The Wednesday after Exaudi Sunday

11:14 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 15 “Son of man, your brethren, your relatives, your countrymen, and all the house of Israel in its entirety, are those about whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Get far away from the Lord; this land has been given to us as a possession.’ 16 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.”’ 17 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’ 18 And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there. 19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”

The Lord works through all sorts of circumstances, the good and the bad. When conquered and scattered among the Gentiles, His people were still called to be faithful. They were to abide in Him as “a little sanctuary” wherever they were. God would use these events to proclaim His grace, power, and glory among those other nations. The Scriptures show that other nations would indeed learn His truth from these scattered people, and sooner or later, people from those nations would believe and be saved by His Word.

The Lord says, “I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them…” The Scriptures consistently teach us that our Lord works to bring us together as one community, one kingdom, that is not defined by geography or politics, but by faith! The Lord says this community will “walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.” If a nation rejects God’s Word, they are not His people.

Now, especially in the time of the New Testament Church, God’s people are scattered among the unbelieving nations. But we are still called together in Jesus Christ, to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and to always learn and observe His Word. He is our true Sanctuary. He continues to teach and call others through us who are scattered throughout this world which still needs to hear and believe His Gospel.

Collect: Almighty, Everlasting God, make us to have always a devout will toward Thee, and to serve Thy Majesty with a pure heart; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.