In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations.
David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com.
He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany.
He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991.
Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania.
David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Your daughter falls and skins her knee. She runs to you for comfort. You kiss her knee, put on some salve, a bandaid perhaps, and send her back on her way. Soon she’s forgotten all about it.
Your son breaks up with his high school sweetheart. He is heartbroken. You spend time with him over a Coke and listen. You tell him of how you dealt with that when you were his age. You listen. You tell him he’ll probably meet three or four more girls before he meets the right one. Hope begins to return to his eyes, replacing the held-back tears.
You sister suffers from cancer – a second occurrence after a five year absence – and this time the cancer wins. She dies and you feel the loss more strongly than you thought you would. You turn to God for comfort. His word gives you hope. You think of Jesus and the resurrection. You remember that God is good and his steadfast love never fails. The promise of eternal life lets you breathe again.
All those are difficult situations, and opportunities for the milk of human kindness and the balm of Gilead to be poured into the cracks and crevices of the pain and loss. In the throes of such pain and loss comfort of that kind is most welcome.
How much greater relief and comfort must be that which the Lamb provides to those who have suffered for the sake of his name. The tales of brutal torment visited upon the early followers of Jesus are beyond imagination. The chronicles of their suffering and torture make me shake my head this very day. What evil lurks in the hearts of men!
But what kindness, love, mercy, and grace informs the heart of God! We’re all born in sin. We’ve all fallen short of God’s glory. We all need a Savior. Those who have given their lives for the sake of the Gospel, however are given special comfort by the Lamb of God himself. He wipes the tears from their eyes. I wonder if those tears include even tears of despair of his grace. No matter, his grace reaches across our despair and whatever suffering and pain we have experienced.
From skinned knees to cancer’s cruel injury to the worst unimaginable injustice, God’s mercy and grace overflows. He comforts us with his love. Whatever we must face we can know his goodness will prevail and we will be comforted because he is faithful. He is worthy of all honor and praise.
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7 is one of my favorite Bible passages. I discovered it when I was in college and encountered some Jehovah’s Witness so-called kingdom workers who claimed that there would be only 144,000 in heaven. It was remarkable to me that they also said they didn’t want to be in heaven! Their contention was that only the Jews from the 12 tribes would be in heaven. Never mind the remainder of this chapter (the verses above)!
Indeed the first verses of Revelation 7 lists the 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes as sealed – and therefore in heaven. But, then “I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…” And they are all singing God’s praises, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Salvation belongs to the Lamb who shares it with peoples from all nations, tribes, and languages. And somehow their languages are melded into one hymn of praise.
When I first joined the Lutheran church I made the comment about Lutheran music, something to the effect that it needed some help; it wasn’t all that great in my mind. Since that time I’ve come to love the substance of Lutheran hymnody. Some is more challenging to sing than others. But what some consider to be difficult many find edifying. And in heaven there will be no barrier to hymnic appreciation. All the peoples of all the languages are singing this hymn. It must surely be an angelic sound!
And just so we’re clear on this, the elders and living creatures offer their antiphon of affirmation, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
These hymns acknowledge a reality of God’s sovereign and gracious character. They acknowledge God’s gift of salvation – something that is his alone to give. They glorify God by these acknowledgments. And it’s not that God needs it for the sake of his ego. And though he commands that we honor him as God and our only good, it is not to stroke his ego. It’s not to prop up a petty fiefdom. It is to give witness to the world of God’s glory. It is to allow our joys to be expressed. It is to let out what we feel inside and tie it to the reality of God’s true glory, might, power, and grace.
Sometimes we state the obvious and it seems completely unnecessary. It sure is hot. This is Monday. But in this case the obvious in heaven is spoken as a reminder to us on earth. These hymns give testimony to us who are yet on earth and who must live by faith, not by sight. Their hymns not only glorify God, they edify us. They not only flow from hearts overflowing with joy and grace. They encourage us to look forward to joining that hymn. And even if you don’t think you can sing, it’s an invitation you will certainly be blessed to accept.
