The First Sunday in
Lent.
Psalm 32. Beati quorum.
BLESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, *
and whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no
sin, * and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 For whilst I held my tongue, * my bones consumed away
through my daily complaining.
4 For thy hand was heavy upon me day and night, *
and my moisture was like the drought in summer.
5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee; * and mine unrighteousness
have I not hid.
6 I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord; *
and so thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin.
7 For this shall every one that is godly make his
prayer unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found; * surely the great
water-floods shall not come nigh him.
8 Thou art a place to hide me in; thou shalt
preserve me from trouble; * thou shalt compass me about with songs of
deliverance.
9 I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way
wherein thou shalt go; * and I will guide thee with mine eye.
10 Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding;
* whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle, else they will not obey thee.
11 Great plagues remain for the ungodly; * but
whoso putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side.
12 Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the
Lord; * and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son * and to the
Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.
The Collect.
O LORD, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
{The
Collect from the First Day of Lent is to be read every day in Lent after the
Collect appointed for the Day.}
The Collect.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost
forgive the sins of all them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and
contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our
wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and
forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Old
Testament Reading: Isaiah 58.1-14
Psalter:
Psalm 51, 54 | 119.1-32
Epistle
Reading: 2 Corinthians 6.1-10
Gospel
Reading: St. Matthew 4.1-11
Ember days are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Here are the readings (morning and evening) along with the Collect.
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My letter to my congregation this last week was on “God’s Delight: Psalm 147:10-11”.
Psalm 147:10-11 are two potent verses about God’s displeasure and God’s pleasure. They run like this:
His delight is not in the strength of the
horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear
him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
First, God has no pleasure in certain human arts and skills (v.10). The “strength of the horse” and the “legs of a man” have much to do with war machinery, powerful soldering, martial arts, and battle prowess. Power and potency often wow us. We have powerlifting contests, sports events, and the Olympics that show off how impressed we are with strength and skill. We are also moved by military might, even having whole movie genres that exalt the fight, and especially the fight against all odds. In many ways this is all fine. And yet, the very things that impress us, don’t impress God! Wealth, skill, capacity, speed, fire power – do not make God sit back wide-eyed with his hand over his mouth. God has no delight in what often arouses our admiration, and he has no pleasure in what normally arrests our attention. We’re impressed with stamina, strength, speed and success, awed by quarterbacks who break out and make touchdowns, full backs who plow through mounds of musty muscles and mass to force their way to the goal. We’re enthralled by men who manufacture large churches and pile up fortunes and fame. And we reward them with compliments, cash, eminence, and esteem. And if you let it take over your perceptions and perspectives it’s not long before it all becomes soul-crushing. Therefore, part of the good news here is – thank God – he isn’t impressed, and he isn’t wowed; and so he doesn’t treat as favorites those who display power!
The rest of the good news comes out in this next verse (v.11). Instead of being pleased with strength and supremacy, or delighted with brawny biceps, God is pleased with those who are awed by him. He is delighted by those who are wowed by his holiness and enraptured with his persistent love! And therefore, he has pleasure in those who trust in him; that he is the hero of their story; that he is the hero of their ministry; that he is the hero of their life; that he is the hero of their career; that he is the hero of their family! And we have ample reasons to be wowed with him and come to trust him. Simply run back through this Psalm and you will see them. He builds his church; he gathers the outcasts; he heals the brokenhearted; he binds up their wounds; he determines the number of stars and names them; he covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain; he makes grass grow; he gives beasts and birds their food; he strengthens his people; he blesses our children; he makes peace around us; he fills us with good things; he sends forth his command to creation, giving snow and frost; he sends out his word to melt them, sending warm wind to thaw them; and he declares to his people his word, statutes and rules for our good! Wow! And so, “The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”
Sisters, brothers, fathers and mothers, revel in this God, be wowed by him, overawed at his majesty and durable steadfast love! For:
His delight is not in the strength of the
horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear
him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Pastor Mike
