Meditations in Psalm 119
CHETH
57 Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
“Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.” Psalm 119:57
What is our portion in life? What will we inherit? While those around us have their portion in this world and in this life, our portion as believers is in the Lord God who created and redeemed us.
We may never have much in this world, we may be hated and persecuted for keeping the Word of God and following Christ, but we are rich because we have forgiveness for all our sins and a place in God’s eternal kingdom for Jesus’ sake.
Because Jesus suffered and died for all sins and rose again, all who place their trust in Him have God’s pardon and peace. Their portion is in the Lord and His everlasting kingdom.
Like Abraham of old, we look “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10). Instead of seeking an inheritance here in this world which is passing away, we place our hope and confidence in the Lord God and His mercy in Christ Jesus and look forward to the everlasting blessings of heaven, all for Jesus’ sake.
You are my portion and my inheritance, O Lord. I trust in Your mercy and forgiveness for Jesus’ sake and hold fast to Your words. Graciously keep me and preserve me in the faith until I am with You forever in Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.
“I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.” Psalm 119:58
Nothing is more important and needful for each of us than having the grace and favor of the Lord God. Apart from His grace, we would still be dead in our trespasses and sins and lost forever; but with His grace and favor for the sake of Christ Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death for the sins of all the world, we have all we need – forgiveness for all our sins and a place in God’s everlasting kingdom.
That is why we, whole-heartedly, seek and long for God’s favor. It is why we continue to pray that God would be merciful unto us as He has promised in His Word.
The Bible assures us of God’s mercy in Messiah Jesus when it says: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:5).
Again, the Bible says: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness … If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 1:8-9; 2:1-2).
How thankful we can be that God has dealt with us in His grace and mercy, that He looks upon us with favor for the sake of Christ Jesus and His blood shed upon the cross for our sins!
We continue to look to the Lord for His favor, mercy, forgiveness and life which He promises and extends to us in His Word, all for Jesus‘ sake.
O Lord God, look upon me with favor and be merciful toward me for Jesus‘ sake. Amen.
“I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.” Psalm 119:59-60
When we think about and consider our ways in the light of God’s Word, we have every reason to repent and to return unto the Lord for mercy, forgiveness and for His help and strength to amend our ways and live in obedience to God’s holy commandments.
Our old ways lead to death and and eternal damnation, for “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). We cannot continue on in our own sinful ways, in rebellion against God our Maker, and find joy and true blessedness. Disobedience and sin lead to misery, heartache, alienation from God and eventually to eternal condemnation.
God’s way, on the other hand, leads to peace, joy and the everlasting blessings of heaven. When we look to God, our Maker, He receives us with pardon and forgiveness and gives to us everlasting life in heaven, all because Christ Jesus bore our sins, suffered our punishment and rose again in triumph. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
O Lord God, our sinful ways lead to death and damnation; Your way leads to life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that I may see the error of my ways and return unto you for mercy and forgiveness and for Your help and strength to walk with You in accord with Your ways.
“I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” Psalm 119:63
As Christians, we are children of God through faith in Jesus Christ and are one family with all others who share saving faith in our crucified and risen Savior (cf. Gal. 3:26ff.; Eph. 2:13ff.; 4:4ff.; 1 John 1:3ff.). Though we cannot look into the hearts of others, we practice this closest fellowship with those who confess faith in Christ Jesus and demonstrate that faith by fearing and honoring the Lord and walking in His ways and according to His Word.
Thus, we are companions of all those who confess Christ and fear and honor the Lord and seek to keep His Word. On the other hand, the Scriptures admonish us to keep no company with those taking the name of Christ but not submitting to His Word (1 Cor. 5:11; 2 John 9-11).
Thank You, dear heavenly Father, for adopting us as Your children and bringing us into Your family for the sake of Your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Graciously keep us trusting in Jesus’ shed blood for our salvation and move us to fear and honor You, submitting ourselves to Your holy Word. Grant us fellowship with those who share in the faith of Jesus and seek to honor and glorify Your name by keeping Your commandments. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
“The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.” Psalm 119:64
Have you ever stopped to think what would happen to this world and to all of us if God were not full of mercy toward us?
He sends blessing upon both the believer and unbeliever, his rain upon the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:44), not because we deserve it but because He is merciful.
The Bible tells us why He has not already judged this evil world and condemned all sinners to eternal punishment in hell: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:9-10).
God is merciful and patient with us, suffering long our disobedience and rejection of Him and His ways, giving us time to come to repentance. He mercifully allows this world to go on a little longer, in spite of our evil and wickedness, because He does not desire to condemn us to hell but that we would would see the error of our ways and turn to Him for mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus.
We see His great mercy upon fallen mankind in sending His own Son into the world a man to suffer and die upon the cross and bear our punishment. We also see His mercy in suffering long our rebellion and sin against Him and continuing His saving work in bringing to us the good news of His forgiveness, life and salvation in Jesus, our crucified and risen Savior.
Indeed, the earth is full of God’s mercy. We pray that He would teach us from His Word and make known to us our sinfulness but also make known to us our Savior and the blessings He has won for us.
Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy and patience in dealing with me. Grant me Your Word and teach me the truth. Bring me to repent of my sin and look to You for mercy and forgiveness, all for the sake of Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. Amen.
