Deuteronomy: God's witness for us... and against us

Verse for the week: “O God, hear my prayer;
    give ear to the words of my mouth.” Psalm 54.2

Prayer for the week: Return us, O Lord, to you. Have pity on your servants. Teach us to number our days that we may gain a wise heart. Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Let your work be shown to us and your glorious power to our children; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Deuteronomy 31.1-21 (Like our forebears the nation of Israel, we are people of the living Word. The Bible is not merely ink shaped into letters on the page. In it, we hear the living Word himself… bearing witness against us in order that he might be for us.)

So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. ² And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ ³ The Lord your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the Lord has spoken. ⁴ And the Lord will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. ⁵ And the Lord will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

⁷ Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. ⁸ It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

⁹ Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. ¹⁰ And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, ¹¹ when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. ¹² Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, ¹³ and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

¹⁴ And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. ¹⁵ And the Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud. And the pillar of cloud stood over the entrance of the tent.

¹⁶ And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them. ¹⁷ Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’ ¹⁸ And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods.

¹⁹ “Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel. ²⁰ For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant. ²¹ And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.”

Prayer for the week: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for promising yourself to us, promising to be our God and savior. Alas my will is stubbornly determined to get its fill and grow fat on itself, turning from you and despising your covenant to be for me. Today and each hour, rescue me from such whoredom and return me back to you. For my children and grandchildren also Lord: throughout their lives teach them to fear, love, and trust you above all else. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MimsQtU-ccQ&ab_channel=AndrewRemillard

“Hallowed be thy name…”

What does this mean for us?

God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy.

When does this happen?  God’s name is hallowed whenever his word is taught in its truth and purity and we as children of God live in harmony with it. Help us to do this, heavenly Father! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to the word of God dishonors God’s name among us. Keep us from doing this, heavenly Father! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.   Numbers 6.24-26

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.

The promise of your baptism

Verse for the week: “O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!”  Psalm 8.1

Prayer for the week: Gracious heavenly Father, your name is majestic and holy in and of itself. See to it that your word is taught in its truth and purity among us and that we as your children live in harmony with it. Turn us from teaching or living contrary to your word and thus dishonoring your name. Hallow your name among us; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Colossians 2.8-15

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ¹¹ In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³ You, who were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision, the pride, of your fleshy will, God has made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the hand-written record of the charge that stood against us with its rightful legal demands. This he set aside, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Prayer for the week: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for the promise of my baptism: in Christ your fullness dwells and the record of my trespasses is cancelled; in Christ alone your law is fulfilled, my will is buried, and I am raised by your power as a new creation… finally free from my will and its deadly craving. Thank you, Lord. See to it that no human b.s. takes me captive. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKQJJ6xz1K0&ab_channel=drolas94

What benefits does God give in holy baptism?

In baptism, God forgives sin, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting salvation to all who believe what he has promised.

What is God’s promise?  In Mark 16.16 Jesus says: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

What does baptism mean for daily living?

It means that my sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drowned through daily repentance; and that day after day a new self should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever.

In Romans 6.4, St. Paul writes: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.   Numbers 6.24-26

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.

Mr. Majestic is...

 actually Mr. Humble.

Verse for the week: “O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!”  Psalm 8.1

Prayer for the week: Gracious heavenly Father, your name is majestic and holy in and of itself. See to it that your word is taught in its truth and purity among us and that we as your children live in harmony with it. Turn us from teaching or living contrary to your word and thus dishonoring your name. Hallow your name among us; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
²     Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
    to still the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

⁵ Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
⁶ You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet,
⁷ all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
⁸ the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Prayer for the week: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, is indeed above all names… holy and majestic through suffering and self-sacrifice on the cross for sinners like me. Thank you. Deliver me and your whole church from the babble by which we would seek to make a name for ourselves. In Christ, rest us from our tiresome selves and free us for the humble stewardship of all that you have put under our feet… in your majestic name, O Lord. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAigUNye_jI&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

“Hallowed be thy name…”

What does this mean for us?

