The lutheransermons's Podcast

Bible Study from February 17, 2020 - Psalm 96

In this study, we looked at Psalm 96. When you compare this psalm with 1 Chronicles 16:23-33, you will see that David is the author and that this psalm was used as a part of the thanksgiving sung to God, when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into the Tabernacle in Jerusalem that King David had prepared. The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, says that this psalm was also used when the temple was rebuilt, after the Babylonian captivity.

Psalm 96 calls us to sing to the Lord a “new” song. The term is used many times in the psalms. See, for example, Psalm 33:3, 98:1, 144:9, 149:1, and Psalm 40:3, where David says of the Lord, “He put a new song in my mouth” - another clear indication that God inspired these sacred writings, too, as well as the rest of the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15-17). The first “Servant Song” in Isaiah is also called a “new song,” as it predicts the coming our Savior, Jesus (Isaiah 42:1ff, and especially, v.10).

The Book of Revelation also tells us that those in heaven are singing “a new song” to God, with focus on “the Lamb Who was slain” in order to “ransom people for God." See Revelation 5:6-9, and especially v.9), Rev. 14:1-3, and Rev. 15:3-6, where the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb were sung. Jesus our Savior is that Lamb. He is God’s own Son, the perfect Lamb, sacrificed on the cross, to take away the sin of the world, once for all. (See the use of an unblemished lamb in Exodus 12:1-13, and often in Old Testament sacrifices, and the words of John the Baptist, about Jesus, in John 1:29, and the discussion about the sacrifice of Jesus, once for all, in Hebrews 9:11-14 and 9:24-28, etc.)

Psalm 96, then, gives glory to God and calls us to “tell of His salvation from day to day” (v. 2) “to all the earth” (v.1), “among the nations” and “among all the peoples”(v.3). For He alone is God, the Creator. All other gods are idols, good for nothing (v.4-5). The Lord alone is to be spoken of for His glory and strength. He alone is to be worshipped, and offerings are to be brought to Him (v. 6-9). He reigns and comes to judge all peoples justly. He comes in righteousness and faithfulness (v.10,13). (The New Testament applies words like these to Jesus, Who is the Righteous and Faithful One, for our salvation, and Who will come again on the Day of Judgement. See 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, Acts 17:30-31, and Revelation 19:11-13, for example.) 

Psalm 96 describes, in a poetic way, all creation giving praise to God and rejoicing in Him (v. 11-12); and the prayer is that all “families of the peoples” (v. 7) will also come to know and worship Him, as well.

Sermon for the 6th Sunday after the Epiphany February 16, 2020

Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany February 16, 2020, based on:

Deuteronomy 30:15–20

1 Corinthians 3:1–9

Matthew 5:21-37

 

Sermon originally delivered February 13, 2011

Bible Study from February 10, 2020 - Psalm 67

In this study, we focused on Psalm 67, a psalm that reminds us of God’s will that all peoples and nations hear of His love and His care for them, too, and His saving power in Jesus, above all.
From the time that God had called Abram to be the father of the Jewish nation (Genesis 12:1-3), He also intended to bless all families of the earth, through one of Abram’s descendants, our Lord Jesus. In Genesis 17, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham, as he would be the “father of a multitude” of nations, as people from many different nations, not just Jews, would come to faith in Jesus and be brought into His family of faith. See Genesis 17:3-6, and how this passage is quoted in the New Testament, in Romans 4:16-18, and Genesis 12:3 is quoted in Galatians 3:7-14. The true children of Abraham are now those from every nation (the Gentiles , the non-Jews, as well as Jews) who come to believe in Jesus, the promised Savior, and are blessed by Him, together with Abraham, with faith.

