408. Friday after Twentieth Sunday after Trinity.
“I had fainted, unless I had thought
to see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.”
Hebrews 4, 9-16. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
❦
Weary pilgrim among the people of God, a blessed sabbath rest awaits you. The sabbath is the day of holy convocation, of divine service, of liberty, and of the singing of praises to God. “There remaineth a rest to the people of God’’; a condition of perfect repose, with the full enjoyment of bliss in the fellowship of God and all the saints. “Rejoice ye with Jerusalem; that ye may be satisfied with the breasts of her consolation, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. Your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb.” (Isaiah 66, 10. 11. 14). If you, my reader, desire to enter into that rest, you must walk with fear, and at the same time with boldness. Neither the thoughtless nor the faint-hearted can gain admittance. Let the living word of God lay bare, melt, crush, and judge your heart; but let it also heal and comfort you; so that you stand confidently before his face, and boldly confess your faith before men. The Son of God became our high priest; therefore we may be of good cheer. He has not only atoned for our sins with his blood, which he shed on the cross, and bore to heaven; but he was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Thus of his own experience he knows our struggles and our sorrows, our suffering and our labor, and all our weaknesses; nay he knows better, and feels more acutely than you do the condition of your sick and troubled heart, and the sufferings with which sin and Satan afflict you. A great high priest have we, Jesus the Son of God, great in power and great in mercy. “Such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” “Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” — We will, then, labor to enter that rest; labor hard to do it! Here, labor; yonder, rest! We will walk by the light of the word in the sight of God with holy earnestness, and come boldly before him sheltered under the wings of our merciful and faithful High Priest. — Accomplish this in us, O God, by thy Holy Spirit, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.*
Jesus, tender Savior,
Hast thou died for me?
Make me very thankful
In my heart to thee.
Now I know thou livest,
And dost plead for me;
Make me very thankful
In my prayers to thee.
Soon I hope in glory
At thy side to stand;
Make me fit to meet thee
In that happy land.
[suggested tune: Wem in Leidenstagen (TLH 158); 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.