The God Pause from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 4 June 2018; Sunday, 3 June 2018; and Saturday, 2 June 2018 - Genesis 3:8-15; "O God, my faithful God"; and "There's a wideness in God's mercy"
Monday, 4 June 2018
Genesis 3:8 They heard the voice of Adonai, God, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Adonai, God, among the trees in the garden. 9 Adonai, God, called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I ordered you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Adonai, God, said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me, so I ate.”
14 Adonai, God, said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and wild animals. You will crawl on your belly and eat dust as long as you live. 15 I will put animosity between you and the woman, and between your descendant and her descendant; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” (Complete Jewish Bible).We could have been taunted by so many things at the beginning--our nakedness, our dependence on the tree of life, our naivete--but that crafty serpent chose the most alluring, telling us we could be like God. We believed that taunt and discovered how that original, corrupting sin leads to fear and judgment. Our fear of being in God's presence drives us to taunt others as we try to escape blame. Yet in God's judgment against the serpent, we hear the foreshadowing of God's intention to defeat the taunting devil.
Creator God, you know us, yet you love us still. Free us from the devil's taunts that would separate us from the love and care you want to provide for us. Amen.
Eric L. Bodenstab, '15
Pastor, Zion Lutheran Church, Sandusky, Ohio
Genesis 3:8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9 But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"
10 He said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
12 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate."
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me, and I ate."
14 The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel." (New Revised Standard Version).
***
Sunday, 3 June 2018
1. O God, my faithful God,
true fountain ever flowing,
without whom nothing is,
all perfect gifts bestowing:
give me a healthy frame,
and may I have within
a conscience free from blame,
a soul unstained by sin.
2. Give me the strength to do
with ready heart and willing
whatever you command,
my calling here fulfilling--
to do it when I ought,
with all my might--and bless
whatever I have wrought,
for you must give success.
3. Keep me from saying words
that later need recalling;
guard me, lest idle speech
may from my lips be falling;
but when, within my place,
I must and ought to speak,
then to my words give grace,
lest I offend the weak.
4. When dangers gather round,
oh, keep me calm and fearless;
help me to bear the cross
when life seems dark and cheerless;
help me, as you have taught,
to love both great and small,
and, by your Spirit's might,
to live at peace with all.
***
Winkworth's translation of Heermann's original German retains a sense of urgency. Verse one's prayer for "perfect gifts"--healthy frame, conscience free, soul unstained--is realized in verse two's desire to do "whatever you command" and "to do it when I ought." It's clear that the lyricist sees a connection between the blessings that God bestows and our responsibility to use those blessings in the service of others.
This week's readings began with a command to keep the Sabbath and ended with Jesus intentionally breaking the Sabbath, but for purposes that brought goodness and healing to others. When we sing in verse four, "help me, as you have taught, to love both great and small," it's a call to live according to God's will, especially when we are the "great." But in those times when we are the "small," when our clay jar is broken, then Sabbath is revealed as pure gift.
Make us thankful for your gift of rest Lord, and by your Spirit's might, may we live at peace with all. Amen.
Scott Thompson, '96
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Mont.
Saturday, 2 June 2018
1. There's a wideness in God's mercy,
like the wideness of the sea;
there's a kindness in God's justice
which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth's sorrows
are more felt than up in heav'n.
There is no place where earth's failings
have such kindly judgment giv'n.
2. There is welcome for the sinner,
and a promised grace made good;
there is mercy with the Savior;
there is healing in his blood.
There is grace enough for thousands
of new worlds as great as this;
there is room for fresh creations
in that upper home of bliss.
3. For the love of God is broader
than the measures of our mind;
and the heart of the Eternal
is most wonderfully kind.
But we make this love too narrow
by false limits of our own;
and we magnify its strictness
with a zeal God will not own.
4. 'Tis not all we owe to Jesus;
it is something more than all:
greater good because of evil,
larger mercy through the fall.
Make our love, O God, more faithful;
let us take you at your word,
and our lives will be thanksgiving
for the goodness of the Lord.
***
Faber's lyrics come from the mid-nineteenth century, a time during which many were crossing the sea to seek a "better" life. The still new American States as well as the burgeoning colonies of the world's empires in Africa, South America and the Indian subcontinent promised a liberty and freedom unmatched in human history. From the vantage point of the future though, we are able to see that this liberty was a boon to some, while shamefully, a burden for many.
Perhaps Faber has an insight to this discrepancy of justice when he describes the wideness of God's mercy exceeding even that of the mighty ocean traversed by so many desperately seeking that better life. So much so that in verse 3 he appeals to the "broader love of God" that we so often make "narrow" by "false limits of our own." Thus comes the appeal in the final verse that God might make our love "more faithful" and our "thanksgiving" a reflection of God's goodness.
Make us thankful for your gift of rest Lord, that your wide mercy and broad love may be known through us. Amen.
