342. Wednesday after Twelfth Sunday after Trinity.
Lord, open our ears, that we
may hear thy word. Amen.
Isaiah 29, 17-19. Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
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“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” In the sacred language of the prophets this idea is expressed thus: “Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest.” This also suggests to our minds these words of the apostle: “The creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Sin has changed man and all creation; grace again transforms man’s heart, and makes all things new. Jesus has brought the strength to effect this transformation, and he exercises it by the gospel in his church. “The words of the book,” the divine teachings of holy writ, are able to find a way into our hearts, which by nature are closed against the truth. For the Spirit of the Lord is in the word, and his “Ephphatha” has power to work miracles. The word itself opens our ears to hear and receive it; and it also contains and brings life, and thus quickens us. The Spirit of the word anoints our eyes; so that we, who are blind, see. And the Lord is himself with us in the word; so that we therein see him, and have him. “God’s own word, our Holy Bible is our only source of light; life on earth would be without it nothing but a hideous night.” Have you, dear friend, experienced this illuminating and quickening power of the word of God? Have you therein heard the Lord’s “Be opened”? If so, you have learned that the meek increase their joy in the Lord, as they come to hear the words of the book more and more distinctly; and that the poor among men rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. “Even though all the world go wrong, Jesus shall not fail us, nor his covenant be broken.” Soon everything which resists the Spirit of God shall forever be done away with; “for the terrible one is brought to naught, and the scoffer is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off.”
God, have mercy on us, and give us thy Spirit. Explain thy word to us, and let us experience its power. Help us to be obedient to thee, that thou mayest reveal to us more and more of the mysteries of thy grace, and mayest sanctify us more and more through thy truth. Amen.*
Thrice blessed word of God,
Gift of a Father’s love,
Which holy prophets wrote,
Moved by the Holy Dove:
Within thy pages fair,
What hidden treasure lies!
Sweet lessons for the young,
Deep wisdom for the wise.
Therefore with grateful hearts,
O Trinity divine,
We magnify thy name,
For this blest gift of thine.
[Little Children’s Book 61; listen below]
* 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.