LÖHE ON ROMANS 11:33B

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

synagogueHow unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Rom 11:33 NIV)

This scriptural passage refers to the election of the Jews. It is a favorite motto of the apostle Saint Paul under the influence of the Holy Spirit and inspired from on high that Israel and the pagan nations will be united by one faith and in the one holy Christian Church. This is not cancelled by the temporary rejection of Israel as this only opens the gates for the pagan nations to enter into the kingdom of God. The natural branches are withering and dry, but new branches are grafted in by the good gardener, the Lord of the Church. This temporary adjudication for the benefit of the pagans and to the detriment of Israel will stop once the living God in his unsearchable goodness, mercy and faithfulness will once again bring the natural branches to flourish and fruition bearing countless blessings. The unification of Jews and pagans into one Church is the holy purpose of God in history – even if he has closed off Israel for a time being and allowed those, that were not children to be part of the family too. This is what is happening in history. God is doing his part and bringing his plan to fulfillment. We can’t really fathom all that, but must join the holy apostle St. Paul in his words of praise and adoration: Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Rom 11:33 NIV) Our insight, knowledge and wisdom is just too restricted to grasp these extraordinary words and meanings.

Dear Father in heaven! We pray to you from the bottom of our heart for your people Israel. Convert them from their disbelief and let them recognize Jesus Christ as your Son and their Messiah. Let the time come, when the pagan nations have been called and Israel be saved. Equip your holy Christendom and Church with faithful power of your Holy Spirit, so that they will be loving and faithful witnesses in this world and shining examples of your grace and mercy before all nations – especially the  Jewish and Muslim people on this earth. Lord, holy God, we also plead for our own nation, that it will recognize you in your holy word and that it will listen to you and obey your will, believing in your Son as Lord and savior of the world. There are yet far too many, who don’t recognize what is serving peace and finds your good will. Wake up all souls and every conscience, that they will gather under the cross of your son and put all hope, trust and faith in him alone. Amen. (O.J. Mehl)

Oh may the help come from Zion! Oh would your Spirit bring out your people from prison as promised! Oh would it be light before dark! Oh Lord tear open the heavens and come down to help and set us free.

Oh let your word run free and speedily to the ends of the world so that no place be without its light and shine. Oh bring in the full contingent of pagans from across the globe and yes, awaken your old Israel too – so bless your word’s course and purpose. (Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky, 1690-1774)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the festival of Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 217 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 28th May 2013

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Holy BaptismWho can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. (Psalm 19:12 NIV)

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. (Titus 3:4-5 NIV)

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LÖHE ON ROMANS 11:33A

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

trinityOh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! (Rom 11:33 NIV)

Are there secrets and mysteries in religion or not? Well, that’s a question often asked. We Christians can clearly assent as any religion without secrets and mysteries would be rather boring and just a bit too human. The divine revelation about God and this world, creation and salvation of mankind, about its calling in this world and in eternity is so profound, with such heights and depths, far and near, wide and tall by far transcends our capacity for understanding and comprehension. We sometimes even wonder if eternity will be long enough to get to the end of it all. Yet there are mysteries that have been revealed and have imprinted themselves so deeply into the human psyche and soul that they have ceased to be mysteries. These however are not our topic today. We want to talk about those mysteries, that remain shrouded in deep secrecy and perhaps will remain so forever. One of these is the holy mystery of the divine trinity. Others are those of God’s dealings with mankind, the election of the Jews and the rebirth of the godless to faith by grace.

Lord God, you creator, savior and comforter + We praise your great mercy, that you have revealed your most holy Trinitarian being to us.  Almighty creator of heaven and earth, we perceive your eternal power and divinity illustrated by your works of creation and the richness of your grace in our daily lives. We bow down before your throne of glory and we praise you for carrying us through your holy word and for taking care of us daily, protecting and providing us without any merit or worthiness on our part. We praise you, o holy and gracious God, that you have revealed yourself in Jesus Christ our Lord and that you have given him into death on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins and so that we may attain eternal life through his glorious resurrection from the dead.  We praise your holy Name as you dwell in our hearts by the Holy Spirit to comfort us and lead us in all your truth. Amen. (Prussian Agenda)

Glory be to God the Father, Glory be to God the Son, Glory be to God the Spirit, Great Jehovah, Three in One! Glory, glory, glory, glory, While eternal ages run!

Glory be to Him Who loved us, Washed us from each spot and stain! Glory be to Him Who bought us, Made us kings with Him to reign! Glory, glory, glory, glory, To the Lamb that once was slain!

