Morning Prayer: Dt.8

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Here is the sermon on Deut 8,2-6.11-18 held by Rev. Dr. Karl Böhmer this morning.             2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart,whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you andlet you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word[a] that comes from the mouth of the Lord.4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lordyour God disciplines you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lordyour God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. 

11 “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today,12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock,16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. 17 Bewarelest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Famous Last Words. For some reason, people seem to set a lot of store by a person’s last words. They are often recorded for posterity. There are many famous examples, ranging from Roman Emperor Vespasian who died saying, “Woe is me. Methinks I’m turning into a god,” to General John Sedgwick who was killed in battle during US Civil War while saying, “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist…” to Karl Marx who said to his housekeeper: “Go on, get out – last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.”

In a sense, the whole book of Deut. is a book of Famous Last Words. They are Moses’ Famous Last Words, spoken to the people of God gathered at the river Jordan getting ready to go and finally take possession of the promised land. One last time, Moses marshals his strength, one last time, raises his voice, addresses the people of God, one last time. The difference being, of course, that Moses’ Famous Last Words also happen to be just one part of the enduring Word of God, that God himself is speaking, and that he also has something to say to you and me here today.

I would like to exposit on what the Lord says here in three brief sections. The first is “The curse of blessing;” the second, “the blessing of curse;” and the third, “the food of God’s people.” Now the Lord has promised to his people that they will enter a land of milk and honey, a land with many blessings. Blessings to make the mouth water. Much to eat, not just kop en pootjies (walkie talkies), not just stywe pap and phutu, but honey and meat and gravy, gourmet goodies to make you go weak at the knees. And there will be flocks, great herds they can graze on the grounds of the Union Buildings, and money too, silver and gold, ingots and bullion to make the Guptas jealous. Yes, the Lord will bless his people. But, warns Moses, but… but… Remember the curse of blessing. Take care, he warns his children, take care that these things do not so fill your stomach and so fill your heart that you take your mind off the Lord and set your heart on your wealth, that you devote your prayers to your stomach. A sumptuous mansion in Silver Lakes or Sandton and sushi parties with Kenny Kunene is something many of us may secretly lust after. But such blessing comes also with such great curses that one wonders whether it might not be better to stay in a shack and have nothing to eat but mopani worms. For when the stomach is bloated and full, it is easy to forget the Lord. [14.17] When want becomes need, and need becomes have, then have also becomes deserve, and deserve becomes pride, and pride worships no god but the great false golden god ego. As the saying goes, be careful of what you wish for – you just might get it. To put it plainly: The great prophet Moses warns God’s people that the curse of blessing might well mean spiritual – and therefore eternal – death.

The great church father Tertullian preached on this text and commented (I paraphrase): “God made it so that those who eat a lot and who always want to eat more, who are greedy and have voracious appetites, that the wealth they grab and the riches they seize will not satisfy them but make the appetite only ever greater. Israel replaced God with God’s blessings, and they pulled them away from God. Their wealth made theirs heart dull, and their ears heavy, and their eyes blind; so they could no longer see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed. (Isa 6:10) This is why God expressly forbade his people from eating fat: (Lev. 3:17) So that the fat would not make them so full and dull that they have no room for God. Here God was teaching man not to be studious of the stomach.” Tertullian, On Fasting, VI, ANF 4:105.

Yes, dear students, the blessing you want may well come with potential curses you don’t want. But by the same token, the “curse” you have may well be a blessing. As the people of Israel stand there by the river – tired, weary after 40 years of wandering, without milk and honey, having long lived in a land of snakes and scorpions and thirsty ground and little water, a land of permanent heat wave and rocky barrenness – who would ever want to live in a place like that? And for 40 years! Surely they wanted to forget such horror as quickly they could – in his Famous Last Words, Moses tells them: Don’t forget. Remember the hardship and your suffering. Because this “curse” was God’s blessing to you. He humbled you, so that you would trust only in Him to lead and guide, to feed and provide. He was testing your heart, to see what was in it. Your father was disciplining you for your good. So it is with you in your life. You might well look on what is hard in your life and wonder when it will end, look at your suffering and your lack and need, and wonder whether God has forgotten you, hates you, is cursing you. Dear saints, listen to Moses. Here in his Famous Last Words he shows you this is not so, and the NT backs him up. What son is there whom his father does not discipline? (Heb. 12) If there were no discipline in your life – hardship, testing, endurance – then it means you are fatherless, there is no father in your life who loves you and shapes you and molds you as his own true child. Much that you look on as curse is in fact blessing.

Yes, and then we consider in this week of temptation and in this time of fasting what is the food of God’s people. Moses reminds the people of the manna God gave them every morning. Manna literally means “Man hu?” “What is this?” The people did not know what they received from God’s hand. The Lord had to open their eyes and show them. But always there was enough for just one day, not more. They got each day their daily bread. Here again the Lord was teaching them through His blessing and care. Their hunger kept them close to Him, the bread bound them to Him. [3] The manna was a daily lesson that the Israelites could not feed themselves, could not provide for themselves, dare not turn away from the Lord; they had to trust Him to give them their daily bread, and they had no choice but to rely on Him completely. It is no different with you and me. Jesus teaches us to pray: Give us this day our daily bread. Food for this day, trust in the Lord always. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. God’s Word is no Famous Last Word, but an eternal, living Word that is your true food. Think here of the words of Jesus at his temptation, as he fights Satan for you, a fight that came down to the finish at the cross. Draw strength from his life-giving word for your own times of temptation. Draw nourishment and strength and healing and zeal and life itself from Christ, who is the living Word of God, the personal Famous Last Word, if you will, and give thanks that this Word is eternal – the famous last Word because HE is the first Word, the Word of eternity, fed to you in His supper as nourishment for eternity.