Join me in praying these psalms on this Lord’s Day. He is with us wherever we go.
Psalm 17:6-9
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. 7 Wondrously show[a]your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, 9 from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.
Psalm 47:1-7
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! 2 For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. 3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!
Psalm 77:11-15
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. 15 You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph.
Psalm 107:1-3, 9, 43
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
Psalm 137:1-6
By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows[a]there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How shall we sing the Lord‘s song in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill! 6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy!
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Cloud, Sky, Sand, and Sea | North side of Oahu, Hawaii | April 2022
It’s Not Over is the name of a video we used several years ago at Easter. Don’t try a simple Google search for this video – the results will lead you to a totally different kind of video. The one I’m talking about highlights a football game that was down to the last seconds and the team that was so very far behind pulls off a miraculous win. Then another example, and another, of people who were counted out only make a come back or win in the last seconds, or prove in one way or another that even when it seemed it was all over, actually it was not all over. Then it showed Jesus on the cross. In the grave he lay. Sad disciples lamented his doom. But it wasn’t all over. Jesus rose from the dead. The greatest comeback story of all time. The very greatest.
The Lamb who was slain has, by his blood…
…ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, [He has] made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Because of that, the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, sing,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
The Lamb was slain for our sins. He has purchased and won us from sin, death, and the power of the devil. He has redeemed us and ransomed us from death and the grave, from an eternity of regret and hopelessness. He did that by his death.
But he is no longer dead. He is alive, and declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the grave (Romans 1:4). He reigns on high, far above all rule and authority in heaven and on earth. Every tongue will confess that he is Lord. Every knee will bow. Every sneer will evaporate in humility and submission. Every curse, dismissal, despisal, and notion of disdain will be shown to have been so totally vapid and futile. And all the while the whole company of heaven will be singing the Lamb’s praises.
In the meantime, we have songs of praise to sing as well. With delight we call this Lamb our worthy Lord and God. We delight in his good will in our hearts and lives. We rejoice in his mercy that is new every moment. We praise him for his love, and see his reign even now by faith.
These hymns express something we do not yet see, but which we believe. For now Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, rules our hearts by grace through faith. We delight in him and look for his influence in our lives and the lives of our families and friends, our neighbors near and far.
Psalm 22:3 says that God is enthroned on the praises of Israel. So let us enthrone him now in our praises and worship. He is worthy. And we are all the better for his reign here and now, and for all eternity.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Waialua Coffee | North side of Oahu, Hawaii | April 2022
I’ve entered many a photo in the Northwest Houston Photo Club competitions over the years. Some of them have actually won ribbons. I even have two Best in Show photos hanging in my office. Before you are too impressed by this, let me say that this club represents a pretty small sample of photographers. And most of them are ametuer photographers – a step above hobbyists, but definitely not professionals. So there is no real bragging rights here. Seriously.
I think of people like Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz, and several National Geographic photographers as truly worthy of fame and great appreciation as photographers. Such fame, however, is not only fleeting (most people would not recognize those names), but of little significance outside of their art. They’re famous as photographers. But their fame does not extend far beyond.
The Lamb, on the other hand, is worthy of eternal honor. The picture we see – this revelation of Jesus Christ – here in this hymn of praise is of One who is truly worthy first of all to take the scroll and open the seal, to reveal that which the scrolls contain. This Lamb is like no other. He takes the scroll from the One on the throne, and “when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Not only is he worthy to take the scroll (no one else is!), he is worthy of the honor of these heavenly beings: elders and living creatures: the heavenly heavyweights. Preeminent among the heavenly hosts. And they bow down to worship the Lamb.
The Lamb is also said to be worthy of of all honor, fame, glory, and might forever and ever. His is no fleeting fame. And well it should be.
We honor those who have served our country with medals of honor, Bronze Stars, Purple Hearts. And well we should. But this Lamb – the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world – is worthy of even greater honor. And in these hymns we see that honor being given. For these heavenly beings are having the final say.