God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy.

When does this happen?  God’s name is hallowed whenever his word is taught in its truth and purity and we as children of God live in harmony with it. Help us to do this, heavenly Father! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to the word of God dishonors God’s name among us. Keep us from doing this, heavenly Father! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.   Numbers 6.24-26

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.

Better than a bellyful of your will

Verse for the week: “O Lord, our Lord,                                                                                                            how majestic is your name in all the earth!”  Psalm 8.1

Prayer for the week: Gracious heavenly Father, your name is majestic and holy in and of itself. See to it that your word is taught in its truth and purity among us and that we as your children live in harmony with it. Turn us from teaching or living contrary to your word and thus dishonoring your name. Hallow your name among us; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: John 6.25-40 (Though the Lord has been providing forgiveness, life and salvation for his chosen people for thousands of years, sinners still seek a bellyful of something less and have a hard time taking Jesus at his word.)

When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” ²⁶ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. ²⁷ Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” ²⁸ Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” ³⁰ So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” ³² Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ³⁴ They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. ³⁶ But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. ³⁷ All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Prayer for the week: Gracious and almighty Lord, you alone have the words of eternal life, to whom else could we go? Daily rescue me and your whole church from the vain craving of our will. Keep doing your work on us Lord, that we may trust the one you have sent… the bread of life… Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAigUNye_jI&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

“Hallowed be thy name…”

What does this mean for us?

God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy.

When does this happen?  God’s name is hallowed whenever his word is taught in its truth and purity and we as children of God live in harmony with it. Help us to do this, heavenly Father! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to the word of God dishonors God’s name among us. Keep us from doing this, heavenly Father! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.   Numbers 6.24-26

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.

Rescue for the Rabble

Verse for the week: “O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!”  Psalm 8.1

Prayer for the week: Gracious heavenly Father, your name is majestic and holy in and of itself. See to it that your word is taught in its truth and purity among us and that we as your children live in harmony with it. Turn us from teaching or living contrary to your word and thus dishonoring your name. Hallow your name among us; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Numbers 11.1-23 (The Lord has created the earth and the heavens, all living creatures including his very favorite: man and woman. The Lord God has rescued his people from slavery and given them his law, established priests to deal with sinners and their sin. Now the people are free in the wilderness and the whole thing begins to function… and the first thing God’s people do is complain.)   

And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. ² Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. ³ So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them.

⁴ Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! ⁵ We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. ⁶ But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

⁷ Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. ⁸ The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil. ⁹ When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.

¹⁰ Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased. ¹¹ Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? ¹² Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers? ¹³ Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ ¹⁴ I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. ¹⁵ If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”

¹⁶ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. ¹⁷ And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone. ¹⁸ And say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. ¹⁹ You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, ²⁰ but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’” ²¹ But Moses said, “The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month!’ ²² Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, and be enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, and be enough for them?” ²³ And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord's hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”

Prayer for the week: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for rescuing us from your burning anger and the bondage of our own will through Christ crucified for us sinners. Still, this fleshy bag that hangs from our necks persists with all its cravings and demands. Send your Holy Spirit upon wise elders and preachers for us to expose the loathsome burden of our cravings… each hour free us to live by your pierced, providential hand rather than by our own will. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0crAhMho6M&ab_channel=MaryMunson

“Hallowed be thy name…”

What does this mean for us?

God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy.

When does this happen?  God’s name is hallowed whenever his word is taught in its truth and purity and we as children of God live in harmony with it. Help us to do this, heavenly Father! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to the word of God dishonors God’s name among us. Keep us from doing this, heavenly Father! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.   Numbers 6.24-26

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way. 

To you, O Lord...

Verse for the week: “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”  Psalm 25.1

Prayer for the week: Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long; through your Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Psalm 25 (In this prayer song, the pray-er knows that he is threatened by enemies (v.2-3, 19) and that he is also marked with guilt by the sins of his youth and his failures (v.7, 11, 17-18). He prays for forgiveness, for rescue, and above all, for a new orientation of his life according to Yahweh’s ways.)   

