Brothers and sisters, greetings in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Cooler weather has arrived, making conditions more pleasant for getting things done. I encourage you to make worship attendance part of your schedule, that you may hear God’s Word and receive the gifts of forgiveness He administers through the service.
During the Sunday October 8 worship, we will be following a slightly modified version of the liturgy of Divine Service Setting One beginning on page 151 in the LSB hymnal. Hymns chosen for the day are #554 O Jesus, King Most Wonderful; #948 All Glory Be to God Alone; #689 Let Me Be Thine Forever; #625 Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread; #722 Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me.
Scripture lessons being read on Sunday are Psalm 80:7-19; Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 3:4b-14; and Matthew 21:33-46.
The attribution of Psalm 80 says it is a psalm of Asaph. He was appointed by King David to lead singing at the worship (1 Chronicles 6:31-48). The name could have also applied to Asaph’s descendants. The psalm was also sung according to ‘Lilies’, an uncertain term, perhaps a melody or music style. The psalm is offered as a ‘testimony’. References in the psalm to tribes belonging to northern Israel attacked by the Assyrian army suggest this psalm may be a response prepared for refugees seeking protection and restoration. Verses 7 to 19 use imagery of a vine brought out of Egypt, a reference to God bringing Israel out of slavery in Egypt five hundred years earlier in the days of Moses. Like a vineyard owner, God had nurtured and protected His people. But an army (wild boar) had torn up the people of Israel (the ‘vineyard’). The questions being asked are, ‘if God protected our forefathers, why are we suffering?’ ‘Why has God allowed His people to now be attacked (and apparently defeated)?’ The cry goes up, ‘O God, restore us!’ ‘Give us life that we may call on You!’ When you feel attacked by sin or evil forces, follow the psalmist’s lead, cry out to God. He is gracious and He will restore you. The highest form of this restoration is demonstrated in Jesus dying for you that your sin would not keep you apart from holy God. And Jesus rose from death to life showing the type of new, glorified, and immortal body you will receive on the Last Day. In the gift of baptism, God binds you to Himself. Because of Jesus and His redeeming sacrifice, God calls you His child. God is a restoring God. He will not forsake you.
The words of Isaiah Chapter 5 echo the words of Psalm 80. Isaiah’s prophetic ministry began in 740 BC, about 18 years before the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel. Isaiah’s ministry also prolonged to prepare the southern kingdom of Judah for their exile to Babylon. The prophecy of Chapter 5 has the form of a sad love song. God sounds like a jilted lover, recalling the ways He has graciously cared for His people in the land He had promised their forefathers. He then rhetorically asks what more He could have done to care for them that they would love Him back. God uses the imagery of a loving master, planting and nourishing His plants, expecting a harvest of pleasant grapes. Instead, the plants yielded only bitter, wild grapes. The plants are useless and deserve to be torn down. God has preserved His people and was expecting them to respond with justice and righteousness. Instead, they were unfaithful, producing bloodshed and outcries of grief and pain. History records that God brought judgment and punishment and destruction upon Israel and Judah, using the Assyrian and Babylonian armies. God’s word through the prophet still urges repentance today. Consider God’s grace. He has called you to be His own. He provides for your body and soul. How do you respond to His loving care? How is your gratitude and love for Him expressed? What kind of fruit are you producing?
In Philippians 3 Paul is thinking about his future and how it has been affected by his past. Make no mistake, young Paul (named Saul at the time) was an up and comer. He had the right family connections. He studied under a first-rate rabbi. He was a fierce defender of God’s Law. The Jewish community considered Saul/Paul one of their best and brightest. But when Jesus confronted Paul, and the Spirit worked Christian faith in him, Paul gave up everything he had in order to gain Jesus. Nothing was more important to him than knowing Jesus and His gospel message of forgiveness and eternal life. For many years Paul’s confidence had been in his obedience and his ability to keep the Law. But the Spirit had changed him. His confidence was now in Jesus. Our righteousness measured by adherence to the Law has no merit before God. For we all fall far short of achieving the perfection God demands. But the righteousness of Jesus, received by trusting Him, that is the way to eternal life. Since Jesus has bought us with His blood, and made us His own through baptism, we should live trusting Him so that we may attain the resurrection from the dead that He has promised. Does God forgive you? Will God welcome you into heaven? Jesus is our confidence of forgiveness and eternal life.
In Matthew 21:33-46 Jesus tells a parable about a master of a vineyard. The master sends servants to the tenants living in the vineyard, expecting to receive a harvest. Instead, the tenants revolt against the master, killing his servants and trying to control the vineyard for themselves. When the master sends his son to collect, the tenants kill him also. At the end of the parable, Jesus asks those present what should happen to such rebellious tenants. The response: the tenants deserve a miserable death. Jesus’ parable is a harsh parable of judgment. The religious leaders perceive that the parable is pointed at them. They had been plotting to kill Jesus, the Son of God. Rather than listen to Jesus’ words and repent and produce works of faith, their hearts become harder. Jesus is the stone that ‘the builders’ have rejected; He is also the cornerstone upon which God builds the Church. Those who reject Jesus will be crushed by Him. He is also the Rock of salvation. Whoever trust in Him will be saved by Him. He is the protection for our souls. So, what will be our response to Jesus? Do we see Him as a crusher, or as the foundation for eternal life?
COLLECT: Merciful Father, Your patience and loving-kindness toward us have no end. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may always think and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about the lessons for Sunday. God bless and direct you. Pastor Boster
