Festival of St. Bartholomew, Apostle and Martyr
Posted on August 24, 2021 by under
Scripture: Isaiah 38:9-22 (NKJV)
38:9 This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:
10 I said, “In the prime of my life I shall go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the remainder of my years.”
11 I said, “I shall not see Yah, the Lord in the land of the living; I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world.
12 My life span is gone, taken from me like a shepherd’s tent; I have cut off my life like a weaver. He cuts me off from the loom; From day until night You make an end of me.
13 I have considered until morning—like a lion, so He breaks all my bones; From day until night You make an end of me.
14 Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered; I mourned like a dove; My eyes fail from looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; Undertake for me!
15 “What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, and He Himself has done it. I shall walk carefully all my years in the bitterness of my soul.
16 O Lord, by these things men live; And in all these things is the life of my spirit; So You will restore me and make me live.
17 Indeed it was for my own peace that I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
18 For Sheol cannot thank You, death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth.
19 The living, the living man, he shall praise You, as I do this day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children.
20 “The Lord was ready to save me; Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life, in the house of the Lord.”
21 Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a lump of figs, and apply it as a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover.”
22 And Hezekiah had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?”
Devotion
Today’s reading provides us with words that should resonate with all of us. As he had faced death, King Hezekiah now reflects on his condition, writing from the depth and darkness of his soul. “I said, ‘In the prime of my life I shall go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the remainder of my years’ … My life span is gone, taken from me like a shepherd’s tent; I have cut off my life like a weaver. He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night. You make an end of me.’” In our weak and sinful nature we cannot appreciate all the glories that await us in heaven. We find ourselves, like Hezekiah, lamenting having to leave what is familiar, even if our earthly life is often difficult. Such is the view of death this side of glory.
That is why God must enlighten us with His promises. And only by the Spirit working through His Word is such a perspective attained. It prompted the king himself to change his frame of mind. “Indeed it was for my own peace that I had great bitterness; but You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.” Let us be continually reminded of God’s presence, both now and forever, declaring with St Paul: “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).
Prayer: Almighty and Merciful God, of Whose only gift it cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee true and laudable service: Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so faithfully serve Thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain Thy heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of St. Bartholomew, Apostle and Martyr:
O Almighty God, Who hast built Thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Head Cornerstone: Grant us to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable unto Thee; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
