Today's readings are Nehemiah 9.1-21 and 1 Timothy 5.17-6.2
I'd like to bring out just a few things from today's reading in Nehemiah 9, though the themes continue to the end of the chapter.
First we see the primacy of God's Words and acts in history. This can be instructive to us in our worship. It isn't about us. It is about God working and acting in us. It isn't about what we bring to worship. It is about what God brings to worship and what he does during that time.
Notice the confessions of sins and of God's character. When we confess God's character we are confessing that we are not like he is. We don't confess, "Lord, you are great and lifted up, just like me." Not at all. We confess God's glory which leads us to confess our sin.
Sometimes we assume that proclamation of God's word will be entirely in the hands of the priestly class. Here though we see that it is the Levites who are proclaiming God's Word. These people are not all priests. Only the descendants of Aaron are priests. They are included in the Levites, but there are many Levites who were charged with what we might consider diaconal care. Yet the godly men our Lord raised up to do so are proclaiming God's glory.
We see that Law and Gospel are clearly distinguished in this chapter, though, contrary to the teachings of C.F.W. Walther (an early LCMS luminary) the Bible doesn't always proclaim Law first then Gospel. Sometimes by proclaiming God's glory and grace we end up seeing our sin quite clearly. So while there is distinction and while it is clear whether we are proclaiming Law (what we are commanded to do) or Gospel (what God has done on our behalf), the natural rhythm does happen. It is not confused, nor is it confusing.
Let us look to our Lord for who he is . Let us respond in repentance and faith.
I'd like to bring out just a few things from today's reading in Nehemiah 9, though the themes continue to the end of the chapter.
First we see the primacy of God's Words and acts in history. This can be instructive to us in our worship. It isn't about us. It is about God working and acting in us. It isn't about what we bring to worship. It is about what God brings to worship and what he does during that time.
Notice the confessions of sins and of God's character. When we confess God's character we are confessing that we are not like he is. We don't confess, "Lord, you are great and lifted up, just like me." Not at all. We confess God's glory which leads us to confess our sin.
Sometimes we assume that proclamation of God's word will be entirely in the hands of the priestly class. Here though we see that it is the Levites who are proclaiming God's Word. These people are not all priests. Only the descendants of Aaron are priests. They are included in the Levites, but there are many Levites who were charged with what we might consider diaconal care. Yet the godly men our Lord raised up to do so are proclaiming God's glory.
We see that Law and Gospel are clearly distinguished in this chapter, though, contrary to the teachings of C.F.W. Walther (an early LCMS luminary) the Bible doesn't always proclaim Law first then Gospel. Sometimes by proclaiming God's glory and grace we end up seeing our sin quite clearly. So while there is distinction and while it is clear whether we are proclaiming Law (what we are commanded to do) or Gospel (what God has done on our behalf), the natural rhythm does happen. It is not confused, nor is it confusing.
Let us look to our Lord for who he is . Let us respond in repentance and faith.
--
Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
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