Preparing for Worship - March 13, 2022

The Old Testament Lesson for the Second Sunday in Lent is Jeremiah 26:8-15. With courage, Jeremiah brings God’s message that Jerusalem and the Temple will be destroyed if the people do not repent and turn from their evil ways. This message only angers the priests and other “prophets” and many of the people, who want to kill Jeremiah for bringing such a message. Jeremiah affirms that he is speaking the truth and that killing him would only be shedding innocent blood. (This predicts the Old Testament destruction of Jerusalem and prefigures Jesus’ own coming and message to His people.

The Psalm is Psalm 4. David speaks of the Lord rescuing him from difficult situations. He warns of those who are still speaking vain words and lies about him and calls them to realize the danger for them in what they are doing, and to trust instead in the Lord and His ways. David also says that the Lord will give true “joy” and “peace” and “safety” to the “godly” who do trust in Him.

In the Epistle Lesson, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Paul warns of “enemies of the cross of Christ,” who focus on their own desires and glory in “shameful earthly things.” In contrast, Paul calls upon believers to “imitate” him, in “standing firm in the Lord” and waiting in faith for the return of Christ, who will transform our “lowly bodies” and take us to our place of true “citizenship,” in heaven.

In the Gospel Lesson, Luke 13:31-35, Jesus is warned that Herod, the tetrarch, wants to kill Him. Jesus is not concerned about that “fox,” but knows that he must keep going toward Jerusalem, where His suffering and death would happen at the hands of His own people. He laments that He could not gather His people together under His wings of protection and care. They were refusing Him, and their “house,” their temple and city would eventually be “forsaken.” If they could only recognize that He was their Lord and Savior!