Confessional Lutheran Ministerium

Psalm 7:1-17 NKJV A Meditation of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

7 O Lord my God, in You I put my trust;
Save me from all those who persecute me;
And deliver me,
² Lest they tear me like a lion,
Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

³ O Lord my God, if I have done this:
If there is iniquity in my hands,
⁴ If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,
Or have plundered my enemy without cause,
⁵ Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;
Yes, let him trample my life to the earth,
And lay my honor in the dust. Selah

⁶ Arise, O Lord, in Your anger;
Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies;
Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded!
⁷ So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;
For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
⁸ The Lord shall judge the peoples;
Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness,
And according to my integrity within me.

⁹ Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
But establish the just;
For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
¹⁰ My defense is of God,
Who saves the upright in heart.

¹¹ God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked every day.
¹² If he does not turn back,
He will sharpen His sword;
He bends His bow and makes it ready.
¹³ He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.

¹⁴ Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
¹⁵ He made a pit and dug it out,
And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
¹⁶ His trouble shall return upon his own head,
And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.

¹⁷ I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

David composed this psalm while being persecuted. We do not know who Cush the Benjamite was or how he played into David’s persecution. What we do know is that David’s enemy was ready to tear him like a lion and rend him to pieces. We also know that David turned to the Lord for salvation and deliverance and asked God to judge him according to his righteousness and the integrity of his heart. David is not self-righteous before God. David writes in Psalm 143:2, “Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous.” David is not speaking of his righteousness before God. He is righteous before God only because, like his ancestor Abraham, “he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness” (Gen 15:6). David testifies to his righteousness and integrity in his dealings with his enemy. Being in the right, he asks God to judge justly.

David knows the Lord is merciful to sinners who repent, but if his enemy does not turn back from conceiving trouble and bringing forth lies about David, the Lord has His instrument of death to punish the wicked. The Lord will make sure David’s enemy falls into the very trap and violence he planned for David. While David waits for God’s righteous judgment—either to bring his enemy to repentance or ruin—David contents himself with praising the Lord according to His righteousness. He will not take vengeance into his own hands but leave it to the Lord.

As Christians we strive to live in righteousness and integrity, and “as much as depends on us, live peaceably with all men” (Rom 12:18). But not all men want to live peaceable and godly lives. If someone rises up against us and makes themselves our enemy, we defend ourselves, speaking the truth in love. But we do not repay them with evil (Rom 12:17). When someone makes themselves our enemy for no other reason than instigation of the devil, the world, or their own sinful flesh, we, like David, ask the Lord to judge our cause, bring our enemy to repentance, and wait on Him to bring about a good outcome.

Let us pray: Deliver us from our enemies, O Lord, and grant us faith to patiently await Your righteous judgment. Amen.

Psalm 6:1-10 NKJV

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

6 O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
² Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
³ My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord—how long?

⁴ Return, O Lord, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
⁵ For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?

⁶ I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
⁷ My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.

⁸ Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
⁹ The Lord has heard my supplication;
The Lord will receive my prayer.
¹⁰ Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

Psalm 6 is a poignant cry for mercy from a soul deeply afflicted by the weight of sin and the dread of God’s righteous anger. Martin Luther, in his “Summaries of the Psalms” (1531), describes this psalm as a lamentation over the hidden, yet profound, suffering of a conscience tormented by the law and the wrath of God. This agony, he notes, is akin to the “bonds of death” and the “ropes of hell,” a state where faith and hope are severely tested.

In our confessional Lutheran tradition, we understand the severe torment that sin can bring upon the conscience. The psalmist’s cry, “O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure,” reflects a heart overwhelmed by guilt and fear, yet still clinging to God in desperate prayer.

Thus, this psalm provides a trustworthy example for those in similar affliction, demonstrating that their prayers are indeed heard by God. The psalmist’s journey from despair to reassurance—”The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer”—offers hope to all who feel the weight of their sins and fear God’s wrath.