Hear the words of St. Ambrose as he teaches those who would become pastors, directing them to good will: “It is therefore a good thing for us to be bedewed [i.e. to be given the manna that falls with morning dew by means of] the exhortations of the divine Scriptures, and that the word of God should come down upon us like the dew. When, therefore, you sit at the table of that great man, understand who that great man is. Set in the paradise of delight and placed at the feast of wisdom, think of what is put before you! The divine Scriptures are the feast of wisdom, and the single books the various dishes. Know, first, what dishes the banquet offers, then stretch forth your hand, that those things which you read, or which you receive from the Lord you God, you may carry out in action, and so by your duties you may show forth the grace that was granted you.”

I began with Famous Last Words; I would like to end with Famous Last Words. The famous inventor Thomas Edison supposedly said: “It is very beautiful over there.” Our own dear Dr. Martin Luther’s Famous Last Words were: “We are all beggars. This is true.” Yes, it is, but we are rich beggars, for we sit at the table of a great man who fills our pockets daily with goods. Let us then live as beggars by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord and be good Lutherans, having as if we did not have, possessing as ones who are possessed and as if we did not possess anything, stewards of God’s bounty, hungry for God’s bread, and answering God’s grace with good works that direct others to the Lord’s Famous Last Words and the bread of his grace we receive from him daily. Amen.

 

 

Rev. Dr. Karl Böhmer

Posted in Morning Prayer, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 16th February 2016

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Through his prophet Isaiah the living God promises: “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” (Isa 55:3 KJV)

And St. Paul hands on the holy account of that blessed history he himself was told and which is celebrated in the Christian church ever since: “After the same manner also our Lord Jesus Christ took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1Co 11:25 KJV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always +

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: In this mornings reading we are reminded of the great things and saving miracles our Lord God and creator of all has done especially to his servant Israel, but also to his one holy Christian Church. Today the focus is on his abiding covenant which he made not just with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but also with their children and children’s children in more than a thousand generations. It is the covenant, which has its binding power and enduring fulfilment in the very faithfulness of our God and his great mercy and goodness. Not even the unfaithfulness of the receiving party can make this undone. Rather even when heaven and earth pass away God’s gracious promise and merciful favour will not cease or depart from us. Rather God’s word remains forever and therefore also his most stable and abiding covenant of mercy, forgiveness and eternal life. That is why God’s covenant with us is not so much a partnership between two equal parties depending on the strength and power of both, rather it more of a testament instituted and grounded by the almighty and lasting faithfulness of God. He thus ensures and guarantees the permanence of this institution and testament with his own longevity and lasting stability and durability.

In the night, when our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ was betrayed, he instituted his new testament of his most holy and precious body and blood for us Christians to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins. He invited us and said: “Drink of it all of you!”  “This blood is shed for your for the remission of all your sins.” Nothing can stand up against it, dent or cancel the loving goodness and forgiving mercy of our Lord, which is shared for us in this holy cup of salvation and everlasting life. All sin is washed away. All transgressions are forgiven. All iniquities subsumed are now cancelled and nailed to the cross, which no longer is only a sign of accursing for us, but rather it is now also the high throne of the Lamb of God’s glorification, the revered place of our propitiation, redemption and sanctification too. There is no forgiveness without the shedding of innocent blood, but where there is forgiveness of sins there you find blessed life and salvation.

We eat and drink the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in this most holy sacrament. The gift of his grace and enduring mercy. So that we never forget how much it cost him, that we are saved, but also that we taste and see, how friendly and forgiving and merciful he is. If he didn’t spare his only begotten Son, but rather gave him into this sacrificial death so that by his vicarious death in our stead and for our sins, we would live instead of die and be condemned forever, and by his resurrection we would also be drawn into the new and sanctified creation where he is all and everything now and forever. This wonderful and miraculous exchange happened objectively there on Golgotha and through the awesome resurrection on Easter, but it also happens subjectively wherever we are baptized into his death and raised by his glorious resurrection, wherever we by God’s goodness and mercy hear and believe his promise of him doing this for us and our salvation, where we eat and drink his most holy sacrament instituted by him and practiced in the way he ordered it most right, good and salutary – there he does and fulfills the promises of his holy covenant, that he doesn’t hold our sins against us, but rather forgives, heals and lets us life with him now and forever.

Thanks and praise be to him our God and savior, he our Lord and king, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit – one God now and forever. Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

1. O Lord, we praise Thee, bless Thee, and adore Thee,
In thanksgiving bow before Thee.
Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish
Our weak souls that they may flouish:
O Lord, have mercy!
May Thy body, Lord, born of Mary,
That our sins and sorrows did carry,
And Thy blood for us plead
In all trial, fear, and need:
O Lord, have mercy!

