Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 119:24 NIV)
May the God of peace, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrew 13:20-21 NIV)
The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1Jo 1:7 NIV)
My dear brothers, the blood of our saviour, which purifies us from all sin, is a huge matter. The Old and New Testament elaborates this blood of Christ in great detail and thus prickles us to more meditation to contemplate its true meaning and effectiveness. Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, reminds the epistle to the Hebrews. What a significance and importance of this holy and most precious blood!
Should I go that way to explain why this blood is so important? Should I put together the opinions and impressions of others and finally even say more than I know?
The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses the world and nourishes the Church. That’s what I read in the book of books – without any explanation attached. Everything that can be said, doesn’t completely satisfy. In the end it will all be a bit more profound than what we can perceive or comprehend. We’ll probably only know it all when we reach the eternal destination, where the Lord will be all in all. In the meantime let us worship the blood of the lamb and believe all the magnificent powers and properties ascribed to it by the Word of God. Whoever drinks out of the celestial cups filled with divine blood tomorrow or on Maundy Thursday, praise the Lord for granting us such precious treasures to forgive our sins and to grant us life and eternal salvation. Let us admire, worship and praise his grace and mercy with which he blesses and keeps us in the true faith as we experience and taste, how friendly and gracious our Lord is to us.
Its a blessed fountain from which holy blood flows for sinners poor, pouring out gracious miracles and wonders – healing all hurt and harm.
It flows for me this precious blood. That’s my faith and hope. It heals my hurt, as Christ died for me too.
The robber on the cross found this healing font in Jesus’ grace and thus healed he entered into paradise.
O Lamb of God, your precious blood still has this saving power. Pour it out and create new people and your living Church.
I too was amongst the sinners dead, yet Jesus blood washed me clean. Therefore I rejoice and praise his holy blood.
This holy blood shed for me that’s my faith and hope. It heals my hurt, as Christ died for me too + (Ernst Gebhard 1832-1899)
This is a translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after Judica (5th Sunday in Lent). The hymn is translated more literally than poetically. Both are found on Pg. 151 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.
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. (Exodus 15:2 NIV)
When Jesus came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. (Luke 19:37 NIV)
That by his death those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. (Heb 9:15 NIV)
Those called are to receive the eternal inheritance. It goes without saying that not everybody is going to inherit this – even if they hear this promise physically with their ears. There are those, who hear and others who reject this calling. Only the first are included in the promise. What does it mean to hear and follow this calling? Is it possible to follow this calling to the promised eternal inheritance without leaving this world and its ways, without entering the militant Church and to join in the communion and fellowship of their most holy means of grace? This promised eternal inheritance is quite opposite to this world and its pleasures. This is the point of exit, while that is the point of entry. Whoever goes out from one and enters the other, can’t skip the way it takes to move from one to the other. Whoever is called to reach a certain goal is simultaneously called to this way to reach it and to those means, which promote reaching this goal. The way to this promised eternal inheritance is nothing else than joining the militant Church and the means to reach this goal are nothing less than God’s most holy Word and his Sacraments too. They are the instruments by which the saving power of Christ’s precious blood and this blood itself are shared with us, that we drink it for the forgiveness of our sins and to our salvation. It is obvious that the called inheritors of the eternal inheritance connect up with the visible Church militant, enjoy its sacraments, remain faithfully in her midst and with her blessings, hoping and trusting that in this connection and fellowship with the Church they will miss nothing and they will not miss the gaol and final destination either.
Living waters are flowing freely from God’s fountains clear – quenching the thirst most effectively and sure. Healing all his people, the Lord has called those sitting in misery and shadow of death. He’s building his kingdom with Word and Sacrament.
Everyone is to hear, who is our Lord and king. It’s the king of Kings – our Lord Jesus Christ. He wants to help us fight and overcome now and always just as he promised long ago.
God’s beloved knights stand bravely in this war. There’s cruel weather coming, but it’ll not take long. Just remain faithful unto death, don’t retreat, just trust your God!