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
² O my God, in you I trust;
    let me not be put to shame;
    let not my enemies exult over me.
³ Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

⁴ Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
⁵ Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long.

⁶ Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
    for they have been from of old.
⁷ Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
    according to your steadfast love remember me,
    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

⁸ Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
⁹ He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the humble his way.
¹⁰ All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

¹¹ For your name's sake, O Lord,
    pardon my guilt, for it is great.
¹² Who is the man who fears the Lord?
    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
¹³ His soul shall abide in well-being,
    and his offspring shall inherit the land.
¹⁴ The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷ The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
    bring me out of my distresses.
¹⁸ Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.

¹⁹ Consider how many are my foes,
    and with what violent hatred they hate me.
²⁰ Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
    Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
²¹ May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
    for I wait for you.

²² Redeem Israel, O God,
    out of all his troubles.

Prayer for the week: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: Christ crucified is the way, the truth and the life for me. The devil, the world, and my sinful self attack me constantly and would exult themselves over me… deceiving me with my ways rather than yours, O Lord. Consider my affliction and my trouble and forgive all my sins. Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you; in Jesus’ name I ask this. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a new hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e37m3I5eH8g&ab_channel=GloryToFatherGod

“Hallowed be thy name…”

What does this mean for us?

God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy.

When does this happen?  God’s name is hallowed whenever his word is taught in its truth and purity and we as children of God live in harmony with it. Help us to do this, heavenly Father! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to the word of God dishonors God’s name among us. Keep us from doing this, heavenly Father! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: I am the Lord your God and you shall be my people. Amen.

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way. 

The Lord is Holy...

 therefore...

Verse for the week: “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.”  Psalm 25.1

Prayer for the week: Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long; through your Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Leviticus 19 (The special topic of Leviticus is the appointment of the priesthood. A priestly office is instituted because of sin, to disclose sin to the people and make atonement before God; its entire function is to deal with sin and sinners.)   

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ² “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. ³ Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. ⁴ Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God.

⁵ “When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted. ⁶ It shall be eaten the same day you offer it or on the day after, and anything left over until the third day shall be burned up with fire. ⁷ If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is tainted; it will not be accepted, ⁸ and everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned what is holy to the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from his people.

⁹ “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. ¹⁰ And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.

¹¹ “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. ¹² You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

¹³ “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. ¹⁴ You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

¹⁵ “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. ¹⁶ You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

¹⁷ “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. ¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

¹⁹ “You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material.

²⁰ “If a man lies sexually with a woman who is a slave, assigned to another man and not yet ransomed or given her freedom, a distinction shall be made. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free; ²¹ but he shall bring his compensation to the Lord, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, a ram for a guilt offering. ²² And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the Lord for his sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven for the sin that he has committed.

²³ “When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. ²⁴ And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. ²⁵ But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the Lord your God.

²⁶ “You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes. ²⁷ You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. ²⁸ You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.

²⁹ “Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity. ³⁰ You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.

³¹ “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.

³² “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

³³ “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. ³⁴ You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

³⁵ “You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. ³⁶ You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. ³⁷ And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the Lord.”

Prayer for the week: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you that you alone are Lord and God and you will brook no other for us. Thank you for rescuing us from the world and our own willfulness by interposing the precious blood of Christ once and for all. Establish and guard our families in him that as he is holy, we may be set apart from the world and our own sin for your use in the neighborhood, as we wait with confidence for him to return. Through the same, Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a new rendition of Luther’s great hymn in which we sinners are rescued from our sin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP_9wO8LQy0&ab_channel=BrianSauv%C3%A9

“Hallowed be thy name…”

What does this mean for us?

God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that we may keep it holy.

When does this happen?  God’s name is hallowed whenever his word is taught in its truth and purity and we as children of God live in harmony with it. Help us to do this, heavenly Father! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to the word of God dishonors God’s name among us. Keep us from doing this, heavenly Father! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: I am the Lord your God and you shall be my people. Amen.

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.