For Confessional Lutherans, this psalm underscores the importance of the first and second commandments, highlighting our reliance on God alone and our need to call upon His name in times of distress. It aligns with the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be Thy name,” as we seek God’s mercy and deliverance, trusting in His steadfast love.

In our moments of deep spiritual anguish, Psalm 6 invites us to pour out our hearts to God, confident that He hears our cries. It reassures us that even in our most troubled times, we are not abandoned. Our faith and hope, though tested, will be upheld by God’s unfailing grace.

Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Genesis 4:1-15 NKJV

4 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” ² Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. ³ And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. ⁴ Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

⁶ So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? ⁷ If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

⁸ Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”

He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

¹⁰ And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. ¹¹ So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹² When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”

¹³ And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! ¹⁴ Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”

¹⁵ And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.

In Genesis 4:1-15, we witness the devastating effects of sin in humanity’s first murder. Martin Luther’s commentary provides insights into its relevance to our faith and daily walk. Despite their sin, Adam and Eve fulfill God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply.” This passage reminds us to honor marriage and procreation as blessings from God, distinguishing between sinful human desires and God’s goodness.

Eve believed Cain was the promised Seed, teaching us to trust God’s promises, even when their fulfillment seems unclear. We must trust in God’s perfect timing. God upends human expectations, favoring the humble. Abel’s faith made his sacrifice acceptable, showing that genuine faith, not status, pleases God. Abel’s offering was accepted because it was made in faith, while Cain’s was rejected due to reliance on status. True worship comes from a heart of faith. This reminds us that the true church, often hidden and despised, remains dear to God. True believers show humility and faithfulness, enduring hardships for the Gospel.

God’s mercy toward Cain, even after his grievous sin, highlights His compassion and desire for repentance. This points to the ultimate mercy and redemption in Jesus Christ, reminding us to cling to God’s Word and promises. Cain’s anger and fallen countenance reflect spiritual turmoil and pride. God’s admonition emphasizes that faith, not human effort, is needed to overcome sin.

These verses warn against arrogance from human achievements, emphasizing humility before God. The story of Cain and Abel serves as a warning against pride and a call to trust in God’s grace. Despite temporal blessings, Cain is spiritually excluded, highlighting the tension between the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous, underscoring the need for divine grace. Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Genesis 3:1-24 NKJV

3 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³ but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”

⁴ Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

⁸ And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

⁹ Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

¹⁰ So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

¹¹ And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

¹² Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

¹³ And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

¹⁴ So the Lord God said to the serpent:

“Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
¹⁵ And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”

¹⁶ To the woman He said:

“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”

¹⁷ Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:

“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
¹⁸ Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
¹⁹ In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”

²⁰ And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

²¹ Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

²² Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— ²³ therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. ²⁴ So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

In Genesis 3, we witness humanity’s fall into sin. Martin Luther’s commentary provides profound insights into sin’s nature, its consequences, and the hope of redemption through Christ. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve enjoyed perfect harmony with God’s will. Their disobedience, however, corrupted human nature, affecting our will, reason, and even our physical being. This fallen state inclines us to distrust and blaspheme God, highlighting our need for humility, repentance, and dependence on God’s grace.

Also, we view Genesis 3:15 as the first gospel, promising the Seed of the woman will crush the serpent’s head. This assures us of Christ’s victory over sin and Satan, forming the foundation of our faith and hope. The Law reveals our sin and drives us to despair, pointing to our need for the Gospel’s comfort. The Fall’s consequences, like pain in childbirth and toil in labor, remind us of sin’s severity but also point to the hope of redemption through Christ. This shows how Law and Gospel work together to deepen our reliance on God’s grace.