Amen – it will happen. In one single moment we’ll perceive God’s might against all worldly malice. We’ll surely inherit with him the most precious crown of joy – victory and triumph inherit through him eternally + (Ludwig Heilmann 1520)
This is a translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after Judica (5th Sunday in Lent). The hymn is translated more literally than poetically. Both are found on Pg. 150 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.
O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy. (2. Samuel 7:28 NIV)
God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1. Timothy 2:4 NIV)
The Lutheran Order of Service for Palm Sunday (6th Sunday in Lent) is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon written by Revered F Mtshali (Fernie LC, Mpumalanga) based on the gospel of Saint John chapter 17 verses 1-8 in isiZulu (wz1319130323 Palmarum) and translated into seTswana (wt1319130324 Palmarum) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).
We thank the Lutheran Heritage Foundation for supporting the distribution of hard-copies of these orders of worship and sermons throughout Southern Africa. If you also want a copy please do not hesitate to subscribe by writing to EAWWeber@bundunet.co.za.
I pray you have a very blessed Sunday and have time to meditate on the watchword by our Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the gospel of St. John in the 3rd chapter: The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (Joh 3:14-15 NIV) The liturgical colour is purple and the Gloria in exelsis remains unspoken and unsung.
HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT CARD: 2013
The Centre for Constitutional Rights is pleased to present its fifth annual Human Rights Report Card indicating where, in our opinion, South Africa has been making progress with regard to human rights and where it has been regressing.
We have once again awarded the following grades for human rights in this year’s report card: A = Excellent; B = Good; C = Average; D = Poor; and E = Very Poor. At the same time, the +, = and – signs are used to indicate whether things are getting better, staying the same or deteriorating. We have also included last year’s grade for comparison.
SOUTH AFRICA’S PERFORMANCE DURING 2012
South Africans, in principle, enjoy the full spectrum of human rights. Regular national, provincial and municipal elections are held and overseen by an independent electoral commission. The courts function independently and overturn laws and government conduct that is unconstitutional or illegal. South Africans enjoy freedom of expression and free political activity. The media are free and the country has an active, effective and vociferous civil society. Human rights are supported by effective independent institutions – such as the Public Protector and the South African Human Rights Commission. However, other institutions that are intended to support constitutional government are either ineffective or are subject to political influence. The latter include the Judicial Service Commission, which is falling short of carrying out its primary mandate of nominating fit, proper and impartial candidates for judicial office. The abolition of an effective and independent investigation agency and political control of, and interference in, the National Prosecuting Authority are seriously undermining the integrity of the judicial system and efforts to combat pervasive corruption.
The right to participate in government has provided interesting parliamentary and political discourse during the past year. Efforts to limit the role of opposition parties in Parliament through the manipulation of parliamentary rules is chipping away the principles underlying multi-party democracy. Because MPs will lose their seats if they cease to be members of the party that nominated them to Parliament, they are, in practice, accountable to their party leaders and not to the electorate. As a result Parliament has, to a large extent, become a rubber stamp for decisions taken by the leadership of the ruling party and does not properly fulfill its primary role of holding the national executive accountable for its actions and inactions. Instead of fulfilling its proper oversight role the majority does everything it can to protect the president and the Cabinet from criticism and to stifle debate on matters of importance to the electorate.
The Government’s failure to provide effective services – particularly at municipal and provincial levels – has lead to a vast increase in the number of service delivery protests and accompanying violence in communities across the country. According to the police, there were 3 258 such protests throughout South African between 2009 -2012. In addition, the quality of basic education and public health services is often unacceptably poor. The government’s best efforts to address these problems and realise socio-economic rights are increasingly eroded by corruption in the public service, financial mismanagement and the deployment of unqualified political cadres to key positions in all levels of government.
Fundamental rights are interrelated, interdependent and indivisible: the fulfillment – or infringement – of any one of these rights directly influences the attainment or infringement of other rights. There are persistent efforts to undermine or circumscribe some fundamental rights – through new legislation such as the Protection of State Information Act, the Traditional Courts Bill (now withdrawn) and the Legal Practice Bill. As a result, there has been a plethora of protests, outcries and campaigns – most of which are aimed at defending some or other political, civil, economic, social or cultural right.
