August 11, 2007 - Saturday in the Ninth Week after Trinity
Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 7:18-29; I Corinthians 10:23—11:16
“I call to God and He hears my voice; He redeems my soul in safety. Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you. Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not Yourself from my plea for mercy! My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. But I call to God, and the Lord will save me.” (Portions of Psalm 55; Introit for Trinity 10)
We’ve all seen the commercials for a wireless phone carrier that feature someone carrying on a conversation with another person on a cell phone – and suddenly, at the most awkward moment, the call is dropped, and the silence is deafening. Both parties are left hanging in silent air wondering what the other said or didn’t say, and how, if possible, the problem will be resolved.
Some people think God is like that. They don’t think God cares about them, and they call out to Him like a wimp: “God, if You’re there, answer me. God, if You can hear me, fix my problem,” IF you’re there? IF You can hear me? Please! That is the prayer of an unbeliever, one who does not trust that God exists and that He IS there for all who call upon Him in truth.
Through Holy Baptism you are a child of the heavenly Father, bought and paid for by the Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. You can cry out with David the Psalmist that “He hears my voice” and “He will save me.”
David’s words in this Psalm are the Words of God Himself. So are the words of the Our Father. And you know that praying straight from Scripture is a good thing. Remember the meaning to the Conclusion of the Our Father, words you know well: “This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven and are heard by Him.”
The calls of God’s holy children are never dropped.
Amen, that is, so shall it be, make strong our faith in You, that we may doubt not but with trust believe that what we ask we shall receive. Thus in Your name and at Your Word we say, “Amen, O hear us Lord! (LSB 767:9)
The Reverend Gregory Schultz, pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, IL, is the author for this portion of the Trinity season.
Questions or comments regarding the Reflections may be sent to the Rev. Mark Buetow, Reflections Editor, reflections@higherthings.org.
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