Preparing for Worship - October 19, 2025

The Scriptures this week encourage us to keep looking to our Lord for help and calling upon Him in prayer and trusting Him and His Word, even in very difficult times. Jesus’ Words in His Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:7-11, could be a summary of these readings. Approach the Lord and ask and seek and knock. If we, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Father in heaven give good things to those who ask.

The psalm is Psalm 121. The Psalmist says that he will look up to the Lord, the Creator, when he needs help. The Lord does not need to sleep and will “keep” him in His care, as He knows best. The Lord will watch over him day and night, and will keep him and his life from evil and guide his coming and going in this life and even forevermore, in eternal life.

The Old Testament lesson is from Genesis 32:22-30. Jacob is asked by the Lord to return to his homeland, but is very worried about a confrontation with his brother, Esau, since he had stolen his birthright, which Esau should have had as the oldest son, though Esau had done wrong himself and forfeited that birthright. As Jacob waits to meet Esau, he wrestles with a man all night. Neither wins until the man, who is God, throws Jacob’s hip out of joint with a touch. Still, Jacob does not want to let him go without receiving a blessing. God blessed him and gave him a new name, Israel, which means “He strives with God.” From Jacob and His sons would come, then, the whole people and nation of Israel, and from that nation would come our Savior, Jesus. Jacob realizes that he has seen God, though only in the form of a human face, and yet his life had been spared by God’s mercy. (This is a true story, as described, in the history of God’s people. Some say that this also gives permission for us to wrestle with God in prayer, when we are having difficult times and seek to understand God’s will and ways for us.)

Jesus Himself gives us that kind of permission in the Gospel lesson, Luke 18:1-8. teaching us with a parable that we should “always pray and not lose heart.” The parable is of a widow who is seeking justice from someone who had badly mistreated her. She complains and complains, but the judge is unrighteous and cares neither about God or the people he hears from. The widow keeps asking and asking for help, and finally the judge is tired of her “bothering” him and decides to give her justice  to stop her from “beating him down.” Jesus then says that God will do right by His “elect” believers who call upon Him day and night, and give them justice speedily. (Of course, remember the words of 2 Peter 3:8-9, about God’s timing.) But, Jesus asks, will He find faithful people on earth when the last day comes? This is one of a number of Scriptures that predict that in the last times before Jesus, the Son of Man, returns, there will be many who have turned against God and His Word and work. See passages such as Luke 17:28ff. and Matthew 24:9-14, 21-24, 30-31, but Jesus will rescue His believing people for eternal life. They will have perfect peace in Heaven.

The Epistle lesson continues Paul’s letter to Timothy, a younger pastor, in 2 Timothy 3:14 4:5. Timothy is to continue in what he has learned and believed, through his Christian baptism and upbringing centered in “the sacred writings which are able to make one wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. For all Scripture is breathed out by God.” It is entirely His Word and is useful for teaching, showing people where they are wrong, lifting them back up and forgiving them and correcting them, and showing them the righteous ways of God, by faith in Christ. Then they are ready to do some good, in thanks to God for His mercy in Christ. Timothy is to preach that Word with patience, sharing the Good News of Christ Jesus, even though, as predicted in the Gospel lesson, “many will not endure sound teaching” and will find “teachers to suit their own passions” and desires, “turning away from listening to the truth” of God’s Word. There will be suffering for God’s faithful people, but their ministry, their service to the Lord, will be fulfilled. For God, the Lord is a “Righteous Judge” who will judge justly and give eternal life to all who have lived by faith and await the appearing of Christ on the last day, or on that day they die and are taken to heaven (2 Timothy 4:1-5,8). In the meantime, until Christ returns, we are to live in faith and keep calling upon our Lord in prayer, asking for His help and guidance, and trusting His ultimate deliverance (Psalm 50:15).