132. Second Sunday in Lent. I.
Humble us, O Lord, that we depart not from thy word. Amen.
Gospel Lesson, Matthew 15, 21-28. Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy upon me, O Lord, thou Son of David! my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me! But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to the dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
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They were hard struggles which our Lord Jesus had when he bare, and was to pay the wages of, our sin, when he was to destroy death and the power of the devil, and restore to us everlasting life. No other battle can be compared with his. But all who are to receive and keep the precious gift, deliverance from death and the devil, shall of necessity have their battles to fight also, and if our faith is to shine more brightly to the glory of God, and our souls are to reach greater depths in his grace, we must expect to be the more sorely tried.
Why does the Lord deal so strangely with the woman of Canaan? Why does he say not a word in answer to her most earnest appeal? And when he at last does speak, why do his words sound so much like a stern rebuff? Our text answers these questions, and does it in a way to fire our hearts, if we read the answer aright. But we also have an account in the Old Testament which answers these questions. Joseph made himself strange and stern and hard to his brethren, although he loved them so well that he was obliged to go into his chamber and weep. He wanted them to remember their sin, repent of it, and receive mercy. When the Lord sees that it is necessary to humble us, and that the trial is not greater than we can bear, he hides his loving heart, and shows us nothing but his wrath. It was necessary that this woman be brought so low, be made to feel that she was of the heathen, be taught to liken herself to the dogs; her faith was to be strained so hard, put to so severe a test, in order that she might receive the rights of citizenship in Israel. A surgeon who performs a dangerous operation on his own dearest child rejoices when it is done and all is well. So does the Lord in the case before us; his words express his great joy at the rescue of the woman. When he says, “O woman, great is thy faith,” we are again reminded of his prototype Joseph, who, when his brethren had stood the test, wept for joy and cried, “I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?”
Precious Savior, it cost thee immeasurable labor to redeem us; and what a weary task thou hast also in creating faith in us and inducing us to accept thy salvation! — And you, dear soul, be persistent in your prayers, even though he seem not to answer. He has answered already. (Isaiah 65, 24). When care oppresses, when the heart is swept by fierce storms, when the soul is in pain, when there is darkness on every hand, when the Lord seems in anger to have put aside his tender mercies; then it is as it should be. You have sinned and been faithless; but do not leave off crying to him. Follow after him, prostrate yourself before him, prefer your prayer again and again. This is his will; this is what he teaches you in the text now before us. — It is entirely necessary that you should be humbled; faith strikes root and grows in humble hearts only. By degrees, as you receive grace to humble yourself, you also receive grace to believe; and it is unto you according to your faith, as the Lord has said, to his honor and to your salvation.
Lord, we understand that it is well that thou dost humble us; but thou knowest how weak we are in the time of trial. Do not deliver us over to our unbelief and impatience; but purge us, and strengthen our faith, to the praise of thy glorious name. Amen.
When in the hour of utmost need
We know not where to look for aid;
When days and nights of anxious thought
Nor help nor counsel yet have brought:
Then this our comfort is alone,
That we may meet before thy throne,
And cry, O faithful God, to thee
For rescue from our misery.
133. Second Sunday in Lent. II.
Lord Jesus, cleanse us from the defilement of the unclean spirit, and sanctify us; thou alone canst do it. Amen.
Epistle Lesson, 1 Thessalonians 4, 1-7. Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
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The will of God is your sanctification. It could not be otherwise; for God is holy. Still it profits us to hear and consider that in laboring and striving after holiness we have the will of God with us. Then we may know that victory is assured, even though the path be difficult, and though we seem to be losing ground. Labor jealously for your purification; strive after it with zeal and earnestness. The apostle beseeches and exhorts us by the Lord Jesus that we would do this. He beseeches us; shall we not hear him? He exhorts us; shall we despise his exhortation? He beseeches and exhorts by the Lord Jesus, in the service and spirit and power of Jesus, by his love, for his blessed name’s sake, for the sake of his atoning obedience and death. Shall we not obey him? You made rapid advance in holiness during the earliest period of your Christian life. You displayed great zeal in the work of purging out all sin and of pleasing God. You improved immensely in a short time; your growth was rapid. Shall the blossom not put forth a bud, or shall the bud die without ripening into fruit? You have been taught how we ought to walk. Does not your heart burn within you when the apostle here speaks of pleasing God and of abounding therein more and more? “To please God,” to walk according to the good pleasures of Jesus; — these are things to touch the innermost chords of the Christian heart. “Not in the lust of concupiscence,” God forbid! The holy bride of Christ to defile herself with the uncleanness of the gentiles! The very suggestion of such a thing gives us a shock. — Out, then, with the unclean desires; purge the heart of them. Immerse your souls in the holiness of Jesus, and in his purity, that you “hate even the garment spotted by the flesh.” — It is much to be regretted, if you do not believe that he will give you strength to do this; for then the devil has unmanned you. As God is holy, he has in Christ given you grace to become holy; and when you neglect it you grieve the Spirit of God. We also beseech and exhort by the Lord Jesus: Be in earnest in the matter of mortifying the lusts of the flesh. You are not called unto uncleanness, as unfortunately seems to the opinion of many nominal Christians; but you are called unto holiness. Mark this: God has called you unto holiness. Now strive after it with the zeal and perseverance of faith. The commandment of God, and his promise to you in Jesus Christ are true and faithful.
Most holy Lord Jesus, give to us thy pure mind. Help us to mortify the unclean lusts of the flesh and to walk in holiness, that by the Holy Spirit we may please thee and the Father. Lord, grant us this great mercy, that we increase in holiness from day to day. Amen.
Oh, for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.