God Pause for Tuesday, 9 May 2017 from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States with the Scripture Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

God Pause for Tuesday, 9 May 2017 from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States with the Scripture Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

Psalm 31:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:
2 (1) In you, Adonai, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your justice, save me!
3 (2) Turn your ear toward me,
come quickly to my rescue,
be for me a rock of strength,
a fortress to keep me safe.
4 (3) Since you are my rock and fortress,
lead me and guide me for your name’s sake.
5 (4) Free me from the net they have hidden to catch me,
because you are my strength.
15 (14) But I, I trust in you, Adonai;
I say, “You are my God.”
16 (15) My times are in your hand;
rescue me from my enemies’ power,
from those who persecute me.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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In his hard work on the cross Jesus endured everything that this psalm of David petitions against--shame, being trapped in the snare set by others and needing to await rescue. Yet one of the last phrases Jesus utters from the cross is still found in this psalm: "Into your hands I commit my spirit." Jesus knew that his times were in divine hands. He knew that deliverance would come, as it did for Jonah, after three days in the belly of the earth. So, constrained in time and in mortality, Jesus opens to us eternity and resurrection hope.
Jesus endured the shame of the cross that we might be clothed and comforted and full of life through that work. Jesus entered into the snare of death that we might be set free from all that binds us. Jesus lingered on the cross and in the tomb that we might immediately start to experience eternal life.
God our times are indeed in your hands. Help us cling to the treasures Jesus has loosed for us on the cross and most tightly to Jesus himself. Amen.
Karl Hester, '01
Pastor, Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran, Salem, Ore.
Psalm 31:1 In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.
3 You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me,
4 take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God...
15 My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.[New Revised Standard Version]
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God Pause for Monday, 8 May 2017 from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States with the Scripture Acts 7:55-60Acts 7:55 But he, full of the Ruach HaKodesh, looked up to heaven and saw God’s Sh’khinah, with Yeshua standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look!” he exclaimed, “I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”[Acts 7:56 Psalm 110:1]
57 At this, they began yelling at the top of their voices, so that they wouldn’t have to hear him; and with one accord, they rushed at him, 58 threw him outside the city and began stoning him. And the witnesses laid down their coats at the feet of a young man named Sha’ul.
59 As they were stoning him, Stephen called out to God, “Lord Yeshua! Receive my spirit!” 60 Then he kneeled down and shouted out, “Lord! Don’t hold this sin against them!” With that, he died;[Complete Jewish Bible]
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Stephen speaks of what he sees and knows of God. He directs others to fix their gaze upon Jesus as well. Those who hear his testimony respond with violent outrage. While pointing others towards God, Stephen's life is required of him. His response is not one of desperate self-preservation, but rather he draws even closer to his Lord, echoing Jesus' words from the cross, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing."
The response to our own testimonies about the God we have known and seen may also sometimes invoke violent and aggressive responses. Our words, our characters and even our very lives may come under vicious attack. Jesus invites us to pick up our crosses and follow after him. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German pastor and theologian, reminds us that such an invitation is to "come and die." As we face mortal threats will we draw near to Jesus and pray for mercy and forgiveness for the ones who wish us ill? This isn't the way of the world. It is the way of the cross.
God do not hold our sins against us or against others when we threaten one another out of our fear and sinful smallness. Amen.
Karl Hester, '01
Pastor, Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran, Salem, Ore.
Acts 7:55 But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
56 "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
57 But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him.
58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."60 Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.[New Revised Standard Version]

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