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Scott's Reference Library
| Date: | Sunday, July 3, 2000 |
| Time: | 10:00 AM |
| Service: | Pentecost 3, Proper 8, B |
| Liturgy: | Holy Communion, LBW Setting II |
See also: July 2, 2000 | July 2, 2006 | June 28, 2009
If You But Trust in God To Guide You (Behnke)
Lament. 3:22-33
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
[23] They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
[24] I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."
[25] The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
[26] it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
[27] It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
[28] Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him.
[29] Let him bury his face in the dust--
there may yet be hope.
[30] Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
[31] For men are not cast off
by the Lord forever.
[32] Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
[33] For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to the children of men.
Lament. 3:21-36 (The faithful lament their calamities, and hope in God’s mercies)
Having stated his distress and temptation, the prophet shows how he was raised above it. Bad as things are, it is owing to the mercy of God that they are not worse. We should observe what makes for us, as well as what is against us. God’s compassions fail not; of this we have fresh instances every morning. Portions on earth are perishing things, but God is a portion for ever. It is our duty, and will be our comfort and satisfaction, to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. Afflictions do and will work very much for good: many have found it good to bear this yoke in their youth; it has made many humble and serious, and has weaned them from the world, who otherwise would have been proud and unruly. If tribulation work patience, that patience will work experience, and that experience a hope that makes not ashamed. Due thoughts of the evil of sin, and of our own sinfulness, will convince us that it is of the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed. If we cannot say with unwavering voice, The Lord is my portion; may we not say, I desire to have Him for my portion and salvation, and in his word do I hope? Happy shall we be, if we learn to receive affliction as laid upon us by the hand of God.
Psalm 30:1-12
A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David.
I will exalt you, O Lord,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
[2] O Lord my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.
[3] O Lord, you brought me up from the grave;
you spared me from going down into the pit.
[4] Sing to the Lord, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
[5] For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
[6] When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."
[7] O Lord, when you favored me,
you made my mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.
[8] To you, O Lord, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
[9] "What gain is there in my destruction,
in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
[10] Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me;
O Lord, be my help."
[11] You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
[12] that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Psalm 30:1-5 (Praise to God for deliverance)
The great things the Lord has done for us, both by his providence and by his grace, bind us in gratitude to do all we can to advance his kingdom among men, though the most we can do is but little. God’s saints in heaven sing to him; why should not those on earth do the same? Not one of all God’s perfections carries in it more terror to the wicked, or more comfort to the godly, than his holiness. It is a good sign that we are in some measure partakers of his holiness, if we can heartily rejoice at the remembrance of it. Our happiness is bound up in the Divine favour; if we have that, we have enough, whatever else we want; but as long as God’s anger continues, so long the saints’ weeping continues.
Psalm 30:6-12 (Others encouraged by his example)
When things are well with us, we are very apt to think that they will always be so. When we see our mistake, it becomes us to think with shame upon our carnal security as our folly. If God hide his face, a good man is troubled, though no other calamity befal him. But if God, in wisdom and justice, turn from us, it will be the greatest folly if we turn from him. No; let us learn to pray in the dark. The sanctified spirit, which returns to God, shall praise him, shall be still praising him; but the services of God’s house cannot be performed by the dust; it cannot praise him; there is none of that device or working in the grave, for it is the land of silence. We ask aright for life, when we do so that we may live to praise him. In due time God delivered the psalmist out of his troubles. Our tongue is our glory, and never more so than when employed in praising God. He would persevere to the end in praise, hoping that he should shortly be where this would be the everlasting work. But let all beware of carnal security. Neither outward prosperity, nor inward peace, here, are sure and lasting. The Lord, in his favour, has fixed the believer’s safety firm as the deep-rooted mountains, but he must expect to meet with temptations and afflictions. When we grow careless, we fall into sin, the Lord hides his face, our comforts droop, and troubles assail us.
2 Cor. 8:7-15
But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete
earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
[8] I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it
with the earnestness of others. [9] For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty
might become rich.
[10] And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were
the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. [11] Now finish the work,
so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according
to your means. [12] For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to
what one has, not according to what he does not have.
[13] Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that
there might be equality. [14] At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,
so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, [15]
as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered
little did not have too little."
