343. Thursday after Twelfth Sunday after Trinity.
Lord enlighten us,
that we may understand
how wonderful are thy testimonies.
1 Corinthians 2, 9-13. But, as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
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No; these things have not entered into the heart of man; that much is certain. Human wisdom and invention never could have devised that which the word of God teaches us in regard to the salvation in Christ and the glory awaiting the faithful. This counsel of wisdom, which brings about such a glorious unison between love and justice, and which turns our deep fall into the highest salvation, by means of the incarnation, death, and resurrection of the only begotten Son; this conception of eternal mercy, which destroys wrath, and fills heaven with saved human beings; — how could these things have originated elsewhere than in the own heart of God? “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” How, then, could these things have their origin in man? Ask a worldly-wise philosopher whether the biblical plan of salvation seems reasonable to him; whether he would have evolved such a plan out of his own intellect! That, however, which has not entered into the heart of man, and which is and shall be hid from the carnally minded, God has revealed to his believers, and makes it known to each of them in ever increasing measure. The treasures of the kingdom of heaven have been given us by Jesus in the means of grace in his church. The mysteries of grace are revealed in the apostolic word; but the worldly-minded cannot discern that which is spiritual; the good things of the house of God, which have power to make a man eternally rich and happy, are before their eyes; yet they do not see them. The gospel is sounded in their ears; but even as one who is wholly without musical sense hears the grandest harmony without appreciating any of its beauties, so the worldly-minded person understands nothing of that which is the substance of the gospel. None but the Spirit of God can teach us to understand the word of God, and to know what God has given us in this gospel. Follow these three rules: 1) Read and hear the word diligently and with a mind open to conviction. 2) Pray without ceasing that the Holy Ghost may enlighten you; and hold fast his promise to do this (Luke 11, 9-13). 3) Obey the word with honest heart, insofar as you understand it. If you do this, you shall surely receive new light in your soul, and see your own distress and misery; but you shall also see the glory which is given us in Christ. — Holy Spirit, illumine our hearts; we earnestly ask of thee this favor in the name of Jesus. Amen.*
Unnumbered choirs before the shining throne
Their joyful anthems raise,
Till heaven’s glad halls are echoing with the tone
Of that great hymn of praise,
And all its host rejoices,
And all its blessed throng
Unite their myriad voices
In one eternal song.
[TLH 619, LSB 674, ELH 541; 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.