2. Thy holy body into death was given,
Life to win for us in heaven.
No greater love than this to Thee could bind us;
May this feast thereof remind us!
O Lord, have mercy!
Lord, Thy kindness did so constrain Thee
That Thy blood should bless and sustain me.
All our debt Thou hast paid;
Peace with God once more is made:
O Lord, have mercy.

3. May God bestow on us His grace and favor
To please Him with our behavior
And live as brethren here in love and union
Nor repent this blest Communion!
O Lord, have mercy!
Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us;
Grant that heavenly-minded He make us;
Give Thy Church, Lord, to see
Days of peace and unity:
O Lord, have mercy!

Author: Martin Luther 1483 -1564 and melody: “Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet”

 

Posted in Herrenhuter Readings, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 15th February 2016

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

“What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?”  (Job 2:10 KJV)

“God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Co 10:13 KJV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always +

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: In this mornings reading we read the apostle St. Paul’s encouraging assurance that the living God is faithful and that he will not push us over the cliff. He doesn’t want us to fall victim to temptation, but rather be strengthened and edified by it. So even if we fall off that cliff, he’s there to catch us.

Job went through very deep waters. Lost not only his possessions, but also his sons and daughters and finally his health and well-being. Reason enough to despair. Yet, he does not curse God and die. He commits all and everything to God in the knowledge, that he himself is not omnipotent like our heavenly Father nor omniscient like him either. That is why some things are just impossible for us and do remain in the dark for us too. We’re not God, but just his creatures and entirely dependent on him. That is why the first commandment has absolute priority: We must love, trust and fear God above all else – and have no other gods besides him.

As long as we believe that God is out to get us, so long we will flee, shun and even hate him. It’s our sinful disbelief and mistrust that is the root cause of our dismal situation as outcasts from paradise and strangers and even enemies of God. Somewhat like Luther, who struggled with the just God until he was shown the gospel light, that this divine justice does not primarily just condemn him, but rather it’s God’s powerful means to justify him rather with the foreign righteousness of Christ, who is the propitiation of our sins and the vicarious sacrifice for our salvation and deliverance – outside of us and purely by grace and God’s overriding favour and mercy. In the same way God does not use his almighty power and absolute foreknowledge to harm, destroy and condemn us, but rather to save, deliver and bless us in eternity. That’s what God’s good and merciful will is all about – that he wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.

Job was shown that. St. Paul taught that in his preaching and teaching, his writing and living. Obviously we need to see the big picture for this and not be too shortsighted either. For some of these things, we will only see once we are on the other side of death and beyond the ultimate judgement of God, when he has finally brought to completion his work of salvation and justice. Then, when he will have wiped off all tears and healed all our diseases, after he has raised the dead from the graves – all those martyrs and holy innocents, those aborted children and murdered imbeciles, victims and all and everyone – to face his absolute just and righteous verdict.  Before that there’s a lot of injustice and many wrongs and terrible pains and innocent sufferings too. This will tempt many to loose faith and hope and love, because they don’t believe in God’s help and salvation anymore. Yet, God is faithful and he will find a way to make his promises come true. Therefore we should rather despair of our own means and faculties, our own thoughts and ideas, our deapest fears and anxieties and rather look up to Jesus Christ – who is the author and perfector of our faith, hope and life – in this life and the next. Thanks and praise be to him our Father and savior, Lord and king, who lives and reigns one God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

  1. I walk in danger all the way.
    The thought shall never leave me
    That Satan, who has marked his prey,
    Is plotting to deceive me.
    This foe with hidden snares
    May seize me unawares
    If I should fail to watch and pray.
    I walk in danger al the way.
  2. I pass through trials all the way,
    With sin and ills contending;
    In patience I must bear each day
    The cross of God’s own sending.
    When in adversity
    I know not where to flee,
    When storms of woe my soul dismay,
    I pass through trials all the way.
  3. And death pursues me all the way,
    Nowhere I rest securely;
    He comes by night, he come by day,
    He takes his prey most surely.
    A failing breath, and I
    In death’s strong grasp may lie
    To face eternity today
    As death pursues me all the way.
  4. I walk with angels all the way,
    They shield me and befriend me;
    All Satan’s power is held at bay
    When heavenly hosts attend me;
    They are my sure defense,
    All fear and sorrow, hence!
    Unharmed by foes, do what they may,
    I walk with angels all the way.
  5. I walk with Jesus all the way,
    His guidance never fails me;
    Within his wounds I find a stay
    When Satan’s power assails me;
    And by his footsteps led,
    My path I safely tread.
    No evil leads my soul astray;
    I walk with Jesus all the way.
  6. My walk is heavenward all the way;
    Await, my soul, the morrow,
    When God’s good healing shall allay
    All suffering, sin, and sorrow.
    Then, worldly pomp, be gone!
    To heaven I now press on.
    For all the world I would not stay;
    My walk is heavenward all the way.

Hans A.Brorson 1694-1764 translated Ditlef G. Ristad (“Der lieben Sonne Licht und Pracht”)

 

 

Posted in Herrenhuter Readings, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sunday Invocavit (First Sunday in Lent)

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Watchword for this first week in Lent: For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (1.John 3:8b)

Psalm of this week: „He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.“ (Ps.91:1-2.11-12)

The readings for this first Sunday in Lent (Invocavit) are:

  • Old Testament: Genesis 3:1-19 (20-24)
  • The Epistle: Hebrews 4:14-16
  • The Gospel: St. Matthew 4:1-11

The liturgical colour is purple.

