Preparing for Worship - November 13, 2022

We are now in the last two weeks of the Church Year. Our Sunday readings have to do with “end times” and the return of Christ our Savior. The Psalm for this Sunday is Psalm 98, a great psalm of praise to the Lord for his marvelous work of salvation. He has been faithful to His chosen people of Israel and will now perform His glorious work for all nations and make this Good News known to the ends of the earth. This will happen through Jesus Christ and His Gospel shared with all. We are to bring a joyous song to Him, with words and musical instruments, along with praises of the created world. When He returns, He will judge in a righteous and upright way.

The Old Testament lesson is from Malachi 4:1-6. Elijah the prophet (identified by Jesus as John the Baptist) will come and turn the the hearts of people, through his call for repentance and return to the Lord. He will prepare the way for the “Sun of Righteousness,” our Lord Jesus, who will bring spiritual healing, the forgiveness of sins, and joy to people who fear the Lord and trust in Him. A day of final judgment will come, though, for the arrogant and evildoers, with fire and destruction.

The Epistle lesson is from 2 Thessalonians 3:(1-5) 6-13. Paul asks that the believers would pray for him and all others sharing the Word of the Lord, that the Word would speed ahead and more people might be delivered from evil and be brought to faith in the Lord. Then they will know in their hearts “the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ.” Paul also warns the Thessalonians not to become idle busybodies, refusing to work and earn their own living when they can work. Paul encourages them to be busy at some ordinary work, and “not grow weary in doing good.”

The Gospel lesson is from Luke 21:5-28,(29-36). People are admiring the magnificence of the Jerusalem temple, but Jesus warns that it will all be destroyed. Questions come, and Jesus describes some of what is coming. Some say it is like looking at a mountain range, with peaks ahead, but not an ability to tell exactly what is ahead and when. He warns about false teachers who think they have everything figured out and know just when the end is near. There will be many natural and humanly-made disasters. God’s people will have many trials and tribulations, too, but also will have “mouths and wisdom” to bear witness to Christ. Jesus tells the believers how they can escape destruction when the temple and Jerusalem are destroyed and can then bring the Gospel to Gentiles (non-Jews), along with Jews, all over the world. Believers are to stay awake in faith and prayer in the Lord. Finally, the Son of Man, Jesus Himself, will come in a cloud with power and great glory. Believers can hold their heads high, for the day of final redemption has come at last.