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Septuagesima

Matthew 20:1-16

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CrossTalk: We Praise You, O God

 

This week (December 7) Christians will commemorate Ambrose of Milan—as they have done for 16 centuries. This pious and gifted teacher of the church is one of those people whom God put into the world at a pivotal moment in history to preserve His Word and teaching for us.

Ambrose’s life and work are well worth studying. I want to commemorate him here by reflecting on one of the most widely used and enduring hymns of Western Christianity, traditionally ascribed to him. We call it by its Latin title, Te Deum. Translated, it sings out: “We praise you, O God, we acknowledge You to be the Lord. All the earth now worships you, the Father everlasting.”

With the little word, “now,” Ambrose underscores an astounding new reality that modern Christians often fail to see. Suddenly, after the sufferings, death, resurrection and ascension of the Jewish man, Jesus, the entire world began worshiping the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Until Jesus, only one small nation on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea had ever heard of Him.

As Christians of the first several centuries observed that the Old Testament was being read in every city of the inhabited world, they noted the fulfillment of prophecies like, Psalm 22:27 “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.” This became one of the most convincing proofs that the Messiah had, indeed, come into the world.

For the Jews, this meant that the eternal song of the angels, “Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth” (Isaiah 6:3), was now made plain. With the coming of Christ, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was revealed by His Trinitarian Name: “The Father of an infinite majesty; Thine adorable, true, and only Son; also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.”

Ambrose next goes on briefly to outline the saving acts of Christ, “the King of glory,” who is “the everlasting Son of the Father.”

First, in the fullness of time, the eternal Son became a man—something that He never was before. “When You took upon Yourself to deliver man, You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin.”

Next, as the God-man he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. On the third day, he rose again from the dead and appeared to the Apostles, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld” (John 20:22-23).

This Ambrose captured with the words, “When You had overcome the sharpness of death, You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.”

Third, Jesus, with His risen and glorified body, ascended into heaven to rule the universe not only as the God He always was, but now also as the only Perfect Man. We sing, “You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.”

Jesus’ fourth and final act for your salvation has not yet happened. But we sing it out in full confidence through Ambrose’s poetry, “We believe that you will come to be our judge.”

After such a striking summary of Jesus’ work for your salvation, there is still one thing needed—faith. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).

So, Ambrose ends with a supplication: “We, therefore, pray You to help Your servants whom You have redeemed with Your precious blood. Make them to be numbered with Your saints in glory everlasting.”

This beloved hymn has been sung since the early fifth century A.D. It is said that Ambrose wrote it for the baptism of Augustine on Easter Sunday of 387. Whatever occasioned its writing, the Te Deum remains one of the most beloved hymns in Christendom.

Wyoming District Roundup

December 2024

Headwaters Circuit Forum - November 2, 2024

The Book of Revelation in the "Elector Bible"

Rev. Travis Berg, Bethel Lutheran Church, Lander, WY

Morning Presentation

Afternoon Presentation

Recorded at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Green River, WY

CrossTalk: Modern Meditations on a Reformation Hymn

In honor of Reformation Day (October 31), I want to introduce you to my favorite hymn. It was written by Martin Luther exactly 500 years ago. Although it rarely appears in modern hymnals, it describes a spiritual struggle that is strangely contemporary. 

The hymn begins as a plaintive prayer:

O Lord, look down from heaven, behold

And let Thy pity waken.

How few are we within Thy Fold,

Thy saints by men forsaken!

True faith seems quenched on every hand,

Men suffer not Thy Word to stand;

Dark times have us o'ertaken.

The faithful Church of God has never been large and overpowering. Enemies of God—both outside and inside its walls—are constantly undermining the pure and clear Word of God. They simply will not allow God’s Word to stand. And that brings great darkness.

The second stanza elaborates on the many ways that God’s Word is twisted.

With fraud which they themselves invent

Thy truth they have confounded [i.e. confused];

Their hearts are not with one consent

On Thy pure doctrine grounded.

While they parade with outward show,

They lead the people to and fro,

In error's maze astounded.

Today, too, we are hard-pressed by lies, errors and confusion. We seem helpless against them. But we can confidently turn to God. 

May God root out all heresy

And of false teachers rid us

Who proudly say: “Now, where is he

That shall our speech forbid us?

By right or might we shall prevail;

What we determine cannot fail;

We own no lord and master.”

The pride of God’s enemies is frightening. Often, it seems that it has no boundaries and that nothing can stop it. But God always responds to the prayers of His people. Stanza four speaks of God’s answer to prayer. 

Therefore saith God, “I must arise,

The poor My help are needing;

To Me ascend My people's cries,

And I have heard their pleading.

For them My saving Word shall fight

And fearlessly and sharply smite,

The poor with might defending.”

God will hear your prayers, today, just as surely as He did five centuries ago. As the Bible says, “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV). It’s power is not a threat, but a comfort to the poor in Spirit. 

Not only that, but the struggle itself is used by God for your good! We should always thank God even for the trials that He gives us. Because through cross and trials, He grants His blessing.

As silver tried by fire is pure

From all adulteration,

So through God's Word shall men endure

Each trial and temptation.

Its light beams brighter through the cross,

And, purified from human dross,

It shines through every nation.

That fifth stanza is my personal favorite. It reminds us that not only will God protect His faithful people in trials, they will also be better for having them.

As Charles Spurgeon purportedly said, “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” So, stanza six of this beautiful hymn turns the battle over to God, and rests in His mighty hand.

Thy truth defend, O God, and stay

This evil generation;

And from the error of their way

Keep Thine own congregation.

The wicked everywhere abound

And would Thy little flock confound;

But Thou art our Salvation.

Christ is our salvation. What more needs to be said? There is nothing and no one that can stop Him from saving you, as well. 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:35, 37).

Wyoming District Roundup

 

October 2024