Glory to the King of angels, Glory to the church’s King, Glory to the King of nations! Heaven and earth, your praises bring; Glory, glory, glory, glory, To the King of glory bring!

“Glory, blessing, praise eternal!” Thus the choir of angels sings; “Honor, riches, power, dominion!” Thus its praise creation brings; Glory, glory, glory, glory, Glory to the King of kings! (Horatius Bonar 1808-89

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the holy festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 216 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 27th May 2013

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

St. Paul preaching“Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations.” (Isaiah 51:4 NIV)

St. Paul preached: “I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen– that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:22-23 NIV)

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LÖHE ON ROMANS 11:33A

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

trinityOh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! (Rom 11:33 NIV)

We hardly grasp earthly things, how much less do we comprehend what is heavenly and divine. We can see that very clearly with Nicodemus. How much convincing, teaching and motivating  did our Lord have to accomplish in trying to explain the most basic Christian experience of rebirth and holy Baptism.

The holy apostle Saint Paul writes this letter to the Romans inspired by the Holy Spirit. He writes about heavenly things and declares divine mysteries. We don’t fathom it – not by far. “Three witness in heaven and these three are but one!” That’s a common sound in the Church, but the content remains a godly mystery. Nobody will solve it – even if they give it most serious and enthusiastic tries. “Therefore be still before him all the world!”

We hold on to this truth and as we fall prostrate before you o one God, three in one on this highest Holiday of the Holy Trinity, then let our jubilation and praying worship, adore and glorify you by, through and to whom all was created. From the bottom of our soul and heart and being we sing your holy name and pray: “All glory be to you o God Father, Son and Holy Spirit now and forever!”

WE praise thee, O God: we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.

All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting.

To thee all Angels cry aloud: the Heavens, and all the Powers therein.

To thee Cherubim and Seraphim: continually do cry,

Holy, Holy, Holy: Lord God of Sabaoth;

Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty: of thy glory.

 

The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee.

The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee.

The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee.

The holy Church throughout all the world: doth acknowledge thee;

The Father: of an infinite Majesty;

Thine honourable, true: and only Son;

Also the Holy Ghost: the Comforter.

Thou art the King of Glory: O Christ.

Thou art the everlasting Son: of the Father.

When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb.

When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.

Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father.

We believe that thou shalt come: to be our Judge.

We therefore pray thee, help thy servants: whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.

Make them to be numbered with thy Saints: in glory everlasting.

 O Lord, save thy people: and bless thine heritage.

Govern them: and lift them up for ever.

Day by day: we magnify thee;

And we worship thy Name: ever world without end.

Vouchsafe, O Lord: to keep us this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us: as our trust is in thee.

O Lord, in thee have I trusted: let me never be confounded.

1662  version of the  “Te Deum laudamus” [ca 500 AD]

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the holiday celebrating the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 215 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Löhe on John 14:29

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

EucharistI have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. (Joh 14:29 NIV)

Let’s not forget all those sufferings our Lord had to pass through with his disciples before the Holy Spirit brought his special gifts that have been our topic this past week of Pentecost. That bitter warfare with the lord of this world was most terribly wrought even though our Lord and King spoke about it quite at peace with himself and full of confidence in his final victory and triumph. It was only in the Garden of Gethsemane where his disciples accompanied him to the edges of the battlefield that he gave more than just a hint of the seriousness of the coming crisis.

If that is now sounding very much like a Lenten devotion and not so full of joy of Pentecost, then that is because our Lord guides us in this manner through his holy word. The most beautiful promises of our Lord concerning the comforter go along with the serious prospect of the coming suffering of Jesus Christ right up to his death on the cross. The Hallelujahs of this victorious Pentecost celebration are grounded solidly in the salvific act on Golgotha. As the glorious ascension of our Lord is the prerequisite for the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost so the ascension itself is caused by the Lenten suffering of our Lord and his glorification on the cross. On that cross all was earned and achieved  – and there will be no time – not even in eternity that this remembrance of the crucified Christ will be sidelined or even forgotten. His pierced hands, feet, side, body and head will always occupy centre stage in the life of the faithful. Therefore praise and worship to his glorious kingdom now in the Pentecostal time, but glory and honor too to his vicarious, all-availing and most precious sacrifice there on the wondrous cross and martyr pole.