The hymn for this week is from the Lutheran Hymnal 262:

  1. A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon;
    He helps us free from every need that hath us now overtaken.
    The old evil foe now means deadly woe; deep guile and great might
    Are his dread arms in fight; on Earth is not his equal.
  2. With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected;
    But for us fights the Valiant One, whom God Himself elected.
    Ask ye, who is this? Jesus Christ it is.
    Of Zebbaoth Lord, and there’s none other God;
    He holds the field forever.
  3. Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us.
    We tremble not, we fear no ill, they shall not overpower us.
    This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will,
    He can harm us none, he’s judged; the deed is done;
    One little word can fell him.
  4. The Word they still shall let remain nor any thanks have for it;
    He’s by our side upon the plain with His good gifts and Spirit.
    And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife,
    Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;
    The Kingdom ours remaineth.

Martin Luther 1483-1546

We pray with this collect: „O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch out the right hand of Your majesty to defend us from them that rise up against us;  through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.” (TLH 62)

Posted in Lent, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 13th February 2106.

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber
  • „Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.“ (Psalm 94:15 NIV)
  • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6 NIV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you + Dear friends of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ + Perhaps you don’t follow the news like some good friends and even family of mine. They say, they are a lot happier for it. No bad news. Just turn a blind eye. Like those so-called wise monkeys: „Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.“ Sadly now news doesn’t remove bad or evil. Quite the opposite. It may let me cry: „Peace, peace“ (cf. Jeremiah 6:14), when there is no peace or „Don’t worry, be happy“ even when I’ve got all reason to be concerned and disturbed and really need to do something about it. Yet, because I don’t know, I just remain ignorant and in the dark. I, for my part really can’t keep away from the news for long. It’s on my mind and if I don’t read the newspaper, I’ve got the feeling I’m isolated, perhaps even banished into exile. Sadly, that doesn’t make me wise either. For wisdom and insight doesn’t come from just watching the news or following every link on Twitter or just being exposed to the flood of information day in day out.

No, true wisdom comes from the fear of the Lord (cf. Proverbs 9:10). And the biggest calamity of our day is the fallacy to live as if there is no God. Just because I don’t see him, doesn’t mean he’s not the determining factor, the absolute being and really all that matters. The one we are to love, trust and fear above all else. 

We human beings can’t do anything to save ourselves. On the contrary, we’re great at destroying good, right and salutary things. It’s not just the obvious destruction of wars throughout the ages, but they sure do a lot to prove the point. Which people have not suffered tremendously and horrifically at the cruel hand of others. It would seem as if human history is one of wars and bloodshed, persecution and destruction starting off with that terrible fratricide there just outside paradise. Since then this human tendency to be more beast and wolf than brother and friend has snowballed. Just look at Mel Gibsons film: „Apocalypto“ and you’ll understand what I’m getting at or James Clavell’s book „Shogun“ or William Golding’s „Lord of the Flies“. The ruthless and faithless think they can get away with murder and continue in their destructive ways.   This underlying foundation of all our existence and inner mechanics of our world doesn’t disappear even with a Rousseauean overcoat of Kleethian colours and garnish. 

Well, and the great temptation, when faced by this incredible and profuse violence, which is often to horrible to even contemplate, is to conclude erroneously that the true God, the living Lord and righteous judge does not see, hear or do anything about this. That he’s left this place a long time ago (cf. Blood Diamonds). That his hands are tied or he’s dead even and that the world is just spinning out of control – way beyond the grip and caring guidance of a heavenly Father full of grace, mercy and compassion. That’s when the psalmists puts our questions into words addressed to the living God in cries of lament:   

  • Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
  • How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
  • They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage.
  • They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
  • Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.

These thoughts of the despairing are answered as the psalmist continues in the name of the Lord:

  • Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;
  • That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
  • For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
  • But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

Yes, the Lord our God will finally uphold righteousness and bring justice to the fore once again. That is what the downtrodden and despairing are taught to be waiting for even as they are threatened by loosing faith and reacting most anxiously to their tribulations and sufferings. They, who are tired and heavily burdened. They are to look up to the Lord and wait for his salvation. For it is he alone, who will bring forth righteousness and let justice shine like the morning sun. He is the living judge, who will do what is right and set up goodness, peace and justice at his time of the last judgement. That is what the people of the world should be waiting for even as they drench their bed with tears at night and eat their dry bread with sorrow, mourning and pain before they go about their vain and empty chores of the day, anxious what will come and happen to them, because it is so vain and hopeless to wait for princess and put ones hope in failing men. God alone is our refuge and a very present help in our need. He alone can help and he is sure to do so. Therefore hear again the true promises of the Lord given many, many decades and centuries ago. He is faithful and will surely do it. Therefore let us call to him for he will surely hear our cries for help: 

  • O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
  • Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

Our Lord Jesus Christ promises: „Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.“ (Matthew 5:6 NIV)

Even if we don’t see it right now, there is reason to hope. Jesus Christ is God’s living guarantee that he doesn’t fail, but fulfils whatever he has promised. In him all promises are yes and Amen. Therefore we don’t need to avenge ourselves, but can bide God’s timing. We can commit all and everything into his good and caring hands. He will deliver us from all evil – at the end of time and as this world ends and the new creation of God is called into being. A world without end and without sin or evil or death. Even if we now are hard pressed, discriminated against, persecuted, tortured and even killed – God is alive and we shall live also – for Christ’s sake. Therefore trust in him. He will do the good, right and salutary. Therefore don’t despair, but lift up your heads for the Lord is near. He is coming with great might to deliver us and set up righteousness, justice and peace – for he is God and the true saviour of the world. Amen.