2 Cor. 8:7-9 (Enforces this by their gifts, and by the love and grace of Christ)
Faith is the root; and as without faith it is not possible to please God, Hebrews 11:6, so those who abound in faith, will abound in other graces and good works also; and this will work and show itself by love. Great talkers are not always the best doers; but these Corinthians were diligent to do, as well as to know and talk well. To all these good things the apostle desires them to add this grace also, to abound in charity to the poor. The best arguments for Christian duties, are drawn from the grace and love of Christ. Though he was rich, as being God, equal in power and glory with the Father, yet he not only became man for us, but became poor also. At length he emptied himself, as it were, to ransom their souls by his sacrifice on the cross. From what riches, blessed Lord, to what poverty didst thou descend for our sakes! and to what riches hast thou advanced us through thy poverty! It is our happiness to be wholly at thy disposal.
2 Cor. 8:10-15 (By the willingness they had shown to this good work)
Good purposes are like buds and blossoms, pleasant to behold, and give hopes of good fruit; but they are lost, and signify nothing without good deeds. Good beginnings are well; but we lose the benefit, unless there is perseverance. When men purpose that which is good, and endeavour, according to their ability, to perform also, God will not reject them for what it is not in their power to do. But this scripture will not justify those who think good meanings are enough, or that good purposes, and the mere profession of a willing mind, are enough to save. Providence gives to some more of the good things of this world, and to some less, that those who have abundance might supply others who are in want. It is the will of God, that by our mutual supplying one another, there should be some sort of equality; not such a levelling as would destroy property, for in such a case there could be no exercise of charity. All should think themselves concerned to relieve those in want. This is shown from the gathering and giving out the manna in the wilderness, Exodus 16:18. Those who have most of this world, have no more than food and raiment; and those who have but little of this world, seldom are quite without them.
Mark 5:21-43
When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd
gathered around him while he was by the lake. [22] Then one of the synagogue rulers, named
Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet [23] and pleaded earnestly with him,
"My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will
be healed and live." [24] So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. [25] And a woman was there who had been
subject to bleeding for twelve years. [26] She had suffered a great deal under the care of
many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. [27]
When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,
[28] because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." [29]
Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her
suffering.
[30] At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the
crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
[31] "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered,
"and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "
[32] But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. [33] Then the woman, knowing
what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the
whole truth. [34] He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace
and be freed from your suffering."
[35] While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue
ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any
more?"
[36] Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just
believe."
[37] He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.
[38] When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people
crying and wailing loudly. [39] He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion
and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." [40] But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who
were with him, and went in where the child was. [41] He took her by the hand and said to
her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get
up!"). [42] Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years
old). At this they were completely astonished. [43] He gave strict orders not to let
anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Mark 5:21-34 (A woman healed)
A despised gospel will go where it will be better received. One of the rulers of a synagogue earnestly besought Christ for a little daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. Another cure was wrought by the way. We should do good, not only when in the house, but when we walk by the way, Deuteronomy 6:7. It is common with people not to apply to Christ till they have tried in vain all other helpers, and find them, as certainly they will, physicians of no value. Some run to diversions and gay company; others plunge into business, or even into intemperance; others go about to establish their own righteousness, or torment themselves by vain superstitions. Many perish in these ways; but none will ever find rest to the soul by such devices; while those whom Christ heals of the disease of sin, find in themselves an entire change for the better. As secret acts of sin, so secret acts of faith, are known to the Lord Jesus. The woman told all the truth. It is the will of Christ that his people should be comforted, and he has power to command comfort to troubled spirits. The more simply we depend on Him, and expect great things from him, the more we shall find in ourselves that he is become our salvation. Those who, by faith, are healed of their spiritual diseases, have reason to go in peace.
Mark 5:35-43 (The daughter of Jairus raised)
We may suppose Jairus hesitating whether he should ask Christ to go on or not, when told that his daughter was dead. But have we not as much occasion for the grace of God, and the comfort of his Spirit, for the prayers of our ministers and Christian friends, when death is in the house, as when sickness is there? Faith is the only remedy against grief and fear at such a time. Believe the resurrection, then fear not. He raised the dead child to life by a word of power. Such is the gospel call to those who are by nature dead in trespasses and sins. It is by the word of Christ that spiritual life is given. All who saw it, and heard of it, admired the miracle, and Him that wrought it. Though we cannot now expect to have our dead children or relatives restored, we may hope to find comfort under our trials.
All lessons NIV, all commentaries from Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
kw: pentecost 3b, proper 8b
Other Notes: