Opening Prayer
Lord, keep us alive by Your Word. Amen.
Test: Psalm 13
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him;” Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Devotion
When your soul says: “Lord, how long?” and again “how long, how long?”, when your heart is like a roaring sea, when all kinds of thoughts and ideas perplex you, when you try in vain on all sides to find a way out, when you cry out and the Lord does not answer, but hides His face, so that it seems certain to you that the light has now gone out forever, – then you are just like the other saints in following God’s Son and you taste a little of Good Friday. But all the same, true Christians hope and wait for the Lord’s salvation. What incredible sighing arises from the depths of your soul: “O my God, hear my cry! Let me see Your face again! Do not remember my sins, but remember me according to Your lovingkindness, for Your mercy’s sake! I am Your dearly-bought soul. You must not reject me forever! Save me, save me, for Jesus’ sake!” We feel our sin and know that the Lord would be just if He condemned us. But how horrible! And how sad and bitter that the enemies of God’s Church should rejoice while God’s name is mocked for my sake, if I sink into doubt and become Satan’s prey! Then from the deepest part of my inmost being breaks forth this cry: “Lord, You must not, You cannot give me up! My adversary shall not rejoice over me. You are the God of forgiveness. All my heavy sins are a drop compared to the boundless sea of Your grace, and all my wretchedness is nothing compared to Your saving power.”
Day is dawning, night is fading, the morning is breaking forth, a new light arises over the glory of grace. The name of Jesus becomes ten times more beautiful, and the Gospel of life and salvation in the blood of the Lamb has created for itself a sounding board in my heart that delights both God and His angels. My adversary is Your adversary; he shall not triumph. “But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Closing Prayer
Yes, lead us, Lord Jesus, into the fellowship of Your sufferings, and clothe us with the power of Your resurrection. Amen.
Hymn
Sweetest Jesus, Source of gladness,
All my Hope in this world’s sadness,
Strength so that I never yield,
You my Honey ‘midst all galling,
You my Staff whene’er I’m falling,
You my Refuge, Sword, and Shield.
You know best how it would try me
If Your guidance You’d deny me
And no longer watch o’er me;
Though my suff’ring You’re allowing
I in faith am gladly foll’wing,
And for grace, for grace I plead.
Soul, your weeping now be ceasing;
Let God’s ways to you be pleasing!
First the conflict, then the peace!
Crown of thorns you must be bearing
Till the crown of life you’re wearing
In eternity’s release!
Kingo: Søde Jesus, Glædens Kilde L 115:1.2.5 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Alles ist an Gottes Segen (ELH 411); alternate hymn: Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior blest ELH 258:5-6