Confessional Lutheran Ministerium

Psalm 40:1-17 NKJV

40 I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
² He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
³ He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.

⁴ Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,
And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
⁵ Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.

⁶ Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
⁷ Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
⁸ I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart.”

⁹ I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
In the great assembly;
Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You Yourself know.
¹⁰ I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
From the great assembly.

¹¹ Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord;
Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.
¹² For innumerable evils have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up;
They are more than the hairs of my head;
Therefore my heart fails me.

¹³ Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;
O Lord, make haste to help me!
¹⁴ Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion
Who seek to destroy my life;
Let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor
Who wish me evil.
¹⁵ Let them be confounded because of their shame,
Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

¹⁶ Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let such as love Your salvation say continually,
“The Lord be magnified!”
¹⁷ But I am poor and needy;
Yet the Lord thinks upon me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.

In Psalm 40, we encounter a heart-felt prayer that resonates deeply with the sufferings of Christ. Martin Luther highlights how this psalm speaks to the heart of the Gospel, revealing Christ’s lament for deliverance from death and His unwavering commitment to fulfill God’s will. Luther writes:

“The 40th Psalm… clearly prophesies that He alone does God’s will and fulfills the law and that this is written about Him in the book of Moses [v. 8]. He dissolves and abolishes the old law with its sacrifices and its holiness by which God’s will was not fulfilled. All these things must be done for us by Himself alone, not by our work or sacrifices. He therefore promises and establishes the New Testament in which the justification of the believers will be preached in the great congregation, that is, in the entire world, and not the justification by sacrifices or our works. For works and sacrifices (as he says in verse 5), make only arrogant and false saints whose hope lies not in God, nor in His grace, but in their lies and false holiness.”

The psalmist’s plea echoes our own struggles and the need for divine intervention in times of trouble. Luther emphasizes that Christ, through His obedience, dissolves the old law that required sacrifices and self-righteousness. Instead of relying on our own works—often tainted by pride and false holiness—Christ invites us to rest in His completed work of atonement. He establishes the New Covenant, proclaiming justification through faith alone, not through the futile attempts of human efforts.

As we meditate on verses 5-6, we are reminded that true righteousness is found not in ritual or sacrifice but in a heart aligned with God’s grace. The call to trust in His mercy and not in our own accomplishments is a foundational truth that we must embrace daily. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law and established a new way of righteousness through faith. Help us to turn away from our reliance on our works and to place our hope fully in Your grace. May we echo Christ’s willingness to do Your will, and may our lives reflect the faith and humility that comes from trusting in You alone. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Genesis 40:1-23 NKJV

40 It came to pass after these things that the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their lord, the king of Egypt. ² And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. ³ So he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. ⁴ And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

⁵ Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. ⁶ And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. ⁷ So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”

⁸ And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”

So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

⁹ Then the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, ¹⁰ and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. ¹¹ Then Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

¹² And Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days. ¹³ Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. ¹⁴ But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. ¹⁵ For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”

¹⁶ When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and there were three white baskets on my head. ¹⁷ In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”

¹⁸ So Joseph answered and said, “This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets are three days. ¹⁹ Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.”

²⁰ Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. ²¹ Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. ²² But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. ²³ Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

In Genesis 40, we witness the unfolding of Joseph’s story while he is unjustly imprisoned. Despite the heavy burden of wrongful imprisonment, Joseph remains diligent and responsible, managing the affairs of the prison. This steadfastness serves as a profound reminder for us: even when we find ourselves in difficult situations, we are called to remain faithful, trusting that God is with us.

This emphasizes the importance of God’s timing. Joseph’s interactions with the cupbearer and the baker are not mere coincidences; they are part of God’s sovereign plan. Trusting in His perfect timing can be challenging, but we must remember that God’s plans are always at work, even amidst our trials.

When interpreting the dreams, Joseph humbly acknowledges that the power to interpret lies with God. He does not take credit for his gift but points others to the true source of wisdom. This humility is a beautiful example for us to follow; recognizing that our abilities and gifts are ultimately from God can keep us grounded in faith.

Joseph’s longing for justice and his plea to the cupbearer reflect our human desire for recognition and help. However, while humans may forget us, God never does. The cupbearer’s ingratitude serves as a stark reminder of human frailty, but it does not hinder God’s plans. Even when others fail us, we can rest in the assurance that God’s purposes continue to unfold.