Psalm 67, then, is a kind of Old Testament missionary prayer that God’s chosen people, the Jews, would be a light and witness for the one true God to people of other nations. The Psalmist, who is not identified, begins this psalm with a simplified version of the Benediction that Aaron was to use to bless God’s people. See the words of Numbers 6:22-27, and compare them with Psalm 67, v. 1. It is a blessing that we still use today in worship. God’s people are blessed with His grace and Presence, for a purpose, too - “that God’s way may be known on earth and His saving power among all nations” (Psalm 67:2). God’s people are blessed, so that they can be a blessing to other peoples and nations. As they praise God , they can encourage others to praise God, as well, so that eventually more and more people from “all the ends of the earth” will praise and “fear” God (have respect and reverence for Him) because of His blessings and fairness and guidance for them, too, as well as Israel. See Psalm 67:3-7, for Israel, but also for all nations.

In Psalm 67:2, the Psalmist prays to God, above all, “that Your Way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations.” God’s Way and Salvation would ultimately be shown in the coming of His own Son, Jesus, who is revealed so clearly in the New Testament as the Savior. This Savior, this Servant of God, is prophesied about, again and again in the Old Testament, too. See, for example, Isaiah 42:1-8, the first of a series of predictions about the coming Savior, Jesus. He, above all, would be “a Light for the nations” (see v.6 and John 8:12) and would bring in “new things” and be “a (new) covenant for the people” (v.6,9). See also Isaiah 43:9-10,18-19, where the coming Servant will be the greatest witness to the gathered nations, but God’s people can also be “witnesses “ of the “new thing” being done by the Servant Savior.” See also Isaiah 44:6-8, with the call to God’s people, “You are My witnesses.” Psalm 67, then, is a call for God’s people, as they are blessed, to be a blessing to others, as witnesses for the Lord. As we read this psalm today, it not just a history lesson from the past. We also, are called to be witnesses, since we know even more clearly what God’s “Way” and His power are, in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). 

Jesus’ “saving power," in His perfect life and death on the cross and victory even over death, becomes the Way to salvation and eternal life, for us and for the whole world. We are called simply to believe the Good News of Jesus our Savior and follow Him in faith. In the Book of Acts, especially, the Christian faith is often simply called “the Way." (See Acts 9:2, 16:17, 18:25-26, 19:9,23, 22:4, and 24:14, for example.)

New Testament believers are also called to be witnesses for the Way and God’s saving power in Christ. We also hear the Risen Lord Jesus saying, “You will be My witnesses” (Acts 1:7) and telling His followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). Psalm 67 is a missionary psalm for us and our day, too.

Sermon for the 5th Sunday after the Epiphany February 9, 2020

Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany February 9, 2020, based on:

Isaiah 58:3-9a

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Matthew 5:13-20

 

Sermon originally delivered February 6, 2011

Bible Study from February 3, 2020 - Psalm 77

Note: This podcast is abbreviated, as the recorder was not turned on when the study began, but only partway through the study. Look at the summary below for more of what was discussed.

In this study, we looked at some Scriptures related to Psalm 77. We looked at a few Scriptures from Habakkuk, an Old Testament prophet who lived and wrote at about the time of the fall of the Southern Kingdom of Judah to Babylonian invaders, around 605-597 BC. Habakkuk had questions for God, about what God was doing and allowing, and needed encouragement for his faith, just as Asaph did in Psalm 77. There was trouble within Judah and violence from invasions from the outside. Habakkuk cries out, “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and You will not hear? Or cry to You, 'Violence!' and you will not save” (Habakkuk 1:2).

The Lord has a surprising answer - that He is raising up the Chaldeans, the Babylonians, for the purpose of bringing judgment upon His own sinful, rebellious people, after many, many calls for repentance. (1:5-6) Habakkuk does not understand this, for, he says that the Babylonians are unbelievers, worshipping false gods, and are more wicked than the people of Judah (1:11). How could God use such evil people? Habakkuk waits for an answer from God (2:1).

God tells Habakkuk that judgment will eventually come to the Babylonians, also, and that God’s people must trust God and wait for His plans to work. God then speaks the famous words, “The righteous shall live by his faith” (2:2-4).

