February 06, 2023

"My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less" | Sixth Sunday After Epiphany

16 minutes

ELW 596/597 - My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less - ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏʟɪᴅ ʀᴏᴄᴋ // ᴍᴇʟɪᴛᴀ

ZACHARY'S NOTES:

Stanza 1 // The only hope for lost and confused sinners [Christians and all people] is “Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” Resting on our own merit, we are hopeless. We lean on Jesus’ name because he is the “One who save.” He came not because we showed great hope or promise, but because our situation was hopeless.

Stanza 2 // In this weekend’s Gospel reading, our Lord describes some of life’s most difficult situations - cases of murder, adultery, divorce. In such times, it can appear the “darkness” of this world has “veiled the face” of Christ. In such circumstances, we turn to the “unchanging grace” and forgiveness of our Savior. Jesus has torn the veil between heaven and earth, and is our anchor in the midst of the storm.

Stanza 3 // Christ’s promise outside the Law is the “oath” or “covenant” that sustains us in the difficult [or seemingly impossible] situations of life - what the hymn calls a “raging flood.” The “washing away of all supports” is the reality of which this week’s text speaks - our supposed storehouse of good works are futile in the eyes of God, and we are driven to Christ as our only hope.

Stanza 4 // The final stanza is a prayer, directing our attention to the benefits Christ promises. Jesus’ promise is outside the laws, rules, and regulations of this world - and speaks a Word to those caught dead in sin who turn to our Lord in faith. When the “trumpet sounds,” we ask that we might be found “clothed in [Christ’s] righteousness” - for all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.

Refrain // Throughout, Christ is the “solid rock” on which all people stand. Jesus as solid ground stands in contrast to the support we fashion on our own - that which is washed away by one word of accusation.

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