Greetings in the name of our Savior, Jesus. Psalm 122 is ascribed to be a psalm of David. It is also a psalm of ascents, the kind of song people would sing on their way going up the mountain preparing for worship. The lyrics do not express reluctance or weariness, but anticipation and joy. The Psalm begins on a happy note, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”” Jerusalem, the city of David, located on Mt. Zion, and the place the tribes of God went to praise His name. The people of God looked forward to going there to be assured of His care for them. Divine Service at the church is also such a place; God distributes the gifts of forgiveness that Jesus earned for us. And we respond with praise. I invite you to attend this week’s worship so I can rejoice with you.
Note a change in the service Sunday, September 13. We will be using the liturgy for Divine Service Setting One beginning on page 151 in the LSB hymnal. The hymns for the day are #812 Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs; #843 Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive; #611 Chief of Sinners, Though I Be; and #852 O God of Mercy, God of Might.
Scripture lessons are Psalm 103:1-13, 22; Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 14:1-12; and Matthew 18: (15-20) 21-35.
Jesus Christ, God’s begotten Son, died on a cross for you to pay for your sin. Jesus rose from the dead, opening heaven and eternal life to you. We receive His gifts through faith in Him. because Jesus has paid the cost of our sin, our heavenly Father does not act toward us with anger, but with compassion. He does not imprison us as our disobedience deserves, but He forgives all our debts and releases us (Matt. 18:23–27). Therefore, our Lord bids you also to have “mercy on your fellow servant” and “forgive your brother from your heart” (Matt. 18:33, 35). By the Lord’s forgiveness of our sins, we are free to forgive those who sin against us, because He has paid our entire debt with His lifeblood. As a result, whether we live or die, we “are the Lord’s” (Rom. 14:8). Since we all will “stand before the judgment seat of God,” we are not to despise our brother (Rom. 14:10), but gladly forgive him. The patriarch Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph ended up in Egypt, and as God helps him he ends up being a government leader in charge of the nation’s food supply.. When a famine hits the region, the brothers travel to Egypt to ask for food. After so many years apart, they do not recognize Joseph. Joseph could have had them arrested or killed out of revenge for the mistreatment decades earlier. But Joseph forgives. He becomes an example of how we should forgive those who hurt us. We forgive by letting Jesus’ forgiveness flow through us. Lord, help us to forgive!!
COLLECT: O all-knowing and almighty God, without Your grace and blessing we cannot please You. Mercifully continue to grant us Your Holy Spirit to direct and govern our hearts in all things ; 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 Sunday’s lessons. God bless you. Pastor Boster