The peace of the Lord be with you always + Amen.

  1. A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon;
    He helps us free from every need that hath us now overtaken.
    The old evil foe now means deadly woe; deep guile and great might
    Are his dread arms in fight; on Earth is not his equal.
  2. With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected;
    But for us fights the Valiant One, whom God Himself elected.
    Ask ye, who is this? Jesus Christ it is.
    Of Zebbaoth Lord, and there’s none other God;
    He holds the field forever.
  3. Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us.
    We tremble not, we fear no ill, they shall not overpower us.
    This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will,
    He can harm us none, he’s judged; the deed is done;
    One little word can fell him.
  4. The Word they still shall let remain nor any thanks have for it;
    He’s by our side upon the plain with His good gifts and Spirit.
    And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife,
    Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;
    The Kingdom ours remaineth.

Martin Luther 1483-1546

Posted in Herrenhuter Readings, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Friday, the 12th February 2016

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

The prophet Hosea writes: “It shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” (Hos 1:10 KJV)

The evangelist St.John writes: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (Joh 1:12 KJV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always +

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: In this mornings reading we read from the introductory chapter penned by the prophet Hosea. He introduces these words with the heading: “The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the reign of Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel.” (Hos1:1 NIV) It’s not some timeless myth, but history clearly dated and situated. It continuous with that dramatic story initiated by God’s reaction to Israel’s unfaithfulness and serious infidelity likened to that of a promiscuous woman, who isn’t loyal to her betrothed husband, but tries her luck with whoever comes by the way. Israel, who was but a desert urchin and haggard ragamuffin when taken up by the Lord as his own beloved and nurtured bride and wife. He bound her by divine covenant to be his very own holy people, to live according to his will and ways and he as guarding her most jealously as his very own priced treasure and most beloved.

Israel however disregarded this special bond, cut herself loose from this rather exceptional tie and bandied around with other idols, throwing herself at the ever changing political powers of the day and by entering into seemingly more promising alliances, unions and partnerships. Thus forsaking the solitary union with the one and only true living God and associating with passing fancies of the day in a pragmatic, lighthearted and opportunistic fashion.

Now God is a jealous God. He doesn’t bear with such sinful pride and deceitful conduct for he says, “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Ex. 20: 5–6)

So God broke Israel’s bow (v 5) and called Israel: “Ruhamah” i.e. not loved – not loved anymore, no longer loved: “for I will no longer show love to Israel, that I should at all forgive them.” (v.6) and called Israel “Lo-Ammi” i.e not my people “for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” (v.9) This was a divorce. The death knell for Israel – discarded, uncared for, despised and rejected, dishonored, defiled and desecrated. A terrible fate.

That is the backdrop of the beautiful prophecy in this mornings reading, which says: “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God’ … and great will be the day of Jezreel” (Hos 1:10f NIV)

What a wonderful change of fate, something mirroring the wonderful exchange, where our Lord Jesus Christ goes out of his way to find the lost and forsaken sinners and restores them to the very family of God – as beloved sons and daughters of the heavenly Father himself: Nicodemus, Zacheus, St.Peter, James and John, Mary Magdalene, Martha, the Samaritan woman at the well, St. Matthews the tax collector etc. etc.

The cloud of witnesses to the gracious dealing of our God with sinners, idolaters and faithless enemies is truly great and encompasses the entire Christian Church, consisting of forgiven sinners, sanctified sons and daughters of God, forgiven, saved and kept with Jesus Christ in holiness and sanctity of life.

The story of the lost son being restored by the grace of his good and gracious Father, who dresses him, restores him in honor and dignity and calls out a feast of feasts (Luke 15) summarizes this wonderful dealing of our God, who does not remain angry forever, but who shows favor and forgiveness, love and mercy. It is he, who draws, calls and invites sinners (like we all were) through the very workings and means of the Holy Spirit actively saving and sanctifying and keeping with Christ in true faith through the means of grace (Word and Sacrament), so that the saved and forgiven people of the Church and sons and daughters of the heavenly Father would be ashamed of their sin, no longer revel in it, but renounce the ways and works of the devil daily and put their trust solely and again and again in the forgiveness of the triune God, who alone is the source and center of blessed life and salvation as he gives, grants and shares his love and goodness with them on a daily basis like daily break.

