How will the Lord get what he requires of us?

Verse for the week: “Make me understand the way of your commandments, that I may meditate on your marvelous works.”  Psalm 119.27

Prayer for this week: “Almighty God, you set your Son over the works of your hands, so that even the rebellious spirits must obey him.  Grant your word its native power that your kingdom may grow and increase and all creation be delivered into the glorious liberty of your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (K.B. Ritter, Gebete für das jahr der Kirche, 2^nd  ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.86 )

Bible reading for the day:  Micah 6.1-8 (Micah preached to the southern kingdom of Judah through the period of the collapse of the North, starting after but overlapping with Isaiah (742-698 BC).  As in Hosea, Micah contains a thrice repeated pattern of oracles of doom followed by oracles of hope. He denounced the people’s injustice, wickedness, and false worship.)

Hear what the Lord says:
Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.
² Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord,
and you enduring foundations of the earth,
for the Lord has an indictment against his people,
and he will contend with Israel.

³ “O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I wearied you? Answer me!
⁴ For I brought you up from the land of Egypt
and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
⁵ O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,
and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”

⁶ “With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
⁷ Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
⁸ He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Prayer (based on TRIP* method): Gracious and almighty Lord, thank you for taking your case against us upon yourself and acquitting us in Jesus Christ.  Thank you! Repent me and your church of offering what is not pleasing to you…of thinking we can placate you while our hearts and lives trust in our will.  You brought Jesus out of the grave, so humble us to worship and trust you… and bring from us honest love for our neighbor.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Hallowed be thy name…

What does this mean?  God's name is indeed holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy also among us.

How is this done?  God's name is hallowed when his Word is taught in its truth and purity and we, as God's children, lead holy lives in harmony with it. Grant this to us, dear Father in heaven! But whoever teaches and lives in ways other than what God's Word teaches dishonors the name of God among us. Prevent us from doing this, heavenly Father! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

Benediction: The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.  Phil 4.7

*The T.R.I.P. approach to prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray.  It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN).  The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:

                                                            T: thanksgiving
                                                            R: regret (repentance)
                                                            I: intercession (asking God to take a specific action)
                                                            P: plan or purpose
Reading a biblical text and then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God.