Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Tuesday after Sexagesima

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Exodus 15:1-21 (NKJV)

1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! 2 The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is His name. 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone.

6 “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces. 7 And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble. 8 And with the blast of Your nostrils the waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.’ 10 You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

11 “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12 You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. 13 You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation.

14 “The people will hear and be afraid; Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; The mighty men of Moab, trembling will take hold of them; All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away. 16 Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm they will be as still as a stone, till Your people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over whom You have purchased. 17 You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.

18 “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”

19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them: “Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”

Devotion

Our God always fights for and preserves His people in the midst of an ungodly world. We can become very discouraged with the continual advance of perversion and wickedness in the world. We can become depressed because of the growing opposition to the Church from civil authorities, but we must always remind ourselves that God has the world in the palm of His hand. He has promised His Church victory over the world, and though it may not seem like He is doing anything, He is orchestrating all things for His ends and our good. “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?”

Who does wonders for His people like our God? When St. Boniface of Mainz evangelized the pagan Saxons, he could confidently cut down the sacred oak, knowing that Thor could do nothing. The other gods are nothing. Only our God exists and works for His people. The Canaanites and the Philistines were more than a match for the children of Israel, but they were no match for Israel’s God. It is fashionable to claim different or unusual gods today, but it is a game, for even the new pagans don’t really believe their gods exist. There is only one God Who truly exists.

We pray: Lord God, heavenly Father, strengthen us in our faith in the midst of this hostile world. Bring to our remembrance your promises for our eternal reward. Help us to remain faithful and hopeful as we trust in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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