Preparing for Worship - July 6, 2025

The readings for this week take us into predictions of the Gospel being shared with all the world, and then how that began to happen in the ministry of Jesus and then in the ministry of the early Christian church, centered in Christ.

The Psalm is Psalm 66:1-7. The psalmist calls upon the whole earth to shout for joy to God for His awesome power and deeds. A time is coming when people all over the earth will worship and sing praises to God, remembering how He turned the Red Sea into dry land (at the time of Moses, in Exodus 14) and how God’s people could pass through the River Jordan, on dry land, at the time of Joshua (Joshua 3). Both Elijah and Elisha were able to do the same at the Jordan in their ministries, showing that they were anointed by the Spirit of the Lord for their work, too (2 Kings 2). God’s people rejoice in the Lord God, who rules by His might forever. A warning comes, then, to people who are rebellious against God and try to exalt themselves, instead of God. The praise should go to our Lord God, especially, in the future, in the Name of Jesus our Savior.

The Old Testament lesson is from Isaiah 66:10-14. The picture image that God gives to Isaiah, at the end of his prophecy, is of Jerusalem as a nursing mother, providing “delight and comfort and consolation” to her children, as the Savior would come and do His saving work there and bring the Good News of Salvation. There is “glorious abundance” in Jesus and His mercy and forgiveness, and “peace like a river” of blessing, in Him. This will be a blessing available for the glory of all nations, with examples of other peoples listed beyond this text, in Isaiah 66: 18ff., who will have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. There is also a strong warning of the Lord’s indignation against those who continue to be enemies of Him and His Savior. Right after our text, there are warnings of fire and judgment for those apart from the Lord, as well, though the Lord wants all to come to faith. If you skip to the last verses of Isaiah 66:22-24, you will also find prophecy that is repeated in the New Testament, of new heavens and a new earth and a kind of new eternal Jerusalem in which only worshiping believers will be present. That will be when Christ returns on the last Day and raises all dead bodies. Believers will be with Him forever in continued joy, while unbelievers will be in eternal sorrow in the fire of hell, where their worms will not die. Jesus uses the same imagery of hell in Mark 9:43-48, but promises eternal life for all believers.

The Gospel lesson is Luke 10:1-20. Jesus appoints and sends out 72 of His disciples to prepare the way for Him, as laborers in His harvest. This is a short mission, and they are to take no provisions with them, but rely on people who will help them. They are to proclaim the Kingdom of God coming near, in Jesus, and can even perform some miracles. If they are rejected, they are to move on to others. But “woe to those” who reject them, for they are also rejecting Jesus and the heavenly Father who sent Him. The seventy-two returned with joy, for they could even cast out demons, symbolized as serpents and scorpions. The victory is won finally by Jesus Himself over Satan through His coming death and resurrection. Jesus tells these disciples to rejoice even more that their names would be written in heaven through the gift of faith and eternal life in Him that He would bring to them. This also represented what was to come - the Gospel going out into the world to all nations. The contrast would continue, though, between believers and those who reject the Lord.

The Epistle is Galatians 6:1-10 and 14-18. Paul continues to teach about the “new creation” coming through the cross and resurrection victory of our Lord Jesus and the mercy and peace coming to all who are brought to trust in Him. Old Testament rules and regulations, like circumcision, are no longer needed. Jesus has completed everything we need. If people sin and are struggling, they can be restored in a “spirit of gentleness, through the forgiveness earned by Christ. Christians are called not to become weary in doing good to and for others, teaching and sharing the love of Christ, as much as possible, and especially encouraging fellow believers in “the household of faith.” This is what life is like in the new “Israel,” the Israel of all believers, centered in Christ. Paul then signs this letter, which he had likely dictated, and offers the blessing of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which we are saved and serve. This is the gift of God to all who read and believe this letter, too - the very Word of God, to be shared with us and everyone else possible, along with the other Scriptures. Our Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit are always at work through this Word from God to strengthen us and bring more people to faith.