Preparing for Worship - October 15, 2023

The Old Testament lesson for this week, Isaiah 25:6-9, is a prophecy of a great feast coming when the Lord has “swallowed up” the veil of death forever and there are no more “tears” of sorrow or reproach (disgrace) for His people. The Lord has spoken and promised this, and it will happen. We are to “wait” in faith for that day of “salvation” in heaven in eternal life.

The Psalm is Psalm 23. The Lord is our Good Shepherd. He “restores” our troubled, sinful “souls” and leads and comforts us all our life. He provides a “table” for us (the Lord’s Supper and His Word and other gifts) in the presence of the “enemies” of our faith; and one day, we will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” enjoying His great feast in heaven.

In the Gospel lesson, Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus tells a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven being like a King (our Lord God) giving a wedding feast for His Son (our Lord Jesus). God’s Old Testament people were already invited to the feast, but they refused to come. Other servants invited them, but they went off to their own pursuits or treated the King’s servants very badly and killed some of them. The King finally destroyed many of the people and their city. (Many Jews died and Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD.) A general invitation to the wedding feast went out to everyone possible, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled. Wedding garments were provided to all (robes of righteousness in and through Jesus - the Way to heaven), but one man refused to wear his robe and was cast into outer darkness, where there is only sorrow - the way to hell, rejecting Jesus and His grace and gifts.

The Epistle lesson is the fourth reading from Philippians, Chapter 4: 4-13. Paul calls people to “rejoice in the Lord always” and to trust in the “peace” He brings through Christ Jesus as Savior. Paul knows that he can do all things he needs to do through Jesus “Who strengthens him” in this life, no matter what the circumstances. He seeks to keep in mind the honorable and just and pure things of God and His Word, which he has received and taught, as he waits for the Lord’s return and that heavenly feast.