Joseph’s innocent suffering prefigures Christ’s own trials. Just as Joseph remained faithful and was ultimately exalted, so too did Christ endure suffering and rise in glory. This encourages us to persevere through our own trials, trusting that God will ultimately vindicate us—partly now, fully in heaven. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, help us to trust in Your perfect timing and providence, knowing that You are at work in our lives. Grant us humility to acknowledge our gifts as coming from You and strengthen our faith when we feel forgotten by others. May we look to Christ, who endured suffering for our sake, and find hope in the promise of His resurrection. Amen.

Genesis 39:1-23 NKJV

39 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. ² The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. ³ And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. ⁴ So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. ⁵ So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. ⁶ Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

⁷ And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

⁸ But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. ⁹ There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

¹⁰ So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

¹¹ But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, ¹² that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. ¹³ And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, ¹⁴ that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. ¹⁵ And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”

¹⁶ So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. ¹⁷ Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; ¹⁸ so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

¹⁹ So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. ²⁰ Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. ²¹ But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²² And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. ²³ The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

In his commentary, Martin Luther emphasizes that Joseph’s success is not merely a result of his own diligence but is fundamentally rooted in God’s providential presence: “The Lord was with Joseph.” This truth serves as a powerful reminder that even in our most challenging circumstances, God is actively working for our good.

Joseph’s unwavering commitment to excellence in Potiphar’s house, despite being a slave, highlights a biblical theme: faithfulness in small things leads to greater responsibilities. This calls us to emulate Joseph’s diligence, reminding us that our daily tasks are opportunities to honor God and serve others with integrity, regardless of our circumstances.

The temptation presented by Potiphar’s wife reveals Joseph’s moral strength. He boldly resists her advances, understanding that true righteousness transcends mere fidelity to his master; it is about obedience to God’s moral law. However, Joseph’s story also illustrates the reality of innocent suffering. Falsely accused and imprisoned, Joseph endures unjust punishment, a scenario familiar to many of us. In moments of trial, we can trust that God is shaping our character and preparing us for future blessings.

Luther draws a parallel between Joseph and Christ, noting that both suffered innocently yet remained faithful. Just as Joseph’s trials ultimately led to his exaltation, so too did Christ’s suffering lead to His resurrection. This comparison encourages us to endure our own hardships with hope, knowing that God’s plan unfolds even through our suffering.

Finally, even in prison, Joseph continues to find favor because God’s presence remains with those who trust Him. This teaches us that God can elevate us in the most unexpected places, using our faithfulness to fulfill His purposes. Let us pray: Gracious Father, help us to trust in Your providential care during our trials, knowing that You are always with us. Strengthen us to resist temptation and to serve with diligence and integrity in all we do. May our lives reflect Your faithfulness, and may we find hope in the promise that our suffering is not in vain. Amen.

Genesis 38:15-30 NKJV

¹⁵ When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. ¹⁶ Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.

So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

¹⁷ And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”

So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”

¹⁸ Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”

So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. ¹⁹ So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

²⁰ And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. ²¹ Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?”

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”

²² So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.”

²³ Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

²⁴ And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.”

So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

²⁵ When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”

²⁶ So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

²⁷ Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. ²⁸ And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” ²⁹ Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. ³⁰ Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.

As we conclude the story of Judah and Tamar, Martin Luther invites us to reflect on the profound themes of sin, repentance, and divine providence. Judah’s moral failure, engaging with Tamar in a moment of weakness and immorality, and Tamar’s participation, both reveal how sin can blind us to righteousness and lead to shameful consequences. Their actions highlight the depth of human failure and the need for accountability.

Yet, in the midst of this complexity, Tamar emerges not merely as a figure of deception (and her own sin) but as one seeking justice. Luther emphasizes that her desire to fulfill the levirate law is rooted in righteousness, marking her actions as a pursuit of a greater good (though wrong-headed in her method). This nuance invites us to consider how our motivations shape our actions, especially in morally confusing situations.

A pivotal moment arises when Judah, confronted with the truth of his sin, declares Tamar to be “more righteous than I” (but only by comparison). This acknowledgment of wrongdoing showcases the beauty of repentance. Luther praises Judah’s humility and openness, reminding us that genuine repentance is essential in our walk of faith. It is a turning point that transforms Judah’s moral and spiritual life.

Moreover, through this morally fraught narrative, we see God’s providence at work. Despite human sin and weakness, God orchestrates events for His redemptive plan, ultimately leading to the lineage of the Messiah through Perez, Tamar’s son. Luther’s reflection on this emphasizes the remarkable truth that God’s grace and sovereignty can prevail even in sin’s chaos.