The Lamb who was slain has now begun his reign. Whatever shame and ignominy he suffered is now put to rest. His humiliation is now turned to glory. All the insults, the suffering, the derision, the dishonor is now replaced with praise. Those who know Jesus’ steadfast and redemptive love, grace, truth, and mercy delight to see this scene. Whatever dishonor we must endure in his name will one day be fully redeemed. We will exalt in the exaltation of the Lamb who sits on the throne forever and ever! Amen.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
I love to look out of the airplane as we pass over new places or flying home happen to fly over our house below. I love looking at the roads and shops, churches and parks below. You can do the same with Google Earth or Apple maps by turning on the satellite feature. But somehow a real-time from-above perspective is more rewarding. It’s fun to see how things relate to each other and which places are actually closer to each other than you might have thought. Seeing things from above allows you a perspective that you just don’t have on the ground. You can even see how cars will meet each other, or that drivers will have to deal with traffic that they have no idea of at that moment.
One of the blessings and benefits of praising God is that of perspective. But it is of a different kind. Praise puts God in his proper place. He is above all. He rules from on high. He is to be honored and glorified. And all things are in his purview.
And we do not reign in that way. We do not rule over all. We are not on high. We do not deserve eternal glory and honor. We do not have all things in our view.
When we praise God, we are reminded of that. It puts things in perspective. If we’re thinking we’re not being treated fairly, we can call on him for justice and mercy. But we cannot call him to account. We answer to him. He does not answer to us. He rules. We are under his reign and rule.
But listen to these hymns of praise! There is not a matter of mere sovereignty. It’s not just that God is powerful and we are not. These hymns of praise go to the One who has redeemed us. He has ransomed us and make us a kingdom of priests who will reign with him. He is worthy of our praise for who he is. This is such a blessed and welcome relief to the kind of treatment he received when he was on earth 2000 years ago. But that was for a moment. This is an eternal hymn of praise.
That’s the other manner of perspective we gain from these hymns: His praise is eternal. His glory is never-ending. And our troubles, trials, difficulties, and challenges are temporary. Even if the difficulties we face are life-long, they are not eternal by means of Jesus’ redemption, mercy, and grace. Our troubles will one day end. His reign and rule will never end.
Praise puts our problems in perspective. Praise puts us in our proper perspective toward God. That’s good to remember, for hope in our trials and humility in our approach to God.
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
5:6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
For these next weeks I will be looking at the hymns of praise in the book of Revelation. So first a word about the book of Revelation. A pastor from a church that had experienced much persecution was being interviewed on a Christian radio station. At the mention of the book of Revelation the interviewer got very excited. He said, “You must be very pleased in the keen interest in this book in many churches in America!” The pastor, however, said, “I only came to really appreciate the message of that book when experiencing persecution. I don’t think you can understand it unless you understand the plight of those who are being persecuted for their faith.” I think the radio interviewer was taken aback. But the comment always stuck with me.
If you want to read the book of Revelation in any truly meaningful way, read it with a view from a prison cell or severe hardship and fear because you are a Christian. Then you’ll get past the apocalyptic imagery and symbolic numerology and hear a message of hope and comfort for the people of God. This book is not for fanciful speculation, but for comfort and courage to Jesus followers as we see the world around us spinning out of control, or must endure ridicule because we hold the to-the-world quaint belief that God is real, his judgment imminent, and Jesus is our only hope.
Which brings me to the praise hymns of Revelation. There are several. They celebrate the victory of the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the earth, and his rule and reign on the throne of God, and the joy that is ours who are his.
Just this morning I was listening to the Lutheran Hour podcast (I highly recommend it!). A comment really caught my attention. It went something like this, Jesus isn’t just a ticket to heaven. He is the reason we want to be there – to be with him. There is more to our salvation than pie in the sky in the sweet by and by. These hymns of praise celebrate the eternal joy of being with Jesus, seeing him vindicated, exalted on high as he so rightly deserves. And having every tear wiped from our eyes, except those grateful tears of joy in his salvation.