Even in the Old Testament, people are counted as righteous before God by simply believing the Lord and His promises (Genesis 15:5-6). See, for example, what the New Testament says about Abraham, based on the Genesis passage, in Romans 4:1-8. Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted in Romans 1:16-17 and Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38, all in the context of salvation by grace through faith, as a gift of God.

Habakkuk finally realizes that he himself has been “puffed up” and “not upright” before God, and is humbled and silenced before God (2:20). He prays a prayer to the Lord, speaking of the greatness and power of God in the past and using poetic picture images, as Asaph does in Psalm 77 (Habakkuk 3:8-15). He prays that even as wrath falls upon God’s people, God would “remember mercy” (3:2).

Habakkuk ends his prophecy with a great poetic statement of faith, that no matter what difficult things happen in the future, he will seek to live by faith in God’s coming strength and salvation, (Habakkuk 3:17-19), just as Asaph in Psalm 77, trusts that God will continue to lead His people like a flock, as their Redeemer (Psalm 77:15,20).

We then looked at some Scriptures which talk about walking in the “footsteps" of the Lord, as Psalm 77:19 and Psalm 50:23 encourage.

See, for example, 1 Peter 2:21-25, where we seek to follow in the steps of Jesus and His example, while gratefully knowing that Jesus has already lived perfectly for us and forgiven our sins. Job 34:21 and Proverbs 14:15 call us to be careful about our steps, as the Lord knows our ways. At the same time, the Lord is somehow working for good and directing our steps. We are not alone, as Proverbs 16:9, 20:24, 37:23, and Jeremiah 10:23-24 tell us. As the Holy Spirit has brought us to faith, we pray that we may walk in His way, by His power, in Galatians 5:16,25. Note the contrast between sinful desires and the fruit of the Spirit, in Gal. 5:17-24. We pray that the Lord will forgive our sins and lead us in the better way that we should go.

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany February 2, 2020

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany February 2, 2020, based on: 

Micah 6:1-8

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12

 

Sermon originally delivered January 30, 2011

Sermon for the Transfiguration of Our Lord February 2, 2020

Sermon for the Transfiguration of our Lord, based on:

Exodus 34:29-35

2 Peter 1:16–21

Matthew 17:1-9

 

Sermon originally delivered February 2, 2020

Bible Study from January 27, 2020 - Psalm 77

In this study, we looked at Psalm 77, a psalm of Asaph, a leader of worship and music for King David, at the Tabernacle in Jerusalem. (See 1 Chronicles 16:37,41,42, for example.) Though Asaph was a worship leader for God’s people, he still had trouble and difficult times, as we all do. We do not know just what his trouble (v.2) was, as he writes this psalm, but it is bothering him very much (v.1-4). He cannot sleep, and he cries out to God, but he does not seem to get help or comfort. His spirit is discouraged and he moans and he can hardly speak to God.

He wishes he could remember songs and psalms he has used in the past (v.5-6), but his mind keeps going to questions about whether God has forgotten him and does not love him anymore (v.7-9). Asaph is describing real struggles that all of us go through, when times are very difficult, and our prayers don’t seem to be answered, at least as we wish and think is right. Where is God and His love? 

Asaph has not lost his faith, but he is very troubled. Finally, with the Lord’s help, he knows what he needs to do (v.10-15). He needs to turn to God’s Word and be reminded that God has been faithful in the past, with His great deeds and wonders, and He will surely help us again, even if we have to wait and wait upon Him. 