We praise you o God and Father, you Lord of heaven and earth, that you have given your only begotten son Jesus Christ for us into death. You lead him into the deepest humiliation and shame before you rose him to the highest realms of victory and glory. We praise you o Lord Jesus Christ that you went all the way obediently to the will of your Father, faithfully fulfilling all that was demanded for us and our salvation from sin, death and the devil. Praise and worship also to you o most precious Holy Spirit, who teaches and reminds us, but also comforts, strengthens, sanctifies, completes and fulfills. You, o triune and eternal God, whom we worship, adore and call upon in all our holidays. Christmas, Easter and Pentecost are yours and we praise, thank, glorify and exult you as your called and saved congregation – now and forever.  Amen.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given; The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven; The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore; For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore. (Martin Rinkart 1586-1649 tr Catherine Winkworth 1856)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the high Christian holiday of Pentecost. It is found on Pg. 214 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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LÖHE ON JOHN 14:27

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Peace be with youPeace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (Joh 14:27 NIV)

When the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost, he brought our Lord Jesus Christ’s good seed to flourishing growth and blossoming. A lot of movement and great unrest was the result. Yet this only preceded the ensuing rest and ongoing peace. Just as there is a lot of noise and commotion if we tear down old ruins and build new structures and buildings. Yet does one not build these new buildings to have places of rest and quiet later? After the disquiet of the awakening and upheaval of Pentecost the kingdom of God brings great rest and lasting peace.

A godly peace comes from heaven to earth. There’s peace in the heart. Nothing can dispel or disrupt it really. The path of life becomes straightforward and plain. The heart is content with the gifts of the Spirit.

This peace is the gift from the Prince of Peace. It’s what he – the King of Peace – holds in store for his subjects. He hands that out in richest measure just after he ascended into the heavens and to the right hand of the Father. Now it reigns supreme in his holy Christian Church: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. He’s not as unfaithful as the world, but rather dependable and trustworthy. What he gives, he doesn’t withdraw the next moment. His peace lasts forever and is not as brief at the worldly counterpart.

“Peace be with you +” is the favorite and dearest greeting in the Church and amongst the children of peace. It demonstrates their inner condition and also illustrates their gift to this world in the name of their Lord and King.

We pursue your peace o Lord and may your peace remain in our hearts so that we don’t have to fear the terrors of the night nor the struggles of our days. In all our doings let us wake in your commandments. Watch over us o eternal savior, that we are not overwhelmed by the evil tempter. You are our helper in every need. Amen.

Grant your peace in your goodness to your Church and people that they may lead quiet and peaceful lives to your honour and glory o Lord – our heavenly God and King of Peace.   

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the high Christian holiday of Pentecost. It is found on Pg. 213 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Friday, the 24th May 2013

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

prayer womenNot to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. (Psalm 115:1 NIV)

Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say: ” ‘Father, hallowed be your name.” (Luke 11:2 NIV)

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LÖHE ON JOHN 3:20

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

open doorEveryone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (Joh 3:20 NIV)

Take note of every word! Not gathered to Christ and into his holy Church, but separated from him eternally. That’s the terrible punishment for him, who does evil – hating good – and that ongoing and purposefully. Our Lord has people in mind, who are out to do bad and wrong yet do not want to gain insight or be brought to conversion. Such people hate the light and do not want to give ear to the gospel. They fear the exposure of their deeds by its truthful light – and rather than turning from the detrimental ways, they sink deeper and deeper into the quagmire. It’s what scripture calls the night of sin and the darkness of death.

Lord, our God awaken in our hearts a holy disdain of all that is not yours and doesn’t belong near you and opposes your divine will and law. Let us truly hold evil in contempt and not fall for its fallacy and hollow temptation. Enlighten us with your truth so that we recognize ourselves and you in Jesus Christ. In your light we see the light and by your grace we come to peace. Grant us this by your most gracious promise! Amen.

Fill all minds with pure and faithful decor, even houses, towns and cities with your ongoing blessing. Dispel the evil spirits and all that is opposed to you –  drive them out and expel them all from here.

Grant joy and strength to stand strong and fight against Satan’s ilk and cunning! Help fighting valiantly so that we be triumphant and never give an inch to sin.

Orientate all our living according to your will and if at the end we have to relinquish it to death’s dark jaws then help us to die victorious and after death inherit our eternal home beyond.  (Paul Gerhard 1607-1676)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the high Christian holiday of Pentecost. It is found on Pg. 212 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Thursday, the 23 May 2013

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

savannah“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.  The grass withers and the flowers fall,  but the word of our God stands forever.”
(Isaiah 40:6-8 NIV)

Our Lord Jesus Christ says: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Luke 21:33 NIV)

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