.  It is beautiful and uplifting right until the end, that is.  The last verse states, 

136 

My eyes shed streams of tears,

    because people do not keep your law.

It is heartbreaking to watch those you love walk away from the great gift of God’s Word, discard saving faith, and fall away.  This is what the Psalmist laments of those he sees around him.  How do you think God views this reality?

God sees our sins, our tragedy, and our lack of faith.  God sees, laments humanity’s self-destruction, and has chosen to have mercy.  God came in the flesh in Jesus to save the world.  When sinners repent of their turning away from God, and put faith in Jesus and his death on the cross and HIs resurrection, even sinners are given forgiveness. All the gifts of heaven are restored by the God of all grace and mercy.

Fellow redeemed, daily Jesus calls you to repent and receive everything in Him.  May God strengthen your faith daily so that you can rejoice in God’s Gospel in Jesus and the gift of His Word.

Let us pray,

Oh Lord, your word gives light and understanding.  Enlighten me daily so that I will grow in faith and walk in your ways.  I remember all who are struggling spiritually apart from you.  Have mercy upon them and grant them open hearts and minds to your Word.  I ask this in your name. AMEN

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 4:1-9

“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal-peor, for the Lord your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor. 4 But you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive today. 5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—

If you have ever played any kind of musical instrument, you may have heard this little sentence: “Practice makes perfect.” But, there is another version of this sentence that is a great improvement, “perfect practice makes perfect” Just rehearsing isn’t good enough. Why?  If you have ever tried to play a musical instrument you also know this: It is all too easy to practice mistakes!  Mistakes, if practiced, become nearly impossible to overcome.  

If this is true when it comes to musical instruments, so much more is it true of holy living according to the Law of God.  We may feel that we are practicing God’s will in our lives, but our opinion of ourselves isn’t the same as objective truth. There is one way to judge our performance.  That one way is the revealed will of God in the Bible.  There God give us His holy law.  There God tells us what we are to do and not to do.  There in the Holy Scriptures is perfection.

However, when we study the Bible, we don’t find that we are perfect, instead, God shows us our sins.  God does this so that we will repent, receive His salvation through Jesus, and amend our sinful lives.  God does this so that we will not continue to practice sin, but instead be set free from it!

Jesus, through His death on the cross forgives our sins.  In His resurrection Jesus shows us that perfection and eternal life are ours.  He has sealed them to us in our baptism.  

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord Jesus for your Word.  Grant me faith to study your word daily, share it with my family, and grow in grace and holiness.  I thank you for you for the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Ephesians 5:22-33

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

What is the best advice that you could offer to a couple who is about to be married?  Nearly everyone has an idea about what is needed for a great marriage.  But, some might be reluctant to offer advice.  The fact is, the great variety of opinions on this subject illustrate the problem.  Marriage is difficult.  And what seems to work for one couple, doesn’t work for another.  Why?

We are not perfect.  Even the best marriages have areas that could have been better.  And, even if imperfections are not obvious to others, they are obvious to the Lord.  Also, there is so great a variety between people that a “one size fits all” kind of advice would be difficult. And, human examples all fall short,

St. Paul, in teaching about marriage by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, avoided this problem.  Certainly, he teaches how husband and wife can serve one another in love.  He describes love in terms of self sacrifice and respect.  But, in the end, he shows us what pattern God really has in mind for us.

All the time that St. Paul was talking about marriage, he was thinking about Jesus and His church!  We are Jesus’ bride the church, and Jesus is the one who gave all things to save us.  Jesus did this through His death on the cross and resurrection.  Our responses to the Lord in praise and thanksgiving are first acts faith and then acts of love towards God, who first loved us.

So, what advice might be the best for Christian marriage.  Remember Ephesians 5 and the pattern of Jesus and the church. In light of that, stay close to Jesus in your personal prayer life and in your church life – where you receive God’s Word and the Sacrament of the Altar.  Experience His love for you in the ways that He has ordained.  Through His gifts you will be strengthened to trust in Him above all things.  Remember, only through faith in the Lord can we meet the challenges of marriage in this troubled world.  But, with the Lord, there is love for all eternity.

Let us pray.

I thank you Lord Jesus for loving me perfectly, despite my sin.  Strengthen my faith in you so that I will be able to follow your example in my relationships with others.  In your name I pray, AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Isaiah 29:16-19

16 

You turn things upside down!

Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,

that the thing made should say of its maker,

    “He did not make me”;

or the thing formed say of him who formed it,

    “He has no understanding”?

17 

Is it not yet a very little while

    until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,

    and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?

18 

In that day the deaf shall hear

    the words of a book,

and out of their gloom and darkness

    the eyes of the blind shall see.

19 

The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord,

    and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

In our day the world is upside down. The meanings of words are being changed.  Truth is molded like silly putty. Cities suffer daily violence. Our borders are in chaos. Leaders are unable, or worse, unwilling to help.  It is easy to feel angry, and after that, feel hopeless over the state of the world.  Is there an answer?