Thanks and praise be to him our Father and savior, Lord and king, who lives and reigns one God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

  1. O for a thousand tongues to sing
    My great Redeemer’s praise,
    The glories of my God and King,
    The triumphs of His grace!
  2. My gracious Master and my God,
    Assist me to proclaim,
    To spread through all the earth abroad
    The honors of Thy name.
  3. Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
    That bids our sorrows cease;
    ’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
    ’Tis life, and health, and peace.
  4. He breaks the power of canceled sin,
    He sets the prisoner free;
    His blood can make the foulest clean,
    His blood availed for me.
  5. He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
    New life the dead receive,
    The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
    The humble poor believe.
  6. Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
    Your loosened tongues employ;
    Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
    And leap, ye lame, for joy.
  7. Glory to God, and praise and love
  8. Be ever, ever given,
    By saints below and saints above,
    The church in earth and heaven.
  9. Sudden expired the legal strife,
  10. ’Twas then I ceased to grieve;
    My second, real, living life
    I then began to live.
  11. Then with my heart I first believed,
    Believed with faith divine,
    Power with the Holy Ghost received
    To call the Savior mine.
  12. I felt my Lord’s atoning blood
    Close to my soul applied;
    Me, me He loved, the Son of God,
    For me, for me He died!
  13. I found and owned His promise true,
    Ascertained of my part,
    My pardon passed in heaven I knew
    When written on my heart.
  14. Look unto Him, ye nations, own
    Your God, ye fallen race;
    Look, and be saved through faith alone,
    Be justified by grace.
  15. See all your sins on Jesus laid:
    The Lamb of God was slain,
    His soul was once an offering made
    For every soul of man.
  16. Harlots and publicans and thieves
  17. In holy triumph join!
    Saved is the sinner that believes
    From crimes as great as mine.
  18. Murderers and all ye hellish crew
    In holy triumph join!
    Believe the Savior died for you;
    For me the Savior died.

Charles Wesley 1707-1788

 

Posted in Herrenhuter Readings, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Matins in the Morning: Lk.9,51ff

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

This mornings sermon during Matins is available here to read: Lk9,51-56 Matins 2016.2.11 and here to listen too: 

Posted in sermonette or devotion, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vater Wilhelms Rundbrief

