February 8, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Epiphany 5 - Psalm 71:15-18; antiphon: Psalm 71:12

Daily Lectionary: Job 5:1-27; John 2:13-25

O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. (Psalm 71:17-18)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

This psalm of David could have been composed around the time that his son, Absalom, sought to violently overthrow him. Other scholars think it could have come around Sheba’s rebellion (see 2 Samuel 20). It’s also possible that this Psalm reflects a man of faith who has been through it all, whose earthly life is coming to its conclusion in death (see 2 Samuel 23 for similar words spoken by David). But for us, I believe it is important to know that Psalm 71 teaches three key lessons. First, It calls us to have firm confidence in God and to remember our Lord’s gracious mercy to us (see vs. 1, 3, 5-7). Second, it teaches us the right things to pray, such as: that we might never be ashamed of the Lord or His Word but might be rescued from the power of the wicked one even into our old age. And third, King David, by the Holy Spirit, teaches that we may daily have hopeful anticipation that our God will show us tenderness, and we not be forsaken; but it will be the enemies of the cross who will turn back in dishonor and shame. Ultimately, this song teaches us that God in Christ will not let us stagger at the promises of the Gospel through unbelief, but instead, He will fortify our faith like a faithful friend, even to the very end. How good it is to know that even as this was David’s earthly experience, we see that this is all true through “great David’s greater son,” the Lord Jesus Christ.  

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while troubles last And our eternal home! Under the shadow of thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure. (LSB 733:1,2)

-Rev. Matthew Synnott, associate pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, IL.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.