As we meditate on this passage, let us remember that our own stories may also be marked by sin and failure, yet God is faithful. He can bring forth good from our shortcomings, weaving our lives into His grand narrative of redemption.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, help us to recognize our own failings and to seek genuine repentance. May we trust in Your providential care, knowing that You can bring forth good from our shortcomings and even better without them. Strengthen us to pursue justice and righteousness in our lives, reflecting Your grace and faithfulness. Amen.

Genesis 38:1-14 NKJV

38 It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. ² And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. ³ So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. ⁴ She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. ⁵ And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

⁶ Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. ⁷ But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. ⁸ And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” ⁹ But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. ¹⁰ And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.

¹¹ Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

¹² Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. ¹³ And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” ¹⁴ So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.

“And it came to pass, at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her….”

In this opening passage of the story of Judah and Tamar, Martin Luther invites us to reflect deeply on the themes of sin, duty, and divine providence. Judah’s departure from his family and his choice to marry a Canaanite woman signal a troubling moral decline, one that leads him away from God’s covenant people. Luther warns us that our associations and choices can draw us into spiritual decay, as seen in Judah’s life.

The deaths of Judah’s sons, Er and Onan, are not merely tragic events; they reveal God’s righteous judgment upon wickedness. Luther emphasizes that God acts justly against unrepentant sinners, highlighting that our choices have consequences that reach beyond ourselves.

Luther’s discussion of levirate marriage brings into focus the importance of family duty and honoring God’s design for relationships. Tamar, in her pursuit of an heir, demonstrates a desire for righteousness, seeking to uphold what Judah and Onan neglected. While her methods are questionable at best (Mosaic Law would later clearly show this as sinful in Lev 18:15), her heart yearns for justice—a reminder that sometimes, righteousness is pursued amid the failings of those around us.

In the midst of human sinfulness, Luther assures us of God’s providence. He shows us that even when we fail, God remains faithful and works through our shortcomings to fulfill His divine plan. The lineage of Judah, though marred by sin, ultimately leads to the Messiah, illustrating that God can bring forth good from our failures. Let us pray: Gracious Lord, help us to recognize the dangers of turning away from You and the consequences of our choices. May we strive to uphold righteousness in our relationships and responsibilities, trusting in Your providence to work through our imperfections. Strengthen our faith as we navigate the complexities of life, knowing that You can bring forth goodness even from our sins, and even more in avoiding them. Amen.

Genesis 37:18-36 NKJV

¹⁸ Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. ¹⁹ Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! ²⁰ Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

²¹ But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” ²² And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.

²³ So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. ²⁴ Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

²⁵ And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. ²⁶ So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? ²⁷ Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened. ²⁸ Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

²⁹ Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. ³⁰ And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?”

³¹ So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. ³² Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”

³³ And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.” ³⁴ Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. ³⁵ And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.

³⁶ Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.

“You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.”

In reflecting on this passage, Martin Luther teaches us how God’s providence works even through human sin and betrayal. Joseph’s brothers, driven by jealousy and hatred, sought to destroy him. Their hearts were so hardened by envy that they plotted murder and ultimately sold Joseph into slavery. Yet, despite their sinful actions, God used their evil for good. Luther emphasizes that through Joseph’s suffering, God was preparing a way not only for Joseph’s future exaltation but for the salvation of many, including Joseph’s own family.

Luther also draws our attention to the parallels between Joseph and Christ. Just as Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, Jesus was betrayed by His own people. Joseph was cast into a pit and later raised to power, prefiguring Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. In both cases, human wickedness became part of God’s plan for redemption.

How often do we, like Joseph’s brothers, let jealousy or bitterness take root in our hearts? Sin, if left unchecked, leads to greater sins—whether it’s deception, betrayal, or harm to others. We may not see the full consequences of our actions, but as Luther reminds us, sin always spreads, affecting not only ourselves but also those around us.

Yet, the comforting truth of this story is that God’s sovereignty reigns overall. Even when we face betrayal, hardship, or injustice, we can trust that God is working behind the scenes to bring about His good purposes. Joseph’s life is a testimony that no suffering is wasted in God’s plan. Though we may not understand why we suffer, we can have confidence that God can transform even the evilest intentions into instruments of His grace.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, when we face betrayal or suffering, remind us that You are sovereign overall. Help us to trust that even in the midst of evil, You are working for our good and Your glory. Keep us from envy and bitterness and give us faith to believe that You will bring redemption through every trial. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 39:1-13 NKJV
39 I said, “I will guard my ways,
Lest I sin with my tongue;
I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
While the wicked are before me.”
² I was mute with silence,
I held my peace even from good;
And my sorrow was stirred up.
³ My heart was hot within me;
While I was musing, the fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue:

⁴ “Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
⁵ Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah
⁶ Surely every man walks about like a shadow;
Surely they busy themselves in vain;
He heaps up riches,
And does not know who will gather them.