I look forward to sharing some more specific reflections on these hymns in the weeks to come, but for now I encourage you to sing them with me, as we join the hosts of heaven, saints, martyrs, apostles, prophets, angels and archangels singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Amen!
PS: Somewhere I learned a method of daily Bible reading that Dietrich Bonhoeffer advised. He suggested that a person take a passage of 10 to 15 verses from the Bible and meditate on them over the course of a week. I have found this to be personally edifying. That has been my practice over the years in this blog. And by the way, I write these blogs as my own personal spiritual discipline. If you are edified by them, so much the better.
Join me in praying these psalms on this Lord’s Day. He is with us wherever we go.
Psalm 10:17-18
O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Psalm 40:1-5
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! 5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
Psalm 70:1-4
Make haste, O God, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! 2 Let them be put to shame and confusion who seek my life! Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 3 Let them turn back because of their shame who say, “Aha, Aha!”
4 May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Behold, a lawyer stood up to put [Jesus] to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” –Luke 10:25-37 [ESV]
Mercer Lilies | Houston, Texas | May 2022
Note: I do not normally produce a full manuscript for my Sunday messages. But I decided to do so this week. It’s not totally polished, but I hope it will be edifying to you, dear reader.
Years ago I had a beautiful private communion set. It was walnut, a gift from my wife’s aunt in celebration of my ordination. I kept it in the purple velvet bag with a drawstring that came with the communion set. It even had a plaque on the front with my initials. I kept it in my Dodge Spirit (does that give you an idea of how long ago that was?).
One day I went out to the carport and discovered that someone had broken into that car. Devotional tracts that had been in my car were strewn all over our yard. I used them when I made shut-in calls. A couple of other rejected items were also on the lawn. But my communion set was gone. I wonder whether you might know why it was taken? I don’t think it was because someone realized their desperate need for the body and blood of Jesus, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins – though indeed they did need that.
I suspect they took it because it looked like a bottle of expensive whiskey that comes in a purple velvet bag. Boy! Were they in for a rude awakening! Whoever took that communion kit subscribed to the idea: Whatever is yours is mine, and I’ll do whatever I can to get it.
A family in Cypress went to the funeral of his mother. They were gone only for a few hours. But when they returned to their home, someone had broken in and stolen all his guns. Shot guns. Pistols. Hunting rifles. All gone. Whoever did that subscribed to the idea: Whatever is yours is mine, and I’ll do whatever I can to get it.
This is the way of thieves. It is the way of the thieves in this account of the Good Samaritan. Whatever is yours is mine, and I’ll do whatever I can to get it.
Sadly there are many today who subscribe to this way of thinking and living. Shoplifters. Embezzlers. Petty thieves and grand larcenists. They live with the thought that your stuff isn’t really yours to keep; it’s theirs to take. That’s why we have locks on our doors. That’s why I have an alarm system on my car. That’s why we don’t leave parcels out in plain view in our cars. That’s why we lock our cars and take our keys.
We believe, Whatever is mine is mine, and I’ll do whatever I can to keep it.
That’s not totally wrong or sinful. After all, the 7th Commandment is, “Thou shalt not steal.” Martin Luther tells us that in keeping with that commandment that, “We should fear and love God that we will not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help our neighbor improve and protect his possessions and income.
Sometimes, however, we can take this a little too far. Maybe you know someone like that. Mine! Like the seagulls in the movie, Finding Nemo, they have a favorite refrain: Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine! We learn this early on. When we got a prized toy for our birthday, we were not going to let anyone else play with it. It was ours. We would keep it for ourselves.
