6 November 2010
Psalm 75, 76; Ecclus 51.1-12; Rev 18.1-14; Luke 14.1-11

In the Kenyan liturgy we use at our church the bidding to the congregation for the Lord’s Prayer says, “Lord, you taught us to hope for salvation, the joy of every longing heart. And so we pray for the coming of your kingdom in the words our Savior taught us.” Like the writer here, we have found the answer to our hope for salvation in Him alone. The writer says that he had hoped for human intervention and none was forthcoming and when he realized that his only hope was in you, he reacted like Jonah in his prayer from the belly of the fish, proclaiming salvation comes from the Lord. He not only proclaims this truth but remembers to be thankful for his salvation. We don’t know the circumstances from which this paean springs but we would do well to emulate this prayer in our own lives, today and every day thanking God for the great salvation He has worked on our behalf, saving us from sin and death in the sacrifice of His beloved Son, Jesus.

The ruler of the Pharisees would have been an important person in Judaism at the time of Jesus and the man with dropsy would be someone who would have been unimportant and yet Jesus’ attention here is on this man who needs something from Him, not the ruler. Since it is the Sabbath, Jesus doesn’t just heal the man, he uses it as a teaching moment for His host as well. The teaching has to do with interpretation of Scripture but more its application than understanding. Surely a person, created in the image of God, particularly a member of the covenant community, is of greater priority than an animal and yet He has been criticized for healing on the Sabbath when the law makes provision for rescuing an animal from danger on the Sabbath. The parable is a word of warning to those who would exalt themselves as the Pharisees and the scribes and lawyers were fond of doing but here Jesus has put them into their place.

After the great city has been destroyed and angel again appears in the heavens to proclaim not only her destruction but also her sin and shame and calls the people out of her. It would seem unnecessary to do so in her ruined state but clearly it is necessary. The angelic voice clearly directs attention to God as the agent of destruction, displaying His power and His judgment for all to see and yet they will not turn to Him in spite of His greatness, the fear of the Lord fails to find a place in their hearts. Sadly, the truth is that they will weep for her because she has satisfied the desires of their hearts, they have not sought Him and their desires are not on things eternal but on things of creation. He has created all good things, to Him be praise and glory!

Surely the wrath of man shall praise you;
the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.
Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them;
let all around him bring gifts
to him who is to be feared,
who cuts off the spirit of princes,
who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.