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Eltern Weber

ר י צִ קְ לִ   ם י לִ עֲ   חַ לֹ שְ לִ   ר י צִ קָ הַ   ל עַ בַ ־ ל א   נ נֲ חַ תְ הִ  ן כֵ לָ ׃ ם י לִ עֲ הַ   ם הֵ   ט עַ מ   ר י צִ קָ הַ   ב רַ     י ט
Math. 9:37-38: Die Ernte ist groß, aber wenige sind der Arbeiter. Darum bittet den Herrn der Ernte, dass er Arbeiter in seine Ernte sende. – Die oes is wel groot, maar die arbeiders min. Bid dan die Here van die oes, dat Hy arbeiders in sy oes mag uitstuur. – The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. – ὁ μὲν θερισμὸς πολύς, οἱ ἐργάται ὀλίγοι · δεήθετε ον το κυρίου το θερισμο ὅπως ἐκβάλῃ ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν θερισμὸν αὐτο – Messis quidem multa, operarii autem pauci; rogate ergo Dominum, ut mittat operarios in messem suam. Thobo e kgolo, mme badiri ba a tlhaela. Ka moo he, rapelang Morena wa thobo gore a romele badiri mo thobong ya gagwe.. – Ukuvuna kukhulu, kodwa izisebenzi ziyingcosana; ngakho-ke nxusani eNkosini yokuvuna ukuba ithume izisebenzi, ziye ekuvuneni kwayo. – Herr, wir danken Dir für an Schrift und Lutherisches Bekenntnis gebundene theologische Ausbildungsstätten in unseren Kirchen in vielen Ländern. Herr, sende Arbeiter in Deine Ernte! Herr, lass uns überzeugt sein, dass Du, wenn Du Arbeiter in Deine Ernte sendest, auch für ihre schrift- und bekenntnisgemäße Ausbildung und für spätere Verwendung in deinem Dienst sorgen wirst, auch für den den Umständen entsprechenden Einsatz sorgen und für den zeitgemäßen nötigen Unterhalt für die  Arbeiter die Hände in den unions-, staats und weltbundfreien Lutherischen Kirchen  öffnen wirst. Herr, in Deiner Gnade sorge für eine schrift- und bekenntnismäßige Ausbildung an allen Lutherischen theologischen Ausbildungsstätten, gerade auch am LTS in Tshwane und schenke die nötigen Mittel, dass die Arbeit, die da getan werden muss, auch getan werden kann.
Heute verschickte mein Vater diese Rundbrief aus Welbedacht datiert 6. Februar 2016:
“… Christiane Rencken und Robert Schnackenberg haben ihre Studien in Pretoria angefangen mit mehr und weniger Schwierigkeiten beim Registrieren entsprechend der verschiedenen Verhinderungen durch Leute, die den Studenten den Zugang versperrten. Wie sich das im Einzelnen bei den Enkeln auswirkte, weiß ich nicht, ebenso nicht, was sich Studenten oder Angestellte davon versprechen, wenn sie den Universitätsbetrieb lahm legen, dass z. B. Professoren und Lektoren Examen schreiben lassen, und Studenten ihre Examen gern schreiben wollen, und das unmöglich gemacht wird. Da mögen sie sich versprechen, einige finanzielle Vorteile für sich zu erreichen, dabei bedenken sie nicht, wieviele ihre Examen nicht schreiben können und dadurch nicht weitermachen können, wie sie sich das gedacht haben.
Am 8. Januar haben wir in Pretoria die Hochzeit von Nadia und Werner Straeuli gefeiert. Die Trauung im Garten war gerade vorbei, als es einen schönen Guss Regen gab, dass wir ohne nass zu werden in den Festsaal gehen konnten. Wir freuten uns, dass Christian uns ihren Vortrag über das Erleben der Söhne mit ihren Eltern zum Nachlesen schickte.  Am neunten feierten wir noch die Verlobung von Marielena und Dietrich bei Straeulis mit, bevor wir mit Benekes hierher nach Hause fuhren. Übernachtet hatten wir in der Rubidastraße, wo uns wie gewöhnlich das elterliche Schlafzimmer mit Badezimmer nebenan  zur Verfügung stand. Dort habe ich einen höheren Hocker ausprobiert, dass ich ihn in der Dusche benutzen kann, den wir uns auch erbaten, dass ich seitdem nun fast ohne Hilfe duschen kann, hier kann ich mich an einem Griff, den Manfred mir in der Dusche angebracht hat, sogar sehr bequem festhalten zum Einsteigen in die Dusche, mich auf den Hocker hinsetzen, aufstehen und auch wieder aus der Dusche aussteigen, dass ich mich inzwischen in der Dusche ohne Beistand von Karin, wieder waschen kann. Zum Abtrocknen und Anziehen ist ihre Hilfe mir immer noch sehr willkommen. Vor allem habe ich es noch nicht gewagt, selber Strümpfe anzuziehen. Wenigstens braucht sie sich nicht mehr mit den langen Gummistrümpfen zu plagen, die nach der Operation nötig waren zur Verhütung von Trombosen. Da genügt es, dass ich die Beine beim Schlafen hochlege.
Eine besondere Freude war es, dass Anne zur Hochzeit gekommen war und auch in der Woche nach Neujahr bis zur Hochzeit hier in Welbedacht besuchte. Auch  einige ihrer Kinder und Heickes aus Dreihausen hatten die Einladung zur Hochzeit erfreulicherweise zu einem Südafrikabesuch genutzt. Von Heickes hörten wir wieder manches aus Dreihausen. Sie brachten auch Bildchen von einem Schulkameraden mit und erzählten von Bekannten, denen es noch gut geht und von einer Schulkameradin, die gestorben ist. 2011 hatten wir sie noch besucht.
Vor einigen Wochen brachte uns Walter die Nachricht, dass sein Patenjunge, der Sohn seiner Schwester, versucht hat, sich am Abend vorher das Leben zu nehmen und in Newcastle im Krankenhaus lag. Bei allem Schrecken, sind wir dankbar dass er lebt. Inzwischen konnte er schon nach Hause. Dabei habe ich vor allem an Thomas gedacht, der ihn in Newcastle betreuen musste. Pastor Bunge von Klein Süstedt sprach seine Dankbarkeit aus an seinem 25. Ordinationsgedenken, dass er in seiner Amtszeit keinen Selbstmord in der Gemeinde erlebte. Dazu sagte Pfr. Hopf, dass es heilsam sein kann für Pastor und Gemeinde. Dazu erzählte er aus Widdershausen, wie die Kirchenvorsteher – sicher sprach er von Senioren – zu Pfarrer Riegel gekommen seien mit einer Bitte: Nach der damaligen Gewohnheit und Ordnung würden sie den Toten mit einem Vaterunser beerdigen, aber sie baten, dass die Gemeinde zu einem Bußgottesdienst in die Kirche kommen, den ihnen der Pfarrer halten möchte. Der Tote ist in Gottes Hand. Gott ist Herr über Leben und Tod. Dieses Recht dürfen wir ihm nicht streitig machen, weder durch Selbstmord noch “Gnadentod”. Den Toten können wir nicht mehr fragen oder zur Umkehr rufen und zur Vergebung einladen. Die Aufgabe bleibt uns an den Hinterbliebenen und an der ganzen Gemeinde.  Aber an dem Vetter unserer Enkel musste und konnte mit einem dankbaren Herzen Thomas im ersten Jahr  nach seiner Ordination diesen Dienst erfüllen. Jedem, der solch einen Dienst zu tun hat, erbitte ich die nötige Kraft und Einsicht, das rechte Wort zur Buße/Umkehr und zum echt evangelischen Trost zu finden und zu sagen.
Ruth hatte zu Montag und Dienstag Elisabeth gebeten, uns zu betreuen, als sie mit Walter, der zu einer Untersuchung unter Narkose nach Newcastle musste. Karin wird ganz großartig mit meiner Pflege allein fertig. Dankbar sind wir, wie selbstverständlich die Kinder so für uns da sind. So konnten auch Andile und Zanele gut hier zu Hause bleiben.
In den beiden vergangenen Wochen sind nun endlich Weihnachtsbriefe, -karten und -grüße, die zu Weihnachten per Luftpost aus Deutschland und Amerika losgeschickt wurden, hier angekommen. Da freuen  wir uns über  Internetverbindung, aber auch dass Schneckenpost- sendungen in gutem Zustand ans Ziel kommen, wenn man auch kirchliche Blätter und Zeitungen aus Deutschland vom Oktober erst Mitte Januar lesen kann.” Bis dahin mein Vater aus Welbedacht.
Posted in Uncategorized, Vater Wihelms Rundbrief | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ash Wednesday: Mt. 6,16-21.