The serpent’s temptation attacked God’s Word, sowing doubt in Eve’s mind and leading to sin. Instead, we hold fast to God’s Word, recognizing that doubt and distortion are the most dangerous temptations. Faith in God’s Word shields us from the enemy’s schemes. Despite sin’s depth, this passage encourages us to focus on God’s promises and the hope of eternal life. Viewing life’s challenges through God’s mercy and the promise of resurrection fosters humility, patience, and trust in God’s providence.

Genesis 3 offers a rich framework for understanding the Fall, the nature of sin, and the hope of redemption through Christ. As believers, we are called to steadfast adherence to God’s Word, deep recognition of our sinful condition, and firm trust in the promises of the Gospel. Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Genesis 2:8-24 NKJV

⁸ The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. ⁹ And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

¹⁰ Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. ¹¹ The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. ¹² And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. ¹³ The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. ¹⁴ The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

¹⁵ Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

¹⁸ And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” ¹⁹ Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

²¹ And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. ²² Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

²³ And Adam said:

“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

⁸ The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. ⁹ And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

¹⁰ Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. ¹¹ The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. ¹² And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. ¹³ The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. ¹⁴ The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

¹⁵ Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

¹⁸ And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” ¹⁹ Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

²¹ And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. ²² Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

²³ And Adam said:

“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Martin Luther, in his commentary on this passage, invites us to stand in awe of the beauty and perfection of God’s creation. The Garden of Eden, a divine masterpiece, showcases God’s abundant care and His intention for a world brimming with life and harmony. As believers, we are encouraged to see this account as more than history; it is a revelation of God’s character and His craftsmanship. Even though sin has marred this perfect creation, Eden’s memory calls us to trust in God’s initial plan and His ultimate promise of restoration.

This passage also emphasizes the sanctity and divine origin of marriage. Created before the Fall, the union of Adam and Eve signifies God’s perfect design for human relationships. Eve, formed from Adam’s rib, highlights companionship and the deep, intimate bond intended in marriage. In a world where marriage often faces challenges and distortions, these verses remind us of its holy and blessed nature. As believers, we are called to uphold and cherish marriage, recognizing it as a foundational and sacred institution ordained by God.

Next, this passage poignantly describes the devastating effects of sin on humanity and creation. The Fall transformed work into toil and pure relationships into sources of shame and conflict. However, even amid this brokenness, we look to the hope found in Christ. The Tree of Life in Eden prefigures the eternal life offered through Jesus, reminding us that redemption and restoration are central to God’s plan. As believers, we acknowledge our fallen state but cling to the promise of restoration through Christ, looking forward to the ultimate renewal of all creation.

Finally, our Confessional Lutheran insistence on the literal truth of Scripture serves as a guiding principle for us. We are called to trust in the Scriptures, seek correct understanding, and live in obedience to God’s will, drawing strength and assurance from His Word.

Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Genesis 1:20-31; 2:1-7 NKJV

²⁰ Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” ²¹ So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” ²³ So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

²⁴ Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. ²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

²⁹ And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. ³⁰ Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. ³¹ Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

In Luther’s Genesis commentary on days 5-7 of the first week, he invites us to marvel at the power, wisdom, and continuous action of God in creation. Reflecting on the reliability of Scripture and God’s promises, this emphasizes that the wonders of creation and God’s ongoing sustenance of all life remind us of His power and ability to fulfill His Word. This understanding reassures us of God’s faithfulness in our lives.

Here, we note the special place of humans in God’s plan, created in His image and with a unique purpose. We are encouraged to recognize our worth, live responsibly, and reflect God’s image in our daily lives. This understanding inspires a life that honors God’s deliberate and loving creation.

Also, these verses and our reflections on the image of God encourage us to acknowledge the depth of humanity’s fall and the profound loss due to sin. Yet, they also point to the hope of restoration through Christ. We are called to live in the knowledge of God’s original design for humanity and the promise of its full restoration.

Reflecting on God’s creation, rest, and ongoing governance, we are encouraged to trust in God’s ongoing work in the world. Observing Sabbath rest as a celebration of His completed creation fosters a life of gratitude, faith, and hope, anticipating the ultimate restoration of all creation in Christ.

