289. Saturday after Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
Psalm 119, 41-50. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord; even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved, and I will meditate in thy statutes. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
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It is good to dwell with the Lord in his word, always to hope in his mercy, and in all affliction trust in his salvation. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” At his altar none can injure you. He who can answer them that reproach him, that he has trusted in the word of the Lord, has an impenetrable shield against their attacks. And when they mock, saying, “where is your God, where is now your God?” and it is as a sword in our bones; and when God hides his face from us also, and lets us experience something of that which Christ felt in his great passion; — then it is good to be able to say: “Lord, I trust in thy word; I await the fulfillment of thy promise.”
So it is also when everything goes against one, and he finds life full of trouble. How countless are the ills to which flesh is heir! Your only, or, it may be, your favorite child dies, perhaps under peculiarly sad circumstances; or it suffers a fate which gives you even deeper pain. Your good and faithful husband is struck down with disease, and your heart is heavy; but your loving care is rewarded, and he recovers for a time only to become hopelessly demented as a result of overwork. You had worked your way to independence, and are suddenly ruined by coming to the rescue of a friend. You have labored, and have built up a prosperous and beloved church, and “Christian” robbers come and destroy it for you. — Ye sons of men, put your trust in the word of the Lord, and it shall be with you as with Peter; he toiled all the night, and caught not a fish, yet in the morning his ship was filled. Hold your peace, and have patience, and hope in the Lord! When you are compassed about with distresses he shall bring relief, enabling you to walk at liberty, and to sing with Job: “Blessed be the name of the Lord!” If you cannot now rejoice in the word of the Lord, yet the word can comfort you; and if you do not now understand what the Lord does, bear in mind that he understands it, and you likewise shall understand it hereafter. He wounds in order to heal, and he takes in order to give. Believe in him, and give yourself to him; then shall all that you lose be gained, even that which to you seems to be lost irretrievably. He shall do it, even though your faith be most deplorably weak.
“All my trust is in thee, O Lord, now and at all times. Thou art my comfort; thy word and voice the joy of my heart in my every affliction.” Help me to say this in truth, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.*
Lord, I believe; but thou dost know
My faith is cold and weak;
Pity my frailty and bestow
The confidence I seek.
Yes, I believe; and only thou
Canst give my soul relief:
Lord, to thy truth my spirit bow;
“Help thou mine unbelief!”
[suggested tune: Martyrdom, TLH 154, LSB 437; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.