So not only do we have home security systems, but we hide our wealth so that we do not have to share it with others. In fact, one reason I don’t play the lottery is because if I won, I’d have to live a lie. I wouldn’t want anyone to know. I’d have to pretend I’m going on the cheap when in reality I’d be flying first class. I’d have to hide my Tesla. I’d not let people know that I have a 600MM f/2.8 prime lens. (By the way, I really don’t have either a Tesla or a 600MM f/2.8 prime lens…but if any of you want to give me either one, that’s fine by me! One would cost $100,000 or more. The other $10,000. So the lens would be just fine…unless you live with the idea that whatever is mine is mine, and I’ll do whatever I can to keep it. Notice I’m not volunteering to give you my 2018 Honda CRV, or my Sony 200-600 MM f/4 zoom lens; both of which cost less than a third of the other things I mentioned above. These are mine. And I’ll keep them, thank you.
This is the attitude of the priest and the Levite who happen upon the man who fell among thieves. They had their stuff and they weren’t going to part with their money, time, or convenience.
To be fair, it is likely that the priest had just finished his tour of duty in Jerusalem. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho is a down-hill road. The elevation falls some 3382 ½ feet from Jerusalem. So as Jesus describes the scene, it’s quite possible to think that the priest was heading back home after his duties in the temple were finished. So when he sees the man who had fallen among thieves, he passes by on the other side. Perhaps he wanted to get home to see his family. If he had stopped to help the man, he would have become ceremonially unclean. He would have to return to Jerusalem, go through the process of purification, be declared clean, and only then get back to his home and family.
Or maybe he just couldn’t be bothered. Maybe he really did live with the idea that whatever is mine is mine, and I’ll do whatever I can to keep it. The Levite does the same thing. Possibly just following the example of the priest. We don’t actually know the attitude of either of these people, but we do know that those who subscribe to the idea that whatever is mine is mine, and I’ll do whatever I can to keep it, are very likely to pass by on the other side.
Neither of these ways are the way of life Jesus calls us to. “Give and it will be given to you,” he promises. St. Paul puts it even more boldly: “You will be made rich in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, and…that will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11). A life dedicated to keeping all we have, living under the conviction of whatever is mine is mine, and I’ll do whatever I can to keep it does not reflect this calling.
There is a more excellent way, and it is shown by the Good Samaritan. Whatever is mine is from God, and I’ll do whatever I can to share it. This is the Christian way. This is why we build hospitals. This is why we share our wealth with the needy. This is why we run a thrift store. This is why we give away money, clothes, furniture, appliances, and equipment. And if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of such giving, you know how much of a blessing these people are.
More than 4 decades ago we were facing some urgent financial realities. I was in my second year of seminary, and we had recently moved from Springfield, Illinois to Fort Wayne, Indiana. After we moved we received an unexpected medical bill for $500. In those days it was like an unexpected $5,000 bill. We were in a very hard place. Diane did not yet have a job. My part-time job at the seminary was a very small source of needed income. We talked about several options: going out on vicarage a year early. We even considered me dropping out for a year, saving up money so I could return to finish my studies. We asked our friends for advice. We talked with the school financial aid counselors. We truly didn’t know what to do.
Then in one week, we learned that someone wanted to give us $80 per month – anonymously. An LWML group from our home state took up an offering for us. And the school provided a significant monthly grant. Diane got a job. And then one day, I went to the mail box. There was a plain white envelope with our names and addresses typed on the front. No return address. I opened it and inside was a ½ sheet of paper which said, “The Lord cares about everything.” It was wrapped around 3 $100 bills! What a blessing! I called Diane at work and told her, “You won’t believe what we just got in the mail!” When I told her we were both thankful to God. That bit of generosity resulted in thanksgiving to God. Someone was living with the idea that whatever is mine is from God, and I’ll do whatever I can to share it.
This is the attitude of the Good Samaritan. He used what he had to help the man who fell among thieves. He believed that his wealth was something that would benefit the man in need and proved to be a neighbor to the one in need.