Yes.  The answer to our upside down world is the Lord.  When people try to take God’s place, the worst happens.  This is clear from the condition of the world.  As further proof of this, we have history as it is recorded in the Bible.  When Israel’s leaders tried to take God’s place, the country suffered terribly.

Like clay telling a potter what to do, people who ignore the revealed law of God cause their own misery.  But, God who is rich in mercy has had pity on our condition and sent Jesus to save us.  Jesus, who offered Himself on the cross for our sins, calls us to repent of all unbelief and acknowledge the Lord.  In the scriptures God tells us not only what to do and not to do, but also what He has done to save us.  God is gracious, therefore, faith in God is our one great hope.

As upside down and miserable as the world is becoming, God is still the potter.  He is merciful and continues to supply His Word and truth through the Holy Scriptures.  Through faith, we receive God’s gifts in Jesus. God opens His Word to us so that His Will for us can again be in our daily lives. God shows us that because Jesus is risen from the dead, there is the perfect life yet to come at the restoration of all things. We trust in the Lord. He is directs human history according to His Gracious purposes in Jesus.  We confess, God is the potter.  Amen

Let us pray

I thank you Lord for all that you have made.  Please forgive my sins and grant me faith to trust in you alone.  As you have made all things, I look forward to the day when you restore all things as you have promised.  I thank you for restoring me and in my baptism giving  me your gifts.  In your name I pray, Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Isaiah 29:13-14

13 

And the Lord said:

“Because this people draw near with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

while their hearts are far from me,

and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

14 

therefore, behold, I will again

do wonderful things with this people,

with wonder upon wonder;

and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,

and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

“Too good to be true” is something that we recognize very quickly.  Whether it is a sale price on an item that seems very low, or a promise that seems to hard to keep.  But, in this case, we have something else.

Here, God describes the reality of human unfaithfulness.  

“…This people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips,

while their hearts are far from me,

and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.”  

It is clear from the Scriptures that this behavior is true!  People do have false motives when it comes to the Lord.  Here is the proof, according to the Bible.  If they produce rules to follow, the rules are their own ideas, and they replace God’s teachings.

We would expect that God would wash His hands of such a people.  But, here is where we meet the “too good, but still true” part of this scripture from Isaiah 29:14.  

“therefore, behold, I will again

do wonderful things with this people,

with wonder upon wonder;

and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,

and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

See the great wonder!  God chose to be gracious towards sinful humanity.  He does not return to us as we deserve.  Instead, He has mercy on us in our misery and has come to save us.

Jesus, suffered on the cross for the sins of the world, and wonder upon wonder, through faith in Jesus our sins are forgiven.  The wisdom of this world is replaced by Jesus, the wisdom of God.  He baptizes us, forgives our sins and gives us a share in His resurrection and eternal life. 

Behold, God has done wonderful things in Jesus.  He who forgave our sins, allows us to walk in the ways of our Savior.  May God bless you today through faith in this seemingly “too good”, “but still true” hope through faith in Jesus.

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord for the great wonder of your gracious response to my need.  Lord Jesus you came to save me from sin, death, and the devil.  Be with all your people who hear your Word today, so that they will rejoice in Your salvation and joyfully speak words of faith in their prayers and actions of your loving will in their lives.  In your name I pray, AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Acts 1:12-14 (after Jesus’ ascension)

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Today we remember St. Bartholomew, one of the 12 apostles of the Lord.  He was present with Jesus throughout His ministry, and witnessed Jesus’ appearances to his disciples after He had risen from the dead.  In the reading for today from Acts 1, we see that Bartholomew also witnessed Jesus ascension.  

Bartholomew, along with the other apostles, continued to share the gospel as Jesus had commanded them.  What other things Bartholomew did isn’t recorded in the Bible.  Even his name is sometimes in question because he isn’t mentioned in the Gospel of John.  Therefore, Bartholomew is sometimes thought to be another name for Nathanael. 

Tradition places Bartholomew’s ministry in India, Ethiopia, Armenia and other places. But, one of the most memorable things about Bartholomew comes from the world of art.

There are many painting and sculptures of St. Bartholomew. They are striking, because they usually depict him in connection with the means of his martyrdom.  Tradition records that Bartholomew was martyred by being flayed alive.  As horrible as this thought is, some of the sculptures in particular, picture the saint quietly holding his skin like a robe, and continuing to faithfully bear witness to Jesus.

So, what are we to learn today as we remember St. Bartholomew.  He was a faithful disciple of the Lord who went on to share the Gospel far and wide.  He steadfastly suffered the burden of his ministry and perhaps was martyred.  But, because of His Lord Jesus, Bartholomew’s martyrdom wasn’t the end of his story.  He now lives in Christ, and the message He proclaimed not only saved Him, but all those who are still touched by his apostolic witness around the world.  We ourselves are among those who are being saved by the Gospel that our Lord Jesus sent to us through the blessed apostles, of whom Bartholomew was one.

The power of the Gospel of Jesus is seen in the lives and deaths of His servants.  Though the evil one would terrorize us into submission through the fear of death, Jesus has come to steal the power of death through the forgiveness of our sins.  Jesus died and rose victorious, so that all who live and believe in Jesus have eternal life.  