This passage provides rich devotional insights, emphasizing the sanctification of the Sabbath, the primary purpose of human creation for the knowledge and worship of God, and the hope of eternal life. We are encouraged to observe the Sabbath with intentional worship, prayer, and reflection, grounding our lives in the sure hope of eternal life with God. This fosters a deep sense of purpose, gratitude, and hope, continually seeking to glorify God in all actions. Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Genesis 1:1-19 NKJV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

³ Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. ⁴ And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

⁶ Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” ⁷ Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. ⁸ And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.

⁹ Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. ¹⁰ And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

¹¹ Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. ¹² And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ So the evening and the morning were the third day.

¹⁴ Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; ¹⁵ and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. ¹⁶ Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. ¹⁷ God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, ¹⁸ and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

In this passage, we see the majestic power of God’s Word bringing the universe into existence. Martin Luther, in his commentary on Genesis and the first four days of creation, urges us to interpret these verses literally, understanding the six days of creation as actual historical events. This approach encourages us to trust deeply in the clear and plain teachings of Scripture as the solid foundation of our faith and to approach these verses with humility, recognizing our limited understanding and marveling at the divine power that shaped the universe.

Here, we also note the Trinitarian nature of creation: The Father speaks, the Son is the Word, and the Holy Spirit hovers over the waters. This unity in creation deepens our worship and appreciation of the triune God, acknowledging their unified roles in creation and fostering a sense of awe for the mysterious and majestic work of the Trinity.

These verses highlight for us the sovereignty of God’s Word, which not only created the world but continues to sustain it. Trusting in God’s providence allows us to see His meticulous care in every aspect of life, to recognize the sustaining power of God’s Word in creation and in our daily lives, to find strength in His promises, and to rely on God’s care and provision, knowing that He governs all aspects of creation with wisdom.

Here, we do well to avoid speculative theology and instead encourage humility in accepting the mysteries of faith. Focusing on the clear teachings of Scripture helps us to embrace a simple, childlike, and direct faith and to accept the mysteries of faith with all humility, trusting in God’s perfect wisdom.

Reflecting on these verses reminds us to appreciate the beauty and order of creation as manifestations of God’s goodness. Recognizing His provision in the natural world inspires gratitude and living in harmony with His creation, as we reflect on its goodness and His abundant provision for humanity. Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 5:1-12 NKJV

To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A Psalm of David.

5 Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
² Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
³ My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

⁴ For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
⁵ The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
⁶ You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

⁷ But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
⁸ Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

⁹ For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
¹⁰ Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.

¹¹ But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
¹² For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Psalm 5 is a heartfelt prayer, a cry to the Lord from a soul deeply troubled by the presence of false teachers and divisive spirits. Martin Luther, in his “Summaries of the Psalms” (1531), offers a profound interpretation of this psalm. He identifies it as a strong denunciation of false teachings and malicious actions that masquerade under the guise of godliness, causing significant harm to the pure word of God and the true worship of God.

Luther asserts that Psalm 5 is a prayer for the righteous, that is, for the preservation and purity of God’s word and worship. The psalmist pleads with God to protect His name and His truth from being defiled by deceit and corruption. This psalm also holds a promise: such prayers will be heard, and those who propagate falsehoods will face condemnation.

For Confessional Lutherans, Psalm 5 is a call to vigilance and faithfulness in upholding the sanctity of God’s word and worship. It reminds us of our responsibility to honor the second and third commandments, which direct us to keep God’s name and word holy. Moreover, it echoes the first and second petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, where we ask that God’s name be hallowed and His kingdom come.

