Proper 14A
Ai Khawng
After Pentecost • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Nalae notes:
Nalae notes:
1Ki 19.9-18
Wendel W. Mayer in FW says that this account should teach us the importance of quiet times, emphasis on quiet. Learn to hear God's voice. The earthquake and fire Elijah saw can be compared to the hurry and hustle of daily life. So meet God before that race begins each day.https://ref.ly/logosres/feastworda03?ref=Bible.1Ki19.9-18&off=21027&ctx=ing+transformation.%0a~Alternatively%2c+the+pAnother message is the "we are not alone." Of course we are here at church this morning and that we are not alone is obvious, but it could be that you feel alone in your family, that your parents, or brothers or sisters, are not interested in God. Even when - and this was not Elijah's case - you are alone in your family, as one person said, one individual and God is a majority. Another message is you have to quiet yourself enough to listen to the sound of silence. All the things around us, cellphones we bring to bed, TV's, music in our cars, it's hard for us to focus and listen. Another lesson is God has not abandoned you.seeing Baal in a consumerist culture is the easy part, resisting is the more difficult partGod challenges Elijah, gives him the Law "what are you doing here" implying he should be back in the seat of power in the northern kingdom (he had fled to the southernmost extremity of Judah!), but he doesn't continue after that to hit him with one criticism after another but encourages him (and corrects him at the same time) by saying that there are seven thousand who haven't bowed the knee to Baal.
Psa 85.8-13 Because "God's word of shalom" is front and center in Psa 85, it connects to the sound of silence in 1Ki 19. And the other message of Psa 85 is just as God acted and saved in the past, so he saves and is active today. One hymn possibility is "Revive us again"
https://ref.ly/logosres/feastwordc03?ref=Bible.1Ki19.1-12a&off=15669&ctx=r+silence%E2%80%9D+(v.+12).%0a~The+words+translated
Feasting theological: 10 it's not just a list of charactistics and qualities, it is their dynamic interplay that's imp
11 sky to ground shows the comprehensiveness of God's goodness, from ground to sky (crown of head sole feet)
pastoral: pastor's testimony of how the hymns are important to tie to msg, should speak w/choir about meaning, and don't forget we read and sing and pray when things aren't going right.
Exegetical: after exiles returned to Jerusalem, their joy was deflated by less-than-good harvests. Glory left when Jerusalem destroyed, the people have returned but not God's glory.
Homiletical: preachers should focus on nuances of Hebrew words in 10 but note that together they point to salvation. "Path" is a word that can be preached on, we have light for the next step, we don't see God's plan in fulness for our lives, remember this phrase, "more will be revealed," so leave it in the Lord's hands.
Regular notes
LCMS Lectionary Summary:
OT: RCL reads 1Ki 19.9-18 which is Y asking Elijah “what are you doing here?” and then after hearing E complain, Y answers with the still small voice. This is not read any other time so go ahead. LCMS has Job 38.4-18 the beginning of that passage is read both on Proper 24B and Proper 7B so go with RCL.
Epistle: same although L continues to read vss 16-17 and we could include that on Sundays that expound this passage.
Gospel 147: same
Christ the Crucified Comes to Save Us by the Word of Faith
The Lord who “laid the foundation of the earth” (Job 38:4) is the Author and Giver of life who governs all things by His Word. His wisdom and power are beyond our understanding, except as He reveals Himself in the incarnate Word, Christ Jesus. He has “entered into the springs of the sea” and “walked in the recesses of the deep” (Job 38:16), and He draws near to us in mercy. We have been “a long way from the land, beaten by the waves” and tossed about by hostile winds (Matt. 14:24). In our mortality and sinful unbelief, we do not always recognize the Lord Jesus. But as we cry out in fear, He speaks tenderly to us, “Do not be afraid,” and He reaches out His hand to save us (Matt. 14:27, 31). “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13), and now we call upon Him in faith, because we have heard “through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Rom. 10:8).
Summary: Face the Obstacles and Advance toward the Lord
Hymn of the Day: 717 Eternal Father, strong to save
Liturgy:
Summary:
1Ki 19.9-18
And there he came to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And him who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
Elijah should have been most afraid in a human sense, of Ahab and especially Jezebel. But in his own words he says, "...the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you...they are trying to kill me too."
which shows that as bad as Ahab/Jezebel were, the country "got the leaders they deserved" so the real blame is on the people themselves. NBC says that "still small voice" is in Hebrew more like "a brief sound of silence." That shows that silence itself is a voice.
Feasting says that because Baal has arrived on the scene, with his thundering presence, YHWH is no longer present in earthquake, wind, fire, smoke, but in the still small voice.
One feasting writer reminds us that Joshua-2 Kings is the "part II" narrative that follows the Pentateuch, or another way of saying it, is that is is the sequel to Deuteronomy. Another thing to note is that at this time we have monarchy but we also have tribal league. I personally would compare tribal league to the time of the warlords in China between Qing and 1928 when you had weak executive rule. And this same Feasting author notes that Joshua was the first judge, so Joshua-Judges really form one unit (that last comment is mine).
Psa 85.8-13
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints, to those who turn to him in their hearts. Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. Yea, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before him, and make his footsteps a way.
In light of what we just read, about "a brief sound of silence" the opening words here are even more intense, "listen carefully to what ha El Yahweh is saying." Sometimes we have to strain our ears, listen intently which is difficult to do when our devices are always on, TV and radio blaring, it seems we have a culture that hates or fears or otherwise is uncomfortable with silence. Silence should lead to the thoughts, impressions or rather leadings of the Spirit, that is how silence has a voice. Probably sometimes listening will hear judgment, Law. Here in Psa 85 it is Gospel "pours down his blessings" but truth and righteousness from 10 mean this is the blessing that does follow the pruning and time in the crucible.
Rom 10.5-15
Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. For, “every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”
In VH, the author is saying that today's pericope is in the middle of part 2, itself part of 1,2,3 arguments about the problem of the fate of Israel. Today's pericope is showing how by quoting Deu 30.12-14. What Paul is doing is highlighting something that was "there all the time," that is, that salvation is for Jew and Gentile alike, for Isaiah and Joel are both saying as much.
Mat 14.22-33
Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Feasting Theological: Quoting Barth, the author says that in Hebraic thought water, the masses of water represents chaos, and is a threat to God's creation even from the beginning in Genesis. So God, in OT scriptures, and Jesus here in the New is asserting his lordship over the natural forces. "It is I" is the formula God used when talking to Moses at the burning bush, see the LXX (Exo 3.14). So Jesus is saying, "the 'I am' is here, triumphing over the waves." The author makes the point that together with the Transfiguration, the disciples are faced with someone they know is God himself, this event changes their lives.
Pastoral: Jesus takes time to pray/Jesus sends the disciples out on a mission and he sends us out today/the choppy seas are the difficulties of carrying out this mission but Jesus is there when we need him/Jesus has power over nature*/Fear can keep us from recognizing God even when he is near (Jesus walking toward them during the storm)/Our response to Jesus saving us (not just when we are born again but in the difficult situations in life) is worship and confession "truly you are the Son of God." And finally, the point that Peter is to be commended in going out on the water. We too often "stay in the shallows."