South Africa can hardly be termed a non-racial democracy. Race continues to be a major dividing factor and continues to determine, de facto and de jure, access to employment and social, educational and economic benefits. Government policies are increasingly race-based and the tone of the national discourse has become disturbingly – and sometimes aggressively – racial with government condoning – or even supporting such tendencies.
FUTURE TRENDS
Prospects for the future enjoyment of rights have deteriorated.
Perceptions of South Africa during the past year have unfortunately been dominated by the Marikana incident and the recent brutal killing by police of a Mocambican taxi driver in Daveyton. The Marikana incident is currently the subject of investigation by the Farlam Commission and those involved in the Daveyton killing have been arrested and charged with murder. Nevertheless, the two events highlight growing concerns regarding the role of the police in a constitutional democracy.
There is concern over the future role of the judiciary in the wake of criticism of the courts by the government – especially in relation to judicial review of government actions and decisions. In addition, the Legal Practice Bill in its current form will have a negative impact on the independence of the legal profession and could undermine the Rule of Law.
Prospects for freedom of expression remain a concern as a result of the Government’s intention to press ahead with the adoption of Protection of State Information Bill and its increased use of secrecy to avoid explaining excessive and unjustified government spending. This includes – incorrectly so – reliance on the National Key Points Act to limit access to information.
Gender equality and violence against women and children remain a great concern. The Government’s inability to effectively prevent, suppress and prosecute these crimes is exacerbated by our patriarchal society and very high rate of violence and sexual offences.
Effective implementation of the National Development Plan will have a positive effect on the realisation of a number of human rights. The NDP will, however, face resistance from some within the ruling ANC – especially those who support the underlying principles of the National Democratic Revolution.
Increased tension between the national government and provincial governments will see the constitutional principle of cooperative government deteriorate. This is already evident from the Minister of Police’s reaction to a Western Cape government’s commission of inquiry into effectiveness of the South African Police Service in the province.
It is expected that land reform will be a crucial issue this year – which is the centenary of the 1913 Land Act that deprived many black South Africans of their land. The government has announced a new land tenure system which will put a cap on the amount of freehold land that South Africans may own and that will limit the land rights of foreigners to leasehold. Government has announced its intention of accelerating the land reform process but has promised to deal with it within the framework of the constitution.
POINTERS
Some of the factors that can be expected to affect constitutional rights during the coming year include:
MANAGING SOUTH AFRICA’S WATER EFFECTIVELY: A CONSTITUTIONAL IMPERATIVE
Adv Jacques du Preez, FW de Klerk Foundation
As we observe World Water Day on Friday, 22 March 2013, it might be prudent to consider the immense value of this clear, life-sustaining substance that we so often take for granted.
More than 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and it is a vital compound for all known forms of life on earth. On our planet, 96.5% of water is found in our oceans, 1.7% in groundwater, 1.7% in glaciers and the ice-caps of Antarctica and Greenland, as well as other large bodies of water.
Water is, of course, an essential requirement for human – and all other life. It is crucial for food production – and also plays an indispensable role in the world economy and transportation. It functions as a solvent for a wide variety of chemicals and as an industrial coolant. On World Water Day in 2013, a number of countries worldwide are under enormous pressure to effectively manage their limited and dwindling water resources. In developing countries this is particularly aggravated by the need for efficient and sustainable use of water, a fair allocation of water to different users – taking into account economic growth and social equity – as well as dealing with threats to water, such as general pollution, acid drainage and mercury poisoning.
South Africa – as a semi-arid country with low rainfall, limited underground aquifers and reliance on water transfers from neighbouring countries – faces its own challenges: water availability is now a national development constraint. Both the 2004 National Water Resource Strategy and the 2011 Diagnostic Report of the National Planning Commission stress the potential constraint on development that a lack of water will pose as water use approaches 40% of average annual availability. The Diagnostic Report further states that the implementation of the necessary water conservation measures is proving to be a challenge, given the diverse and complex nature of the country’s water resources and their use.
