September 13, 2025

Today's Reading: Introit for Pentecost 14 - Psalm 30:2-5; antiphon: Psalm 30:11a, 12b

Daily Lectionary: 2 Chronicles 32:1-22; Hosea 1:1-14:9; Colossians 1:1-23

“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

It does not always feel like God’s anger is for a moment. In the midst of suffering, in the midst of what feels like direct punishment from God for some sin we have committed, it does not feel like the moment will end. Struggles and hardship bring us to tears, and we cry for what seems like days at a time. When someone we love dies, that sting certainly isn’t for a moment. It can follow us for the rest of our lives. We may find ourselves thinking that if God’s favor is for a lifetime, then maybe we don’t have His favor. We look at the endless night of weeping around us and think the morning will never come. It seems those who say, “Joy comes with morning,” have no idea what they’re talking about or are hopelessly optimistic. King David, the author of this Psalm, however, does know what he’s talking about. The man faced death many times and escaped with his life. He sinned against God constantly and yet was still a man after God’s own heart. He knows that God can and will bring him back from the depths of Sheol, of Hell. David’s confession here is that yes, pain and suffering come and come down hard, but God’s steadfast love and mercy are forever. David acknowledges that relief from sin and the suffering coming from it may not be given in his lifetime. But there is a greater hope, a greater promise to come that gives him the strength to say there is a morning after this night, and weeping will turn to joy. And what hope and promise is this? The savior, Christ Jesus, Who did not shy away from pain and suffering, but took on human flesh to live our broken and hard life to redeem it. Jesus, who took on all our sin and we nailed to the cross to be the final sacrificial Lamb, Whose blood washes us clean and makes us righteous before God. Jesus, Whose resurrection from the dead brought defeated death forever and turned the night of weeping to the morning of joyous Easter. David confesses even centuries before Jesus was born that there will come a time when sorrow and weeping are no more. The favor of the Lord is given to us because of Christ. We endure suffering and pain, but we look with hope toward the morning when all of that will be no more.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

This is the sight that gladdens - what peace it doth impart! Now nothing ever saddens the joy within my heart. No gloom shall ever shake, no foe shall ever take the hope which God’s own Son in love for me has won. (LSB 467:3)

Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.

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

Join author R. Reed Lessing helps with this chapter-by-chapter exploration of the Book of Numbers in Hope in the Wilderness. With helpful maps, diagrams, and connections to the rest of the Bible, you’ll be able to understand the beauty of Numbers.