Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Wednesday after the Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Isaiah 2:10-21 (NKJV)

10 Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty.

11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up—and it shall be brought low—

13 Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan;

14 Upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up;

15 Upon every high tower, and upon every fortified wall;

16 Upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all the beautiful sloops.

17 The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

18 But the idols He shall utterly abolish.

19 They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily.

20 In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which they made, each for himself to worship, to the moles and bats,

21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the crags of the rugged rocks, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily.

Devotion

Pride-filled, self-centered mankind likes to “think” that God can be put beneath himself—as if God can be handled, or measured, or made into a subject for man to do with what he desires. The opening words of this text at verse 11, however, “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of man shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day” (words repeated at verse 17, which double-down the point) reveal God putting His created being in its place! There is a saying regarding Holy Scripture that carries this same understanding: “It’s not necessarily that man interprets God’s Holy Scripture, it’s that God’s Holy Scripture interprets man!”

Luther comments on this text: “It’s as if [God] were saying: ‘Begone with all your glory, wisdom, and power, which amount to nothing.’ Whatever is exalted in the eyes of men is cast down; it will be nothing in comparison with the loftiness of Christ, and everything will become worthless.” Finally Luther, revealing the Christ-centeredness of biblical/Lutheran theology, sums up his commentary on this section of Isaiah by stating: “The chief point of this chapter is that Christ will reign through the Gospel over everything lofty on earth, whether external or internal, whether secular or spiritual. All these things will have to yield and be subject to Him, with the result that He alone will remain LORD, King, and Priest forever.” (Luther’s Works, vol. 16)

Oh how we, believing/baptized children of God, are so blessed to worship (that is, receive) Christ’s reign through God’s Law and Gospel each week. Because of God’s Divine Service of Word and Sacrament Ministry the LORD kills and makes alive as He accounts those who are His own justified with the reign (and righteousness) of His Son, Jesus Christ, through faith alone!

We pray: 1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O LORD—how long? 4 Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! 5 For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks? 6 I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. 7 My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. 8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my supplication; The LORD will receive my prayer. 10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly. (Psalm 6)

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