Water – and its environmental protection – are given important recognition in the South African Constitution: section 24(a) and (b) states that “everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being” and “to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations”. Access to water is also recognised as a justiciable socio-economic right in section 27(1)(b) and 27(2), in that everyone has the right to have access to sufficient water and that the state must take reasonable legislative and other measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realisation of this right.
South Africa as a country must manage this precious resource properly if we want to avoid exacerbating an already dire situation.
In this sense, the following steps are encouraging:
South Africa must however also respect constitutional rights pertaining to water and its use.
93% of South African households had access to safe water in 2010. By 30 April 2012, more than 11.2 million households had access to free basic water (i.e. 6 000 liters per household per month, funded by local government, for households with incomes of less than R800 per month). The following are, however, causes for concern:
Our Government must also continually bear in mind – although much has been done – that the right to access to adequate food and water is inextricably linked to other rights – for example the right to dignity and access to healthcare of many South Africans.
There is a saying that we will never know the worth of water until the well is dry.
South Africa is the 30th driest country on earth and according to the Department of Water Affairs, almost one-third of our clean drinking water is lost through leaking taps and piping, as well as illegal water connections.
In this sense the theme for 2013 World Water Day – Water Cooperation – is appropriate, because the co-operation of all South Africans – of citizens, government, business and agriculture – will be essential if we wish to manage our limited supply of water as a sustainable resource and as a constitutional right. If we succeed, we will perhaps be able to keep our well full of clear, potable and sustainable water for generations to come.
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance–now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Heb 9:15 NIV)
The propitiating death is history. An eternal salvation has been attained. Transgressions have been redeemed and the Lord’s mission has triumphed. He’s victorious. Now his servants are going out with his holy means of grace. They carry the powerful blood of Christ to Jews and gentiles offering forgiveness from on high. The whole world is being called to put their trust in this triumphant victory of Christ Jesus and to receive their eternal inheritance from the highest authority.
We don’t yet know what eternity will look like in every detail. However we can fill in quite a lot of blanks by reading attentively what the Holy Scripture is telling us about the eternal blessings the people of God are to expect. It’s not true that Holy Scripture keeps mum about eternal life. The opposite is true. There’s hardly another topic, which is described so vividly in the Bible. We don’t need the elaboration of all detail, what “promised eternal inheritance” means, because these words are quite clear in themselves and they guide our imagination and thoughts to see that there is a great blessing awaiting us. An eternal inheritance has been prepared for us. It’s ours thanks to the vicarious salvation our Lord achieved on our part. He has given us peace with his Father. We are to enjoy eternal life, eternal salvation and eternal promise of his most glorious blessings!
O Lord Jesus Christ, we are waiting for your eternal kingdom. We are waiting for your new heaven and new earth in which righteousness dwells and we together with all saints are perfected to serve you in joy and blessedness. We are waiting for the eternal city to come in which no suffering or hurt will be, death will have no more room there as it will be swallowed by Christ’s triumphant victory! O Lord, collect your Church and congregation of those waiting for you with burning lamps. Come Lord Jesus – come soon! Amen.
Oh Jerusalem you blessed city, how lovely do you shine and glamour! Most lovely melodies of praise and adoration go up from your midst. Oh, what magnificent joy and exuberant rejoicing! The sun is rising, the day is breaking – and there’s no end of his reign in sight.
Oh, I have already seen some of this glory. I am being dressed with heavenly gowns and your crown of glory to stand in front of your majestic throne. Just behold the joy and glory – there’ll be no end to it. Therefore rejoice and join in now already! (Leipzig 1652)
This is a translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after Judica (5th Sunday in Lent). The hymn is translated more literally than poetically. Both are found on Pg. 149 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.
You will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land. (Leviticus 26:5 NIV)
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. They all ate and were satisfied… (Luke 9:16-17 NIV)
Wilhelm's space 