Epitome of the Formula of Concord
IV. Good Works
STATUS CONTROVERSIAE
The Principal Question In the Controversy concerning Good Works
1] Concerning the doctrine of good works two divisions have arisen in some churches:
2] 1. First, some theologians have become divided because of the following expressions, where the one side wrote: Good works are necessary for salvation. It is impossible to be saved without good works. Also: No one has ever been saved without good works. But the other side, on the contrary, wrote: Good works are injurious to salvation.
3] 2. Afterwards a schism arose also between some theologians with respect to the two words necessary and free, since the one side contended that the word necessary should not be employed concerning the new obedience, which, they say, does not flow from necessity and coercion, but from a voluntary spirit. The other side insisted on the word necessary, because, they say, this obedience is not at our option, but regenerate men are obliged to render this obedience.
4] From this disputation concerning the terms a controversy afterwards occurred concerning the subject itself; for the one side contended that among Christians the Law should not be urged at all, but men should be exhorted to good works from the Holy Gospel alone; the other side contradicted this.
Affirmitive Theses
Pure Doctrine of the Christian Churches concerning This Controversy
5] For the thorough statement and decision of this controversy our doctrine, faith, and confession is:
6] 1. That good works certainly and without doubt follow true faith, if it is not a dead, but a living faith, as fruits of a good tree.
7] 2. We believe, teach, and confess also that good works should be entirely excluded, just as well in the question concerning salvation as in the article of justification before God, as the apostle testifies with clear words, when he writes as follows: Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin, Rom. 4:6ff And again: By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast, Eph. 2:8-9.
8] 3. We believe, teach, and confess also that all men, but those especially who are born again and renewed by the Holy Ghost, are bound to do good works.
9] 4. In this sense the words necessary, shall, and must are employed correctly and in a Christian manner also with respect to the regenerate, and in no way are contrary to the form of sound words and speech.
10] 5. Nevertheless, by the words mentioned, necessitas, necessarium, necessity and necessary, if they be employed concerning the regenerate, not coercion, but only due obedience is to be understood, which the truly believing, so far as they are regenerate, render not from coercion or the driving of the Law, but from a voluntary spirit; because they are no more under the Law, but under grace, Rom. 6:14; 7:6; 8:14.
11] 6. Accordingly, we also believe, teach, and confess that when it is said: The regenerate do good works from a free spirit, this is not to be understood as though it is at the option of the regenerate man to do or to forbear doing good when he wishes, and that he can nevertheless retain faith if he intentionally perseveres in sins.
12] 7. Yet this is not to be understood otherwise than as the Lord Christ and His apostles themselves declare, namely, regarding the liberated spirit, that it does not do this from fear of punishment, like a servant, but from love of righteousness, like children, Rom. 8:15.
13] 8. Although this voluntariness [liberty of spirit] in the elect children of God is not perfect, but burdened with great weakness, as St. Paul complains concerning himself, Rom. 7:14-25; Gal. 5:17;
14] 9. Nevertheless, for the sake of the Lord Christ, the Lord does not impute this weakness to His elect, as it is written: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8:1.
15] 10. We believe, teach, and confess also that not works maintain faith and salvation in us, but the Spirit of God alone, through faith, of whose presence and indwelling good works are evidences.
Negative Theses
False Contrary Doctrine
16] 1. Accordingly, we reject and condemn the following modes of speaking: when it is taught and written that good works are necessary to salvation; also, that no one ever has been saved without good works; also, that it is impossible to be saved without good works.
17] 2. We reject and condemn as offensive and detrimental to Christian discipline the bare expression, when it is said: Good works are injurious to salvation.
18] For especially in these last times it is no less needful to admonish men to Christian discipline [to the way of living aright and godly] and good works, and remind them how necessary it is that they exercise themselves in good works as a declaration of their faith and gratitude to God, than that the works be not mingled in the article of justification; because men may be damned by an Epicurean delusion concerning faith, as well as by papistic and Pharisaic confidence in their own works and merits.
19] 3. We also reject and condemn the dogma that faith and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost are not lost by willful sin, but that the saints and elect retain the Holy Ghost even though they fall into adultery and other sins and persist therein.
Bible Study in Preparation for Sunday
Scripture Readings for Sunday are: Psalm 119:57-64; Ephesians 5:1-14; and Matthew 16:13-20. Please read them in their context as you prepare for worship on Sunday.
The Adult Bible Class is studying St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, at chapter 3, verse 14ff.
Remember to Pray
Remember to pray for our church and for all our members, that none be lost to Christ’s kingdom but that all continue in repentance and be strengthened and built up in the true and saving faith in Christ Jesus through the hearing and study of His Word. We pray for God’s healing and strengthening of our congregation, as well as for God’s help with our church’s financial needs. We continue to pray for all who have been sick or who are suffering among us – for Sam Rusch, who was hospitalized; for Bonnie Hawes, who is anticipating heart surgery; for those who have been absent from us, for our extended families and for believers who are alone and have no congregation. Continue to pray for Lutheran congregations in the Philippines and Japan, for Christians in Nigeria, Haiti and Chile, and for believers around the world who are persecuted or suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus.
Events and Announcements
Monthly Evening Bible Study is tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, August 24. We will be continuing with a study of segments on the reliability of Scriptures from Bible on Trial.
On-line video of worship services can be found at: http://goodshepherdrogers.org/blog/worship-service-video.
Information for bulletins or newsletters may be sent to Pastor Moll by calling him at 479-233-0081 or by e-mail at goodshepherdrogers@yahoo.com.
Psalm 27
A Psalm of David
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.