Opening Prayer
Humble us, Lord, so that we do not stray from Your Word! Amen.
Text: Matthew 15:21–28
Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “True, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Devotion
It was an intense battle our Lord Jesus had when He bore our sins and paid their price, when He destroyed death and the power of the devil and restored eternal life to us. No other battle can be compared with His. But all who receive and retain the glorious gift, salvation from death and the devil, must also have their own battles. And the more glorious the faith shows itself to the glory of God, and the deeper the soul comes into grace, then the harder the battle they must endure.
Why does the Lord deal so strangely with the Canaanite woman? Why does He not say a word in answer to her crying out, though it is so heartfelt? And when He speaks, why do His words seem so harsh and negative? The text answers us, so that it inspires and burns in our heart if we read it correctly. But we also have a case in the Old Testament which answers these questions. Joseph seemed strange, cruel, and harsh toward his brothers, though his heart so fervently loved them that he had to go into his room and cry. They needed to remember their sin, repent of it, and receive mercy. When the Lord sees it necessary to humble us, and to see that we will endure the test, He hides His loving heart and shows us sheer wrath. This woman had to be humbled so deeply, feel that she was a heathen, and learn to compare herself with the little dogs. Her faith had to be stretched so high and be tested so strongly so that she might receive citizenship among Israel. Just as a doctor who performs a dangerous operation on his own dear child rejoices when all is successfully over, so the Lord does here. His words express His great joy over the woman’s salvation. When He says: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire,” we must again remember His forerunner Joseph. When his brothers had withstood the test, he burst into great tears of joy: “I am Joseph; does my father still live?”
Precious Savior, You had an immense burden to redeem us, – what a difficult task You must also have in creating faith in us and giving us Your salvation! – But you, dear soul, when you pray, then keep on even if He does not seem to answer. He has always answered (Isa 65:24). When the need presses, the heart is bruised, the soul suffers, all is dark, and the Lord’s mercies seem cut off in His wrath, then it is still all right! You sinned and were unfaithful, but keep on crying out! Follow after Him, fall down before Him, pray to Him again and again. That is His will; this He teaches you in this text.
It is certainly necessary for you to be humbled; only in humble hearts does faith take root and shoot forth its growth. For all that you receive in grace to humble you, you receive grace to believe, and as you believe, it is done for you as the Lord has promised, for His glory and your salvation.
Closing Prayer
Lord, we understand that it is good that You humble us. But You know how weak we are in time of trial. Do not give us over to our unbelief and impatience, but purify us and strengthen our faith, to the praise of Your glorious name. Amen.
Hymn
When Thou would lift us up to Thee,
We sink first even lower;
When grace’s sunshine we would see,
On us Thou let it shower.
Thou tak’st from us all earthly gain,
Us richer still then making
And awaking
Our soul to Thee again
To hear the words of Thy grace.
A while Thou leavest us in fear,
In sin and sorrow wasting,
That grace indeed may be brought near
The better to us tasting;
With threat of need and death we meet
When Thou wilt make us living,
Comfort giving,
That truly is more sweet
Than anyone can measure.
Schrader, Brorson: O Gud, Forstanden fatter ei L 274:2-3 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Ich ruf zu dir (ELH 255); alternate hymn: Lord, hear the voice of my complaint ELH 255