Scott Thompson, '96
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Mont.
Monday, 4 June 2018
Genesis 3:8 They heard the voice of Adonai, God, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Adonai, God, among the trees in the garden. 9 Adonai, God, called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I ordered you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13 Adonai, God, said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me, so I ate.”
14 Adonai, God, said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and wild animals. You will crawl on your belly and eat dust as long as you live. 15 I will put animosity between you and the woman, and between your descendant and her descendant; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” (Complete Jewish Bible).We could have been taunted by so many things at the beginning--our nakedness, our dependence on the tree of life, our naivete--but that crafty serpent chose the most alluring, telling us we could be like God. We believed that taunt and discovered how that original, corrupting sin leads to fear and judgment. Our fear of being in God's presence drives us to taunt others as we try to escape blame. Yet in God's judgment against the serpent, we hear the foreshadowing of God's intention to defeat the taunting devil.
Creator God, you know us, yet you love us still. Free us from the devil's taunts that would separate us from the love and care you want to provide for us. Amen.
Eric L. Bodenstab, '15
Pastor, Zion Lutheran Church, Sandusky, Ohio
Genesis 3:8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9 But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"
10 He said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"
12 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate."
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me, and I ate."
14 The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel." (New Revised Standard Version).
***
Sunday, 3 June 2018
1. O God, my faithful God,
true fountain ever flowing,
without whom nothing is,
all perfect gifts bestowing:
give me a healthy frame,
and may I have within
a conscience free from blame,
a soul unstained by sin.
2. Give me the strength to do
with ready heart and willing
whatever you command,
my calling here fulfilling--
to do it when I ought,
with all my might--and bless
whatever I have wrought,
for you must give success.
3. Keep me from saying words
that later need recalling;
guard me, lest idle speech
may from my lips be falling;
but when, within my place,
I must and ought to speak,
then to my words give grace,
lest I offend the weak.
4. When dangers gather round,
oh, keep me calm and fearless;
help me to bear the cross
when life seems dark and cheerless;
help me, as you have taught,
to love both great and small,
and, by your Spirit's might,
to live at peace with all.
***
Winkworth's translation of Heermann's original German retains a sense of urgency. Verse one's prayer for "perfect gifts"--healthy frame, conscience free, soul unstained--is realized in verse two's desire to do "whatever you command" and "to do it when I ought." It's clear that the lyricist sees a connection between the blessings that God bestows and our responsibility to use those blessings in the service of others.
This week's readings began with a command to keep the Sabbath and ended with Jesus intentionally breaking the Sabbath, but for purposes that brought goodness and healing to others. When we sing in verse four, "help me, as you have taught, to love both great and small," it's a call to live according to God's will, especially when we are the "great." But in those times when we are the "small," when our clay jar is broken, then Sabbath is revealed as pure gift.
Make us thankful for your gift of rest Lord, and by your Spirit's might, may we live at peace with all. Amen.
Scott Thompson, '96
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Mont.
Saturday, 2 June 2018
1. There's a wideness in God's mercy,
like the wideness of the sea;
there's a kindness in God's justice
which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth's sorrows
are more felt than up in heav'n.
There is no place where earth's failings
have such kindly judgment giv'n.
2. There is welcome for the sinner,
and a promised grace made good;
there is mercy with the Savior;
there is healing in his blood.
There is grace enough for thousands
of new worlds as great as this;
there is room for fresh creations
in that upper home of bliss.
3. For the love of God is broader
than the measures of our mind;
and the heart of the Eternal
is most wonderfully kind.
But we make this love too narrow
by false limits of our own;
and we magnify its strictness
with a zeal God will not own.
4. 'Tis not all we owe to Jesus;
it is something more than all:
greater good because of evil,
larger mercy through the fall.
Make our love, O God, more faithful;
let us take you at your word,
and our lives will be thanksgiving
for the goodness of the Lord.
***
Faber's lyrics come from the mid-nineteenth century, a time during which many were crossing the sea to seek a "better" life. The still new American States as well as the burgeoning colonies of the world's empires in Africa, South America and the Indian subcontinent promised a liberty and freedom unmatched in human history. From the vantage point of the future though, we are able to see that this liberty was a boon to some, while shamefully, a burden for many.
Perhaps Faber has an insight to this discrepancy of justice when he describes the wideness of God's mercy exceeding even that of the mighty ocean traversed by so many desperately seeking that better life. So much so that in verse 3 he appeals to the "broader love of God" that we so often make "narrow" by "false limits of our own." Thus comes the appeal in the final verse that God might make our love "more faithful" and our "thanksgiving" a reflection of God's goodness.
Make us thankful for your gift of rest Lord, that your wide mercy and broad love may be known through us. Amen.
Scott Thompson, '96
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Mont.
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55108, United State
***
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