Let’s look at something a bit closer in regard to all this. The story Jesus told is in response to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” The answer to that question is whoever is in need. But there is another question that we must consider:
Behold, a lawyer stood up to put [Jesus] to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
The priest chose purity (not love for God, nor love for neighbor) over lending a hand. So did the Levite. But the significance of hero of this story may be lost on us. The normal manner in which a group of three would be listed in Jesus’ day would be, “A priest, a Levite, and ‘people.’” This is a common Old Testament triad. This combination is found in 19 places in the Old Testament, “Priests, Levites, and People.” And this is where Jesus takes a Crazy Ivan on the people of his day. That was a common tactic on his part. He’d tell a parable, using common parable language but twist the meaning that they were used to and make a significantly different point. And that’s what he’s about to do here. For the hero of this story is a Samaritan. In fact the Greek emphasizes the fact that this is a Samaritan who offers help. Maybe today we would say, “A pastor, an elder, and an illegal alien.” And the illegal alien is the hero. He’s the one who is neighbor to the one in need.
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
He has compassion. This term is used of the compassionate, kind, and merciful heart of God in almost every use in the Bible. And that’s exactly what Jesus has done for us. Make no mistake: we don’t love perfectly. We should. We should love God first and most. We should love our neighbor as ourselves. Anything less is a sin. And as we gather each Sunday, we acknowledge that as we confess our sins. Jesus has come to our rescue. He has gotten down into our mire and muck of our sin. In fact he did more than just getting dirty and taking care of a one-time crisis. He took care of an eternal need. He saved us eternally. All that he had he gave – including his very life so we could be saved forever, and eternally glad.
We needed it because we fail to love God first and our neighbor as ourselves. But let’s not use our sinfulness as an excuse. Jesus himself says, “Go and do likewise. This is our calling:
A truly Christian work is that we descend and get mixed up in the mire of the sinner, taking his sin upon ourselves and floundering out of it with him, not acting otherwise than as if his sin were our own.” – Martin Luther
Please do not get too hung up on comparing the Good Samaritan to an illegal alien. Jesus’ use of a Samaritan as the hero of compassion and neighborliness would have been just as jarring to the people of his day. It seems to me that he was doing two things by this. First he was making a point about true religion: it’s not about purity, but about compassion and acts of lovingkindness. Second he is very much like the Samaritans in his day: hated by the Jewish religious leaders, and dismissed by the Roman elite. Yet it is he who comes to our time of need. Christians are not likely to despise Jesus’ help. But perhaps we don’t consider just how lowly and despised he is by the world. Yet he is the one who has rescued us. Saved us. Helped us in our time of greatest need. Thanks be to God!
Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts,9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
“I’d go to war with you.” She had never heard that saying before, but she knew it was a complement. Diane was the director of worship at the church we were serving. In the days of cassette tape accompaniment tracks our choir performed a cantata. During one number the tape got mis-cued and the tech running the tape player couldn’t find the proper place on the tape. Diane realized something had to be done, so she took her score from the podium to the nearby piano, played the appropriate piece and directed the choir from the piano. By the time that piece was over the techs had things straightened out and she returned to the podium and directed the choir from there. The rest went off without any further glitches. It was in that context that one of the choir members (a US Navy officer) told her, “I’d go to war with you.” In other words he appreciated how she took control of the situation and kept things going in the face of a confusing and anxious moment. Thankfully they didn’t have to go to war.
Paul had gone to war with several people whom he names here in these closing thoughts of this letter. It is significant that he ties his relationship to them with some of the troubles they had endured together. These experiences had forged a bond that was deeper than being next-door-neighbors, or even members of the same family. They had suffered together. And they continued to serve the cause of Christ’s kingdom in the face of hardship, suffering and trials of various kinds. They were fellow prisoners and prayer warriors. They had been battle buddies.
Now that Paul is nearing the end of his life and ministry. He is writing to these precious people realizing that because he is in prison, he must delegate the churches’ leadership to others. To whom does he turn? To those who have been to war with him. He will eventually turn to Timothy and Titus to whom he will write and who he will entrust with leadership in Ephesus.
These are in Colossae and Laodicea. Still others are in Antioch, Corinth, Thessalonica, and even in Jerusalem. All of these were their battle buddies. They were fighting the spiritual battles against sin, Satan, and the world. We can thank God for all of our own battle buddies, and remember that when we do have to engage in such battles we do not need to battle on alone.