In our daily lives, we turn to God with the same earnestness as the psalmist, seeking His guidance and protection against the influences that threaten our faith. We can take comfort in the assurance that God hears our prayers and will shield us with His favor. As we strive to maintain the purity of our worship and doctrine, we can rejoice in the knowledge that God is our defender, and His blessings will surround the righteous like a shield. Let us pray: O Lord, let your merciful ears be open to the prayers of your humble servants. Teach us to ask for what pleases you, that we may receive what we ask for; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 150:1-6 NKJV

150 Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

² Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

³ Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
⁴ Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
⁵ Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

This psalm begins and ends with three words in English, “Praise the LORD.” Those three words are one word in Hebrew, “Hallelujah.” Hallelu means “praise.” “Jah” (pronounced “Yah”) is the abbreviated form of Yahweh, the personal name of God. Most English versions translate Yahweh as “the LORD.” The entire psalm, like the four that precede it, is a summons to praise Yahweh, the God Israel, who revealed Himself fully in the New Testament as being one divine essence of three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is to be praised in His sanctuary, which lies far above the mighty firmament of the heavens (1). “Everything that has breath” (6) is praise Him “for His mighty acts” and “His excellent greatness” (2).

On the sixth day of the world “the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen 2:7). All Adam’s descendants have breath of life and are called upon to praise the LORD as creatures of God. But Adam’s descendants also have sin, since Adam corrupted his nature through disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Adam’s sin is passed to all His descendants born of man and woman, so everything that has breath is corrupted by sin and dies, as “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23).

But God, in His excellent greatness, provided His Son, Jesus Christ, to be “the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2), so that all who believe in Him receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The work of Christ is the chief of “His mighty acts” for which the LORD is to be praised.

Believers—forgiven of his sins each day and blessed with everlasting life—cannot help but use the breath God gives them to “continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of their lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb 13:15). Nor can they help but glorify God with their bodies and behavior, so that the entire life of believers is a Hallelujah for His mighty acts and His excellent greatness demonstrated in the gospel. 

Let us pray: Fill our hearts with the knowledge of Your mighty acts and excellent greatness, O LORD, so that we use the breath You give us to praise You now and forevermore. Amen.

Jude 1:14-25 NKJV

¹⁴ Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, ¹⁵ to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

¹⁶ These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. ¹⁷ But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁸ how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. ¹⁹ These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

²² And on some have compassion, making a distinction; ²³ but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

²⁴ Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
²⁵ To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Jude continues by calling on the testimony of the pre-flood patriarch Enoch. He quotes 1 Enoch 1:9, in which Enoch prophesied about these ungodly distorters of doctrine. This doesn’t make the book of 1 Enoch canonical, no more than the seventy elders’ prophesying in Numbers 11:25-26 or Saul’s in 1 Samuel 10:10-13 Holy Scripture. In fact, Jude does not say, “As it is written” as the New Testament authors do when citing Scripture, so that we understand Enoch’s words as factual but not canonical, that is, worthy to be included in Holy Scripture.

Nor do Enoch’s words say anything different from what the Lord says throughout the Old and New Testaments. Christ and the apostles tell us “there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts” (18). Christ also tells us that He will judge all people when He returns in glory—“those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (Jn 5:29).

Jude exhorts us to build ourselves up in our most holy faith, to pray in the Holy Spirit, and to keep ourselves in the love of God, so that we are always “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (21). We know that when Christ returns, we will experience His mercy when He raises us from the dead and says to us at the Final Judgment, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34). Jude wants us to remain in faith, to exercise ourselves in prayer, and live with God’s promised mercy and final salvation in mind.

As our final salvation approaches, we have compassion on those who repent of their sins and keep the most holy faith. Those who refuse repentance we are to “save with fear,” that is, by preaching God’s judgment to them as Enoch, the apostles, and Christ did. If they repent of their wickedness, and experience God’s mercy and be gathered with the believing rather than convicted and condemned with the unbelieving. Let us pray: Build us up in the most holy faith and prayer, O Lord, so that we keep ourselves in God’s love and mercy. Amen.