Asaph remembers especially God’s great rescue of His people from slavery in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness, as they traveled to the promised land. He seems to quote, in verse 13, from Exodus 15:13, when Moses and the people sang their own song of praise to God, when all seemed to be lost, and God opened up the Red Sea for them and rescued them, at last. Moses sang, “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Remember, by the way, that Scripture interprets Scripture for us. Moses did not mean that other gods are real. People sadly sometimes believe in many gods and goddesses, but they are not real. There is only one real and true God. See Psalm 96:4-5 and Deuteronomy 4:35 and 5:& and 6:4 and so many other Scriptures.) Moses, inspired by God, had told the people, in their time of great danger, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you.” (Exodus 14:13) 

Asaph remembers the Scriptures and describes in a very poetic way, God’s mighty work at the Red Sea, when the waters fled away and the people walked on dry land, and when God appeared to them at Mt. Sinai in power and majesty, with thunder and lightning, and continued to lead His flock, His people (Psalm 77:16-20). Asaph describes this as God’s “redeeming“ His people (v.16) - and giving them hope and new life, just when they needed help. Surely God will help him, too, Asaph is concluding, as he meditates on God’s Word about the past. 

That is God’s promise for us, too, as we meditate on His Word, still today. All that Asaph describes is pointing forward to the great redemption by Jesus, as He rescued us from our sins and earned for us the gift of eternal life, as described in the New Testament (1 Peter 1:18-21 and Galatians 3:10-14, especially v.13, and many other Scriptures). Jesus showed that He was God, able to do this, also by being able to control the wind and waves of the sea and even walking on water. (See Psalm 77:16,19 and Matthew 14:22-33 and Mark 4:35-41, etc.) The New Testament too, promises comfort and strength for us, also, when we try not to focus on ourselves and our troubles, but cast our cares upon the Lord and trust Him to help us in His own good time (1 Peter 5:6-11), even though Satan tempts us to give up on God. Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)!

Sermon for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany January 26, 2020

Sermon for the Third Sunday after the Epiphany, based on:

Isaiah 9:1-4

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Matthew 4:12-25

 

Sermon originally delivered January 23, 2011

 

Bible Study from January 20, 2020 - Psalm 85

In our study, we finished looking at Psalm 85, where the psalmist speaks of the mercy of God in forgiving the sins of His people and restoring their fortunes, (most likely referring to their return to their land, after the Babylonian captivity, v.1-3). Unfortunately, things did not go well for them, because of opposition from others and their own sinfulness and refusal to listen to their Lord. The psalmist must pray again that God would restore and revive His people and show them His steadfast love and saving mercy (v.4-7).

The psalmist is confident, though, that the Lord will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who continue to turn to their Lord in repentance and trust in His mercy, by faith, and don’t keep turning away from Him) (v.8). The gifts that people really need are the gifts given by Him alone, the good gifts that bless the people and help them in their land (v.12). (See also James 1:17-18 and the reminder and promises there. By His own will, God even brings us forth to the new and eternal life we all need.)

These gifts of God: steadfast love (mercy), faithfulness (being true and trustworthy), righteousness, and peace, are then personified by the psalmist, as if they are living beings, meeting and kissing one another and coming to us from outside of us, from the Lord (v. 10-11). Righteousness is even pictured as being with God and going before Him and providing a way for us, as we go in and with His footsteps (v.13). This is all the Lord’s doing, providing good things for us.

This psalm then predicts the future. The gifts are literally personified for us in the coming of God’s only Son, Jesus, Who lived out all of these gifts perfectly and provided them for us, by His grace. See John 1:14-17, where God the Son, the Word, became flesh, a real human being, bringing to us grace (undeserved love and favor from God) and truth (faithfulness). Jesus fulfilled all righteousness for us, in our place. (See Matthew 3:15 and ! Corinthians 1:28-31 and 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 3:21-28 and 8:1-4 and Hebrews 2:14-18 and 4:14-16 and on and on, in the New Testament.) The New Testament also encourages to stay in the footsteps and the way of Jesus our Savior, even as the psalmist says (Psalm 85:13). See 1 Peter 2:21,24. Standing in the footsteps of the living Lord Jesus, we are always on firm ground! (See 1 Peter 5:12.)