⁷ “And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.
⁸ Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Do not make me the reproach of the foolish.
⁹ I was mute, I did not open my mouth,
Because it was You who did it.
¹⁰ Remove Your plague from me;
I am consumed by the blow of Your hand.
¹¹ When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity,
You make his beauty melt away like a moth;
Surely every man is vapor. Selah

¹² “Hear my prayer, O Lord,
And give ear to my cry;
Do not be silent at my tears;
For I am a stranger with You,
A sojourner, as all my fathers were.
¹³ Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength,
Before I go away and am no more.”

“LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor” (4-5).

Martin Luther, in his summary of Psalm 39, calls this psalm a psalm of comfort. He reminds us that it is easy to become discouraged when we see the godless living in wealth and security while the godly often struggle and suffer. This can lead to feelings of frustration, envy, and impatience. But the psalmist offers us a different perspective—a call to remember the brevity and uncertainty of life. Instead of fixating on the fleeting success of the wicked, we are encouraged to focus on the eternal—on the forgiveness of sins and the presence of a gracious God who sustains us through every trial.

In this life, we often see those who disregard God enjoying prosperity, ease, and comfort. The temptation can be great to join them in their self-assured living, chasing after wealth, fame, and pleasure. But the psalmist, and Luther following him, offers a word of warning and comfort: life is short, and all the things we accumulate in this world are nothing but vapor. Our days are limited, and no amount of success or possessions can change that reality.

Instead of envying the wicked or becoming bitter in our struggles, we are called to remember what is truly lasting—the forgiveness of our sins and the presence of a gracious God who walks with us through every affliction. Even when we suffer or face uncertainty, we have the assurance that God is our refuge and our help. He will deliver us, not necessarily by removing our earthly struggles, but by giving us something far greater: His grace, mercy, and eternal life. Let us pray: Lord, remind us daily of the frailty of our lives and the fleeting nature of worldly success. Help us not to envy the wicked but to find comfort in Your presence and the forgiveness of our sins. Teach us to trust in Your eternal promises, knowing that You will deliver us from all misery. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalm 37:27-40 NKJV

²⁷ Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell forevermore.
²⁸ For the Lord loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land,
And dwell in it forever.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
³¹ The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.

³² The wicked watches the righteous,
And seeks to slay him.
³³ The Lord will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.

³⁴ Wait on the Lord,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
³⁵ I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a native green tree.
³⁶ Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

³⁷ Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;
For the future of that man is peace.
³⁸ But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;
The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
⁴⁰ And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.

David finishes his description of the righteous in these final verses of Psalm 37. And his description is also accompanied by the command and encouragement to put into practice the righteous ways he describes.

 To live as God’s holy children is to put to death the Old Man every day, with all sins and evil desires, and to let the New Man arise to live before God in righteousness and purity. Why? Because the LORD, our Father in heaven, loves justice. He loves to see His children eagerly pursuing works of love and kindness, avoiding evil and doing what’s right. And Christians are not on our own when we do good. No, the LORD “does not forsake His saints.” He gladly walks with us. He always preserves us.

What else do the righteous do? They speak wisdom and talk of justice. This is a helpful reminder to think before you speak, and to make sure that your words are not only true but also edifying. How does the righteous man know what is true and edifying? “The law of his God is in his heart.” This is an encouragement to study and learn the words of Holy Scripture, so that God’s Word becomes a part of you, always transforming your worldview to see things as your God sees them.

If you lead a righteous life, expect to be targeted by the wicked in one way or another, but don’t let it upset you. “Wait on the LORD and keep His way.” Keep doing what is right, patiently enduring, joyfully serving. You know where the path of the wicked ends, just as you know where the path of the righteous leads. You don’t have to vindicate yourself. You don’t have to save yourself. You don’t have to be the source of your own strength. The LORD Himself has promised to deliver you from the wicked, to save you and to be your inexhaustible source of strength, if you will trust in Him to provide it. And why shouldn’t you trust in Him? He provided His own Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, just as He promised He would. If He kept that promise, what promise can He possibly fail to keep?

Let us pray: O LORD, You are faithful in all Your ways. We thank You for Your promises of deliverance, help, and strength. Amen.

