Today's Reading: Introit for the Third Last Sunday
Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 11:1-23; Matthew 24:1-28
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; deliver me from the hand of my enemies. (Psalm 31:9a; 15b)
Here we go again! What’s going on here? More trouble for God’s beloved? How can this be?
Anyone who thinks that faith in Christ and membership in His church means a lack of trouble and enemies has another thing coming. Certainly not because God wants it that way for us, but because the devil, the world, and even our own sinful flesh want us back again. Or at least they want to keep us from spreading the good news of salvation to others.
The very fact that you have trouble, that you have enemies, tells you something very important. It tells you that what you see and experience in this world of sin is nothing to hang onto, nothing worthy of your loyalty, nothing that will last.
You are not alone. Even David, that man the Lord sought to be king of His people as a man after His own heart—especially David—has more than his share of troubles and enemies as we read in this Psalm. Among other things, David is hunted and tormented by his predecessor, King Saul. He is betrayed and hunted by his own son. He even sees a son die because of his own sin and treachery. Yet, from this David, this forgiven sinner and troubled saint of God, from his lineage the Savior is born.
No, you are not alone. You have trouble and enemies because Christ had trouble, and still has enemies. Thanks be to God, your trouble and enemies are Christ’s trouble and enemies. Christ’s trouble and enemies wounded His heel on the cursed cross of Calvary. But through His most dire trouble, Christ defeated His gravest enemies, and yours—sin, death, and the devil.
Lord grant that your every trouble and encounter with enemies in this world remind you of your life forever in the world to come—in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
See round Your ark the hungry billows curling; See how Your foes their banners are unfurling And with great spite their fiery darts are hurling, O Lord, preserve us. (LSB 659: 2)