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord Jesus for the faithful witness of your apostles and for your apostle Bartholomew.  Strengthen all your saints who boldly bear witness to you in the world today.  Though the evil one still desires to terrify humanity, you have come to give peace and eternal life. I thank you for your salvation.  Grant steadfast faith and comfort to all your saints who are persecuted for sharing the Gospel.  Encourage and embolden us in all things we ourselves face, so that we will not fear, but rejoice in the one eternal Gospel.  In Jesus name. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Psalm 14

1

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

    They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;

    there is none who does good.

2 

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,

    to see if there are any who understand,

    who seek after God.

3 

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;

    there is none who does good,

    not even one.

4 

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers

    who eat up my people as they eat bread

    and do not call upon the Lord?

5 

There they are in great terror,

    for God is with the generation of the righteous.

6 

You would shame the plans of the poor,

    but the Lord is his refuge.

7 

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!

    When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,

    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Do you talk to yourself?  People often joke about this, but we do talk to ourselves. An example of the practice is even in the Bible reading for today.  “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”  

Self-talk is a term used to describe a person’sinternaldialogue. It springs from the subconscious mind, and expresses a person’s thoughts, beliefs, questions, and ideas. Because of this, it is important that we pay attention to the ramblings of our thoughts and test them to see if they are true.

What I am describing here is often called “self-examination.”  Through God’s Word we test our thoughts and feelings to see if they are true or false. In this way, the foolishness of unbelief is rooted out and replaced by truth.

What is the truth?  In the context of Psalm 14, it is this: God is faithful and will bless us.  Even if the situation for God’s people seems impossible, at the proper time God will restore those He loves. This is the pattern that we see in the life and ministry of Jesus.  When Jesus died on the cross, it seemed that all was lost.  But, this was not the case.  In fact, through Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself on the cross all the horrible sins and power of the sinful world were destroyed.  God now forgives our sins as a gift through faith in Jesus.  In Jesus Christ, we have the forgiveness of our sins, peace with God and in the end, resurrection from the dead and eternal life.

Let us pray

“A fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Oh Holy Spirit, enlighten my inner mind so that I recognize the temptations of the evil one, repent of all unbelief, and trust in Jesus Christ my Savior.  I thank you heavenly Father for your eternal love.  Strengthen the faith of all your saint who face trouble or persecution this day.  I ask this in the name of Jesus.  Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

I Samuel 7:12-14

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The cities that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.

Today we remember Samuel, God’s prophet and leader in Israel.  Often when considering Samuel in the Sunday readings of the Church, we hear of Samuel’s call to serve as a young boy.  Today, we will hear of Samuel’s leadership in Israel and how God used Him to bring peace to Israel.

Often, in thinking about leadership and peace, we are drawn to emphasize a leader’s intelligence or shrewdness.  These do have their place, but they are not the main thing.  Peace between nations comes from the Lord.  God’s Word teaches that the leader who honors the Lord and instructs His people to do likewise, is the one who brings God’s blessings.  On the national scene, the foremost of those blessings is peace.

Israel had been battling surrounding competitors, and losing.  The people, at last, were so frightened that they asked Samuel to intercede with the Lord for them.  Samuel didn’t simply give them advice about how to win battles or negotiate with their neighbors.  Instead, Samuel confronted the people over their idolatry.  They worshipped false gods, were involved with impure practices, and were offending the almighty God through their many sins.  They could never hope to have blessings, much less peace, if they were not living in faith towards God.  Samuel instructed them to repent and put aside their sinful practices.  He then offered a sacrifice for the sins of the people.  God heard the prayers, forgave their sin, and gave them victory over their enemies and a lasting peace in their region.

What can we learn from this page from the history of God’s people.  Just this: when we are coming to the Lord and asking for blessings, we must first consider our own standing before the Lord.  Are we involving ourselves in persistent sin and walking apart from faith in God? Since such sin is idolatry, should we not also repent?  How shall we expect that we will have any good thing from the Lord if we treat Him with idolatrous contempt?

Thanks be to God, Jesus Christ has come as our prophet, priest, and King.  As our prophet, Jesus stands in the place of Samuel and preaches repentance and faith in God.  As our High Priest, Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world when He died on the cross for us.  As our King, Jesus will come again in glory at the resurrection to condemn all enemies of His people and to receive those who trust in Him into eternal life.  Jesus will grant everlasting life and everlasting peace.

Consider a faithful leader like Samuel, and then remember Jesus.  Examine your own life, repent of your sins, receive God’s forgiveness, and then watch how the Lord Himself will bring the blessings that He has chosen for you today.  And anticipate the blessings that your Lord Jesus will bring to you for all eternity.

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord God for the faithful ministers you provided for your people, like your servant Samuel.  Help me to listen intently to your Word so that I will receive all the blessings that you intend for those who trust in Jesus.  I also pray for faithful leadership for our nation.  Direct, correct, and guide our country so that we will repent of our sins, have peace with other nations, and joyfully give you all glory.  I pray in Jesus name.  Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.