“Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott”.

Reflection: Sometimes we fail to notice the subheadings to the psalm where the bible explains the context of the psalm, which were sung as songs in the worship life of Israel.  We see Psalm 56 was given for the worship leader to a tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks”.  So we see these inspired psalms/songs were set to music that the people knew.  This is a powerful combination of God’s Word and music which often evokes strong emotions. 

Just yesterday I heard a song from my youth and it evoked very powerful emotions.  In Luther’s day he set the famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress is our God”, from the German,  “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott”.  The story goes that Luther adopted this song from a drinking song, but this may or may not be true. But what is known is that this was a well-known song and Luther knew it would sing well, as it still does today, especially on Reformation Sunday.  See this article for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mighty_Fortress_Is_Our_God

God’s Word is the only thing that can change a human heart but God has given us many means or avenues for His Grace to come through the Word.  Music, praising singing, and chanting are all ways to sing the Liturgy and allow God’s word come enter the recesses of our heart.  Our brain connects with the Word through preaching, teaching, praise and worship and prayer.  This is where Paul says do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds offering your bodies as a living sacrifice. 

Today’s psalm gives us words to keep in the deep recesses of our hearts.  David says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?”  May these words be on your lips and in your heart and I am sure you can find a song in there too! 

Psalm 56:1-8

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam. When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

1 Be merciful to me, my God,

    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;

    all day long they press their attack.

2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;

    in their pride many are attacking me.

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

4     In God, whose word I praise—

in God I trust and am not afraid.

    What can mere mortals do to me?

5 All day long they twist my words;

    all their schemes are for my ruin.

6 They conspire, they lurk,

    they watch my steps,

    hoping to take my life.

7 Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;

    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

8 Record my misery;

    list my tears on your scroll—

    are they not in your record?

Job 36:27-37:24

27 “He draws up the drops of water,

    which distill as rain to the streams[a];

28 the clouds pour down their moisture

    and abundant showers fall on mankind.

29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,

    how he thunders from his pavilion?

30 See how he scatters his lightning about him,

    bathing the depths of the sea.

31 This is the way he governs the nations

    and provides food in abundance.

32 He fills his hands with lightning

    and commands it to strike its mark.

33 His thunder announces the coming storm;

    even the cattle make known its approach.

37 “At this my heart pounds

    and leaps from its place.

2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,

    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

3 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven

    and sends it to the ends of the earth.

4 After that comes the sound of his roar;

    he thunders with his majestic voice.

When his voice resounds,

    he holds nothing back.

5 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;

    he does great things beyond our understanding.

6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’

    and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,

    he stops all people from their labor.

8 The animals take cover;

    they remain in their dens.

9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,

    the cold from the driving winds.

10 The breath of God produces ice,

    and the broad waters become frozen.

11 He loads the clouds with moisture;

    he scatters his lightning through them.

12 At his direction they swirl around

    over the face of the whole earth

    to do whatever he commands them.

13 He brings the clouds to punish people,

    or to water his earth and show his love.

14 “Listen to this, Job;

    stop and consider God’s wonders.

15 Do you know how God controls the clouds

    and makes his lightning flash?

16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,

    those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?

17 You who swelter in your clothes

    when the land lies hushed under the south wind,

18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,

    hard as a mirror of cast bronze?

19 “Tell us what we should say to him;

    we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.

20 Should he be told that I want to speak?

    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?

21 Now no one can look at the sun,

    bright as it is in the skies

    after the wind has swept them clean.

22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;

    God comes in awesome majesty.

23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;

    in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.

24 Therefore, people revere him,

    for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”

1 Corinthians 9:12b-27

12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

You shall keep my commandments and observe them: I am the Lord. Leviticus 22:31

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Lord Jesus, you taught us that love summarizes all the commandments of the law and the prophets. Show us how to love God with every fiber of our beings and help us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Amen.