I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord”
Psalm 122:1
Scripture Readings For the Week:
*2 Kings 5:1-15
*Romans 12:16-21
*Matthew 8:1-13
God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are not our ways. Naaman, the commander of the King of Syria’s army wanted to be healed. God spoke to him through the prophet Elisha and told him he must wash in the Jordan river seven times and he would be healed. This was below him. He was an important man. Surely he should be healed impressively. That was the point. He had to humble himself to God’s Word, God’s will. When he did, he was healed, and became even like a child. St. Paul reminds us in Romans 12 that we are not be wise in our own opinions, but humble ourselves to God’s Word and God’s will. God will provide our daily bread and justice, we are to walk in the good works He has prepared for us. Jesus reveals what God’s will for us is, He is willing to cleanse us, to come and heal us, to be our Savior, our King, our life. We submit ourselves to His leading, and trust that following His steps, we will see His victory.
Prayer of the Day:
Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Hymns
*578 Thy Strong Word
*401 From God the Father Virgin Born
*620 Jesus Comes Today with Healing
*621 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
*756 Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me
Bach Cantata for the Week
BWV 73 Herr, wie du willt, so schick’s mit mir
- Chorale (S, A, T, B) and Recit. (T, B, S) (S, A, T, B)
Lord, as thou wilt, so deal with me
In living and in dying!
(T)
Ah! Ah, alas! How much
Thy will doth let me suffer!
My life hath been misfortune’s prey,
For sorrow and dismay
Must plague me all my days,
Nor will yet my distress in dying even leave me.
(S,A,T,B) Alone for thee is my desire, Lord, leave me not to perish!
(B)
Thou art my helper, strength and shield,
Who every mourner’s tears dost number,
And dost their confidence,
That fragile reed, no way corrupt;
And since thou me hast chosen,
So speak to me of hope and joy!
(S,A,T,B) Maintain me only in thy grace, But as thou wilt, let me forbear, For thy will is the best will.
(S)
Thy will, in truth, is like a book that’s sealed,
Which human wisdom cannot read;
Thy grace oft seems to us a curse,
Chastisement, oft a cruel judgment,
The rest which thou hast in our dying slumber
One day ordained,
To hell an introduction.
Thy Spirit, though, our error doth dispel
And show that thy true will doth make us well
(S,A,T,B) Lord, as thou wilt!
- Aria (T)
Ah, sink thou yet thy joyful Spirit
Into my heart!
For often through my spirit’s sickness
Both joyfulness and hope would falter
And yield to fear.
- Recit. (B)
Ah, our own will remains perverse,
Now haughty, now afraid,(1)
On dying ever loath to ponder;
But those of Christ, through God’s own Spirit taught,
Submit themselves to God’s true purpose
And say:
- Aria (B)
Lord, if thou wilt,
Suppress, ye pains of dying,
All sighing from my bosom,
If this my pray’r thou dost approve.
Lord, if thou wilt,
Then lay to rest my body
In dust and ashes lowly,
This most corrupted shape of sin.
Lord, if thou wilt,
Then strike, ye bells of mourning,
I follow quite unfrightened,
My sorrow is forever stilled.
- Chorale (S, A, T, B)
This is the Father’s purpose,
Who us created hath;
His Son the fill of goodness
Hath won and with much grace;
And God the Holy Ghost
In faith o’er us yet ruleth,
To heaven’s kingdom leadeth.
To him laud, honor, praise!