Today’s Reading: Introit for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

          (Psalm 98:1b, 3-4; antiphon: v.1a, 2b)

Daily Lectionary: Leviticus 9:9-18, 26-37; Luke 11:14-36 

Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. (From the Introit for the Fifth Sunday of Easter) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. “God works in mysterious ways!” We hear that phrase frequently in our lives. We attribute the unexplainable to God’s mysterious way of interceding in our lives. We reduce His marvelous work to some form of mysticism or magical event taking place. 

In our sinful, temporal lives we look only at the current activities that surround us. We invoke the Name of God in the hope that He’ll be a “fix it” god who resolves our current struggles. We use Him as a handyman to get us through the times that we see as difficult and then we ignore Him when we are comfortable. When tragedy strikes, then we call upon Him again. In sin, our focus is only on the right now. In sin we dictate to God what we believe He needs to do in our lives so that our lives can be comfortable by our standards. We do not want to experience any discomforts that may lead to strengthening of faith and growth in our trust in Him.

The psalmist reminds his hearers to sing a new song to the LORD. No longer are they to sing a song of lament and sorrow, but rather a song of joy and comfort. The LORD has done marvelous things in the redemption of His people. No longer are they bound in slavery but they are set free from their enemies. The twofold meaning of the opening stanza of the psalm draws the reader to the immediate temporal lives that the LORD redeemed from earthly slavery and points them to the coming Messiah and His work of redemption. In our lives, God bestows upon us our daily bread of sustenance. We are also reminded of the marvelous work the LORD did through the Gift of redemption. He has redeemed us through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. A new song is sung, proclaiming that we have been set free through the blood of the Lamb. We sing a new song because He has done marvelous things. He has given us eternal life through Christ. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice, With exultation springing, And with united heart and voice And holy rapture singing, Proclaim the wonders God has done, How His right arm the vict’ry won. What price our ransom cost Him! (“Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” LSB 556, st.1)

-Rev. Timothy Davis is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Athens, GA.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Over eight sessions, The Messiah: Revealing Jesus in the Old Testament will lead you through the entirety of the Old Testament with daily readings, questions, and discussion prompts. After a brief introduction that reviews Christ’s earthly ministry, you will dive into the heart of the Holy Books that have spiritually nourished God’s people from creation to today! Now available from Concordia Publishing House.