Preparing for Worship - May 17, 2026

This 7th Sunday of Easter is an in-between time. Jesus had ascended into heaven, but the Holy Spirit had not yet come in great power on Pentecost. This Sunday is known as Exaudi Sunday in the One Year Series of readings. The Latin word means “to hear” - to “hear out” all that the Lord has to say in His Word, especially in the challenging, in-between times in our own lives.

The psalm is Psalm 51:1-12. This is David's confession after he was confronted by the prophet Nathan about the wrong he had done to Bathsheba, her husband, and the Lord Himself. You can read about this in 2 Samuel, Chapters 11 and 12. Nathan tells a story to David in Chapter 12:1-6 and then says in v. 7ff., “You are the man” who has done wrong and deserves punishment. “Thus says the Lord.” David needed to “hear” very strongly the Law of God, convicting him of his wrongdoing, so that he says in v. 13, “I have sinned against the Lord.” But David also needed to hear of the mercy of God. Though David deserved to die, the Lord said, through Nathan, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” There was trouble, but David also heard the Gospel of God’s forgiveness for him, and he was able to go "into the house of God and worship Him.” Psalm 51:1-6 is David’s honest confession of this sin and so many others. He knows that he was a sinner from the time of his conception and birth and that he has “done evil in God’s sight.” God would be justified and blameless in His Words, no matter what judgment He brought against David. Then, in v. 7-12 of this psalm, David prays that he would also “hear joy and gladness” in the Gospel, in the Lord forgiving and “blotting out all his iniquities.” David uses the Old Testament image of being “purged” and washed clean by sprinkling with water using an aromatic hyssop branch. (See Numbers 19:17-18 and Leviticus 14:6-7.) In this way, God would cleanse him from his sin and “create in him a clean heart’ and “a right spirit” through the presence and work of His Holy Spirit. In this way, “the joy of salvation” and “a willing spirit” would be restored to David.

The Old Testament lesson is from Ezekiel 36:22-28. The Lord has the people of Israel hear God’s message that He would act to rescue His people again from slavery, this time in Babylon and other places, and bring them back to the Promised Land. This would not be because they had been so great and faithful, but by His mercy and love. He would act in forgiveness for his people “for the sake of His own Holy Name” and as a witness to the nations. He would sprinkle clean water on His people and cleanse them from all their uncleannesses. He would give them “a new heart and a new spirit” and put His Holy Spirit within them and enable them to walk more faithfully in His ways. All this happened most especially as Christ Jesus came to be the Savior.

The Gospel lesson is from John 15:26-16:4. God had sent His own Son to be the Savior of the world. Jesus had been living a perfect life in our place and would soon complete His saving work through His sacrificial death on the cross to forgive our sins, and through His resurrection and ascension. Now Jesus promises that He would also send His Holy Spirit, the Helper from above, and that the Holy Spirit would “bear witness to Christ” (through the Word of God, the people would hear, and through the gift of baptism, as evident on Pentecost). Continuing to hear Jesus’ own Words would be crucial in keeping his disciples from falling away from faith in Him, for Jesus warns that in days ahead, these disciples would be put out of synagogues and some even be killed by people who thought they were serving God by persecuting these believers in Christ Jesus. Such people did not hear or know God the Father or Jesus as Savior, or the witness of the Holy Spirit to come. (See Acts 5:27-33, for example.) In this Gospel lesson, though, Jesus wants His disciples to hear clearly what He is saying and warning, and to remember that this time, “the hour” of persecution by unbelievers would come.

The Epistle lesson is from 1 Peter 4:7-11 (12-14). Peter reminds His fellow believers that there will be persecution at “the end of all things” before Jesus returns, but also at other times. As we heard last week, Peter calls believers to be active in prayer, self-controlled and sober, and to seek to live with love and hospitality for one another. We will not be perfect, but love and forgiveness cover over a multitude of sins. We are all called to use the gifts God gives us, according to His grace for us. If we speak, we need to be sure that people hear “the oracles of God,” the true Word of God in Law and Gospel. If we serve, we are to serve in the strength God supplies through His Word and Spirit. Nothing is for our own glory, but that in everything, God may be glorified through Christ Jesus. To our Triune God belongs the glory and dominion forever. Peter adds an Amen, and some think Peter may have intended to close his letter here at v. 11, but then increased persecution of Christians may have come, and Peter adds the words that follow, as God inspired him. Believers are “beloved,” even if “fiery trials” and attacks on us should come. This should be no surprise. Think of what Christ went through for us, even if we have to go through some sufferings, very small compared with what Christ did for us. Insults for using the name of Christ, in faith and witness, should come as no surprise. “We are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon us,” as we hear and use His Word, the Scriptures. As Paul wrote, “We are not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes… For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith” (Romans 1:16-17).