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Here you can read this Ash Wednesday’s confessional address on the gospel of St. Matthew in the sixth chapter verses sixteen to twenty-one: Mt 6,16-21 Confession 2016.2.10 and listen here too: 

Posted in Lutheran Confessions, Sermon, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Morning prayer on Tuesdays: Luke 9,18-22

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Here’s this mornings sermon preached in St.Timothy’s chapel of the Lutheran Theological Seminary by Rev Dr. K. Boehmer on Luke 9,18-22:  Now it happened that as [Jesus] was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

My bank account is with Nedbank. Every time I have a problem with my account, or when I have a question, I call the Nedbank contact center. Every time, we follow the same routine, the same rigmarole. I have to provide my identity number, my name, my account number, and answer some security questions – and then comes the question. They ask it every time. I think it is part of their training. They say: So how can I make things happen for you? How can I make things happen for you – how wonderful it would be if they really meant that. Imagine – just imagine you could tell someone on the telephone with your problems are, your needs, your wants, your desires; all you needed to do was to tell them, and then they would make things happen for you. I can think of many things that I would ask them to make happen for me. Good day, you’re speaking with Nedbank, how can I make things happen for you? – But that’s not really what they want to know, is it. What they really want to know is: What is your problem with your bank account, and how can I help you solve it, because that’s what I get paid to do?

Some people think that’s what prayer is. It is a telephone call to God, if you will, and it follows the same routine. Imagine God sits there and says: So, how can I make things happen for you? If you had that chance, if you could tell God whatever was on your heart or on your mind or weighing you down, and what you wanted done, and he would make it happen – what would it be? Well… there’s this problem with my visa. Could you make that go away? Well… there’s this problem with my money. I don’t have any. Can you help? Well… there’s this problem with my studies. The lecturers give too much homework. Could you help me out?

For some time now, Jesus had been at work among the people of God. A preacher like none before him, a healer with miraculous capabilities, a teacher like no other, he raises the dead, he wows the crowds, he casts out demons, he feeds 5,000 and more in one sitting – who is this man? Well, what’s the vibe, what’s the scoop, who do the people think he is? Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, others that he is one of the profits back from the dead. But they’re all wrong. They all pick a supporting actor instead of the lead role, a flunky instead of the star. But then comes Peter’s big moment. “You are… the Christ of God.” At that moment, heaven probably reverberated with the praise and worship of choirs of angels and heavenly beings praising God with delight and wonder and veneration and awe.

Now imagine – just imagine – Jesus responding to Peter and saying: You’re right, I am the Christ, how can I make things happen for you? Imagine Jesus turning to the people of Israel and saying: All right, the secret’s out, I am the Christ, the promised Anointed One, how can I make things happen for you? You could safely bet that people would ask for all kinds of things. Health, wealth, happiness, fame and joy and fortune. National self-determination, military successes, the scrapping of the Pax Romana for the Pax Iudaica, scratch the Roman Empire and make way for the Jewish Empire and the eternal Golden Age. People would want all kinds of things to happen.

The irony is that Jesus says something similar; in effect, he says: You’re right, I am the Christ, and I’ve come to make things happen for you. And here’s what that means: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Instead of taking away their suffering, and their national suffering, the Christ comes to add suffering of his own. Instead of compensating for their rejection by the world, the Christ comes to be rejected himself. Instead of preventing their death, the Christ comes to be killed himself. The coming of Jesus as the Christ is God answer to the world’s problems, to Israel’s problems, to Peter’s problems, and to yours. It is God saying: I see your need, I am moved by it, let me make things happen for you, and here’s how I’m going to do it… And – worst of all – this isn’t optional. It’s not as if they have a choice. They don’t have a say, you don’t have a say. It’s right there in the Greek, that little word, just three letters, δεῖ – the Son of Man must suffer and be rejected and killed and raised. This is divine necessity, it is God saying: This must be so, there is no other way. It is as Scripture explains in Acts 4: The rejection and the suffering and the killing and the dying Jesus experienced came about because God’s hand and his plan had predestined it to take place (Acts 4:28). The prophets foretold it, this is how it would be. This is God looking at your life, and mine, and saying: I see your need and here’s how I will meet it.

Jesus challenges Peter’s expectations and he challenges yours and mine as he clarifies what God needs to do to make things happen for you. This is what you need: A messiah who will suffer for you, who will be rejected for you, who will die for you, who will be raised for you. It is painful to admit that this is what we need. A Messiah who will suffer and die for us, to make up for our failures and rebellions. To address our sin of idolatry and insurrection, and to free us from the curse of sin. To provide forgiveness and reconciliation with our Creator. This is how it is: Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Heb. 9:22). For you to live, Christ must die. To make things happen for you.

That Jesus was willing to do this – this is pure Gospel. That he was willing to be born under the Law, to fulfil all righteousness, and to pay the full price of our redemption on Calvary’s cross – this is pure gift. Just like Peter’s confession was. All gift. And the angels in heaven rejoice and break out in praise to the Almighty whenever sinners receive this gift today, when they make this confession and are saved from their sins.

One thing’s needful; Lord this treasure
Teach me highly to regard;
All else, though it first give pleasure,
Is a yoke that presses hard.
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
The gain of this one thing all loss can requite
And teach me in all things to find true delight.

 Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor Dr. Karl Böhmer

Posted in LTS in Tshwane, Morning Prayer, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment