Preparing for Worship - August 13, 2023

The Psalm for this Sunday is Psalm 18:1-6 (7-16). If you look at 2 Samuel 22, you will find the original context of this poetic psalm and almost the exact same words, when David spoke these words to the Lord in thanksgiving “that He had delivered him from all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.” David uses word after word to describe how the Lord was his Shield and Deliverer. When he was surrounded by death and the torrents of destruction, David cried for help, and the Lord heard his voice. A great, great storm is described and then from on high, the Lord “took David and drew him safely out of many waters.”

The Old Testament lesson is from Job 38:4-18. Job, in his many troubles, has been challenging God and His ways and will. Finally, God asks Job a series of questions, also in a poetic way, wondering where Job was when He created the earth, or if Job ever commanded the morning into being. Did Job set the dimensions of the sea or ever walk in the recesses of the depths of the sea? Could Job comprehend how great the expanse of the earth really was? Declare it, if you know all this, God says. After this goes on and on, Job finally has to admit, “Now my eyes have seen you; therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).

These readings lead up to Jesus, in the Gospel lesson, Matthew 14:22-33, going off to pray by himself and then coming to the disciples, walking on the water of the stormy Sea of Galilee. The disciples think “it is a ghost” that they see, until Jesus assures them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Impetuous Peter wants to walk on the water, too, and Jesus tells him to come. Peter walks on the water, but soon fears and doubts and sinks. Jesus immediately rescues him, but speaks of his “little faith.” As soon as they get in the boat, the stormy wind ceases, and the disciples worship and say of Jesus, “truly You are the Son of God.” (As God the Son helped create the natural world and has control of it, and drew David out of many stormy situations, He could also walk on water and rescue Peter
and the other disciples. He can help us, too, with our doubts and fears, as we are much like Peter, at times. He is the One who has saved us, too.)

How does God both create faith and strengthen it in us, too? Paul tells us, in our Epistle lesson, Romans 10:5-17. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.” That Word is “the Word of faith that we proclaim,” Paul says. It is not based on what we do, in obedience to God’s law, but through trust in what Christ has done for us. “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” The Lord brings us to that faith through the Word of God, the Scriptures, and our baptism and then “bestows His riches upon us” as we keep calling upon Him in prayer for His help and forgiveness and keep hearing and speaking more and more of His Word, in our mouths and our hearts.