The lutheransermons's Podcast

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.)

Sermon for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany January 19, 2020

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

Isaiah 49:1-7

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

John 1:29-42

 

Sermon originally delivered January 16, 2011

Bible Study from January 13, 2020 - Psalm 85

In our study, we began looking at Psalm 85. The authors, sons of Korah, remember how God had been merciful and forgiving to His people, descendants of Jacob, the people of Israel (v.1-3). Many commentators think they are speaking of how God had forgiven and allowed the Israelites to return to their homeland, after their years of captivity in Babylon. Prophets like Jeremiah had warned the people of God’s wrath coming, because of their many sins and rebellion against Him and His will. Then the time of judgement came and the Babylonians conquered the Southern Kingdom and killed many and carried many others away to Babylon. (See Jeremiah 30:15, for example, and the “lamentation and bitter weeping” of that period,(Jeremiah 31:15) as had happened before with Rachel (Genesis 35:16-20) and would happen again with the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem, after Jesus was born (Matthew 2:13-18).

God had also promised though, through Jeremiah, that He would eventually bring some of His people back to the land of Israel, when they realized their sin and repented. (Hear God’s promises, through Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 31:17,20, when His people cry out, literally, “Turn me, and I shall be turned” (Jeremiah 31:18-19).

God even promises a new covenant (the New Testament) in which His own Son would come to be the Savior and forgive and forget their sin. (See Jeremiah 31:31-34 and explanation of that in Hebrews 8.)

God’s people return to their land, by God’s grace, but much does not go well. The people now living in Israel do not want these Israelites around, and the Israelites are not eager to do what God wants them to do. (Read Ezra 4:4, 24, and Nehemiah 1:3 and Haggai 1:4-10, for example) Once again, the Israelites need to call out, “Turn us again, O God of our salvation”, as we hear in Psalm 85:4-7.

Next week, we will continue with Psalm 85 and what it means for us today, and how we need to cry out, too, “Show us Your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation.” (Psalm 85:7) And God does provide His own Righteousness for us, in Christ!

Sermon for the Baptism of Our Lord January 12, 2020

Sermon for The Baptism of Our Lord, based on:

Isaiah 42:1-9

Romans 6:1-11

Matthew 3:13-17

 

Sermon originally delivered January 9, 2011

Bible Study from January 6, 2020 - Psalm 72

Bible Study from January 6, 2020, looking at Psalm 72

In this study, we looked at Psalm 72, one of the psalms that can be used for Epiphany. The title (superscription), “of Solomon," could mean that the psalm was written about or for him, or even that he was the author, for his coronation and work as King of Israel. It is a prayer for the Lord’s blessing and guidance for the king, but also goes beyond any earthly king to refer to and prophecy about our Lord Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, to come from the line of King David.

Verses 1 and 2 ask God to give the king justice and righteousness, so that he would govern rightly and be fair to all, including the poor and the needy. (See also verses 4 and 12-13.) There is also prayer that there would be peace and prosperity in the land. (See verses 3, 6-7, and 13.) Prayers are encouraged to be offered continually for the king, as well, and future kings, that they may fear the Lord (verse 5).

Some of the references to kings and lands and gold and wisdom refer to blessed times under Solomon and the many people who respected him and gave him gifts and honor. (See verses 9-10 and 15, and 1 Kings 3-10 and the story of the Queen of Sheba coming with gold to Solomon, for example.)

However, much of the Psalm goes beyond what Solomon or any earthly king could accomplish. It point forward to Jesus and His everlasting kingdom, as He did His saving work for us and now reigns in the hearts of believers and takes us to eternal life in heaven, one day. Notice the references to blessings for all nations and throughout all generations and to the ends of the earth and peace that lasts till the moon is no more and a Name that endures forever. (See verses 5, 7, 8, 11, and 15.)

Only Jesus could be the Redeemer of people’s lives and bless people as Jesus did. Clearly this is the work and plan of the Lord God Who sent His Son, for this very purpose. (See verses 13 and 18-19.). Remember how Jesus as a baby received gifts of gold, too, from wise men from other nations, led by the star (Matthew 2:1-12 and Isaiah 60:1-6) and how many prophecies and New Testament passages point directly to Jesus. (See Zechariah 9:9-10 and v. 8 in this psalm and Matthew 21:1-11. See 2 Samuel 7:16 and Luke 1:30-33. See Jesus' own words, in Luke 11:21 (Someone greater than Solomon) and 17:20 and so many other places. See also Ephesians 1:18-23 and Philippians 2:5-11. Jesus alone is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-19 and 7:9-17 and John 3:16), together with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20).

Sermon for Epiphany January 6, 2020 (2)

Sermon for The Epiphany of Our Lord, based on:

Isaiah 60:1-6

Ephesians 3:1-12

Matthew 2:1-12

 

Sermon originally delivered January 6, 2019

Bible Study from December 30, 2019 - Psalm 50

Bible study from December 30, 2019, looking at Psalm 50

Psalm 50 pictures God calling all his people to stand before Him. As He speaks to them (and to us) in judgment, He testifies against us that we have not always worshipped Him as we should. In Old Testament terms, His people have not been offering animal sacrifices as they should. They were going through the motions, but their hearts were not really where they should be. It is as if they thought they were doing something good for God and deserved His favor; and yet their everyday life forgot God and His will and cast His Words away. (See especially v. 16-22, for a very strong statement of their sins.)