Genesis 37:1-17 NKJV

37 Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. ² This is the history of Jacob.

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.

³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. ⁴ But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

⁵ Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. ⁶ So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

⁸ And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

⁹ Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

¹⁰ So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” ¹¹ And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

¹² Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. ¹³ And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.”

So he said to him, “Here I am.”

¹⁴ Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.

¹⁵ Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?”

¹⁶ So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.”

¹⁷ And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan.

We noted that God was not mentioned in Genesis 34, and God-less activities ensued. His name is understandably omitted from chapter 36, where Esau’s descendants are named. Chapter 37 is the third and final chapter in Genesis where God is not mentioned, and the reason is again apparent, for God-lessness always results in wicked behavior.

The more we’re shown of Joseph, and the more we’re shown of his older brothers, the easier it is to understand, at least from a practical perspective, why Jacob would have loved him more. Joseph was, by far, the godliest and most obedient son of Israel. But Jacob’s reasons seem to have been more self-centered, and the foolishness of parental favoritism is evident in this chapter, as it always breeds envy and contempt.

God, on the other hand, is always right when He favors the righteous, as He did in showing Joseph how he would one day rule over his brothers (as revealed in the first dream) and even over his parents (as revealed in the second dream). Both the dreams and the telling of them were from God. But the brothers’ reaction to them was from the devil.

Still, as we see in the coming chapters, God is able to use even devil-inspired works to accomplish His good purposes. As for the righteous, we should learn from what follows that, when we are mistreated by men, it is not necessarily a sign of God’s disapproval. Joseph gladly obeyed his father and committed no sin against his brothers, and yet he would suffer their hatred, and far worse. So must all the righteous patiently and obediently walk the path of suffering before they are finally exalted, for even the suffering is governed and restrained by the hand of the One who sits enthroned at the right hand of the Father. Indeed, Christ Himself was the truly righteous, truly obedient, truly favored Son of God the Father, yet even He walked the path of suffering before being exalted, enabling Him to sympathize with us when we, like Joseph, and like Jesus, suffer for doing good. Let us pray: O Lord Jesus, keep us from bitter envy and ugly hatred, and, even if we suffer at the hands of others, help us not to hate them in return, but to endure all things with patience, trusting in Your mercy and help. Amen.

Genesis 35:16-29 NKJV

¹⁶ Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. ¹⁷ Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” ¹⁸ And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. ¹⁹ So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). ²⁰ And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

²¹ Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. ²² And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it.

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: ²³ the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; ²⁴ the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin; ²⁵ the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali; ²⁶ and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.

²⁷ Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt. ²⁸ Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. ²⁹ So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

This life has always been a mixture of joy and sorrow for God’s people. After receiving the confirmation and renewal of God’s covenant with him, Jacob experiences more sadness.

The happiness that accompanied the birth of Israel’s twelfth and final son Benjamin was tainted with grief at the death of Rachel. Her death near Bethlehem will later be referenced by the prophet Jeremiah, who foresaw many more babies dying in that same location after the birth of Christ (cf. Jer. 31:15, Matt. 1:18). The joy that surrounded Jesus’ birth was soon mixed with the sorrow caused by Herod’s cruel slaughter of all those children.

More sorrow followed for Jacob. He discovered that his oldest son Reuben had slept with Bilhah, one of Jacob’s wives. Whether or not Jacob did anything about his son’s incestuous adultery at this point, he will certainly remember this event years later when it comes time to assign his sons their inheritance. While God had chosen not to correct Jacob for taking four wives in the first place, He surely teaches us, through all the tension and the indecency that occurred in that family, that having multiple spouses is not His will for mankind.

Jacob finally journeys to the south to see Isaac, whom he hadn’t seen for over twenty years. Surely they rejoiced to see each other. But shortly afterward, Isaac died, and it seems that Rebekah had already died. And yet the sorrow of Isaac’s death was tempered somewhat by the peaceful collaboration of the once-estranged brothers in burying their father.

Our life on this earth is characterized by times of joy mingled with times of sorrow. And it always ends in death. God’s gracious choice of Abraham’s family did not alter that pattern, first established in the Garden of Eden when our first parents fell into sin. On the contrary, it teaches us for what purpose God chose the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: not to give them a wonderful life on earth, but to prepare a people among whom His Son would be born, to redeem mankind from sin and sorrow and to give us a heavenly inheritance that is untainted with grief. Let us pray: O Lord, bring us safely through the joys and sorrows of this life, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.