God reminds the people that He does not need their sacrifices. He already owns all animals and all things. (See v. 8-13.) The people needed, rather, the forgiveness and mercy He offered them through these sacrifices (which were really a preparation of the one great sacrifice that His only Son, Jesus, would make on the cross, as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) See also passages like Hosea 14:1-4). People needed to worship, then, in a humble and grateful way, repentant for their sins, with thanksgiving for what God was doing for them and trusting His help for them and then glorifying Him. (See especially v. 14-15 and v. 23, in Psalm 50). In thanks and gratefulness to God, then, people will also try to “order their ways rightly” according to His will.

Jesus warns us, too, in New Testament days, of hypocrisy in our own worship, seeking personal glory and favor from God and others (see Matthew 6:1-18, for example) or just saying the words in worship, with our own hearts not really in what we do (see Matthew 15: 7-9). Rather, we are to come humbly and thankfully to God, knowing our own sins and needing His mercy, too. That is what the confession and absolution in our Sunday worship is to remind us of and actually give to us - the forgiveness of God. (See also New Testament passages like Hebrews 13:15, Philippians 4:4-7, and Romans 12:1-8, as examples of the right attitude, of gratitude and thanks to God for His mercy and love.)

We also look at Psalm 89:1-8, which is assigned for the Christmas season and has a clear prophecy, in v. 3-4, of the Messiah, the Chosen One of God, Who will come as a descendant of David and bring the Everlasting Kingdom that God promised. (See passages like John 7:42 and Acts 2:22-36,) which clearly identify Jesus as the One Who was to be the Savior (see Acts 4:11-12). Psalm 89 also describes Asaph the psalmist praising God (v.1-2) and describes everyone in heaven singing in praise of God and His steadfast love and faithfulness, too. Verses 5-8 especially remind us of the angelic hosts singing praise to God before the shepherds, at the birth of Jesus, and identifying Jesus as the Savior (Luke 2:8-14). We join in those praises still today, along with the “assembly of the holy ones” in heaven, including the angels and all those already in heaven, including our loved ones who are already there, by the grace of God.

Bible Study from December 23, 2019 - Psalm 50

Bible study from December 23, 2019, looking at Psalm 50

Psalm 50 pictures God calling all his people to stand before Him. As He speaks to them (and to us) in judgment, He testifies against us that we have not always worshipped Him as we should. In Old Testament terms, His people have not been offering animal sacrifices as they should. They were going through the motions, but their hearts were not really where they should be. It is as if they thought they were doing something good for God and deserved His favor; and yet their everyday life forgot God and His will and cast His Words away. (See especially v. 16-22, for a very strong statement of their sins.)

God reminds the people that He does not need their sacrifices. He already owns all animals and all things. (See v. 8-13.) The people needed, rather, the forgiveness and mercy He offered them through these sacrifices (which were really a preparation of the one great sacrifice that His only Son, Jesus, would make on the cross, as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) See also passages like Hosea 14:1-4). People needed to worship, then, in a humble and grateful way, repentant for their sins, with thanksgiving for what God was doing for them and trusting His help for them and then glorifying Him. (See especially v. 14-15 and v. 23, in Psalm 50). In thanks and gratefulness to God, then, people will also try to “order their ways rightly” according to His will.

Jesus warns us, too, in New Testament days, of hypocrisy in our own worship, seeking personal glory and favor from God and others (see Matthew 6:1-18, for example) or just saying the words in worship, with our own hearts not really in what we do (see Matthew 15: 7-9). Rather, we are to come humbly and thankfully to God, knowing our own sins and needing His mercy, too. That is what the confession and absolution in our Sunday worship is to remind us of and actually give to us - the forgiveness of God. (See also New Testament passages like Hebrews 13:15, Philippians 4:4-7, and Romans 12:1-8, as examples of the right attitude, of gratitude and thanks to God for His mercy and love.)

Bible Study from December 16, 2019 - Psalm 50

Bible study from December 16, 2019, looking at Psalm 50

Psalm 50 pictures God calling all his people to stand before Him. As He speaks to them (and to us) in judgment, He testifies against us that we have not always worshipped Him as we should. In Old Testament terms, His people have not been offering animal sacrifices as they should. They were going through the motions, but their hearts were not really where they should be. It is as if they thought they were doing something good for God and deserved His favor; and yet their everyday life forgot God and His will and cast His Words away. (See especially v. 16-22, for a very strong statement of their sins.)

God reminds the people that He does not need their sacrifices. He already owns all animals and all things. (See v. 8-13.) The people needed, rather, the forgiveness and mercy He offered them through these sacrifices (which were really a preparation of the one great sacrifice that His only Son, Jesus, would make on the cross, as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) See also passages like Hosea 14:1-4). People needed to worship, then, in a humble and grateful way, repentant for their sins, with thanksgiving for what God was doing for them and trusting His help for them and then glorifying Him. (See especially v. 14-15 and v. 23, in Psalm 50). In thanks and gratefulness to God, then, people will also try to “order their ways rightly” according to His will.

Jesus warns us, too, in New Testament days, of hypocrisy in our own worship, seeking personal glory and favor from God and others (see Matthew 6:1-18, for example) or just saying the words in worship, with our own hearts not really in what we do (see Matthew 15: 7-9). Rather, we are to come humbly and thankfully to God, knowing our own sins and needing His mercy, too. That is what the confession and absolution in our Sunday worship is to remind us of and actually give to us - the forgiveness of God. (See also New Testament passages like Hebrews 13:15, Philippians 4:4-7, and Romans 12:1-8, as examples of the right attitude, of gratitude and thanks to God for His mercy and love.)

Sermon for Epiphany January 6, 2020

Sermon for The Epiphany of Our Lord, based on:

Isaiah 60:1-6

Ephesians 3:1-12

Matthew 2:1-12

 

Sermon originally delivered January 2, 2011