Congregation at Prayer

Catechesis Notes for the Week — Solomon’s Kingdom at Its Best — This week’s Biblical narratives describe the reign of King Solomon before he began to pursue the appetites of the flesh. Solomon rightly asked for wisdom. He did not ask for wealth or other fleeting temporal blessings. The Lord granted his request and bestowed upon him the gift of a wise and discerning heart. This was the Lord’s gift and not anything for which Solomon could boast. His wisdom is on display this week in how he handles the two harlots in a dispute about their children. His kingdom was established upon the promises God made to David, and he built the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem to be the location of God’s divine services in the Old Testament Church. The good qualities we see this week in King Solomon are prophetic types of the ultimate Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ. He would build a kingdom, speak eternal wisdom, and establish a peace that would never end.CP240929

Catechesis Notes for the Week — Strife in the House of David — This week’s Biblical narrative begins with the prophet Nathan being sent to King David to call him to repentance. David had transgressed grievously, committing adultery with Bathsheba, and arranging for the death of her husband to cover his sin. No one can hide from God. In love for David, Nathan was called to do the hard thing: call him to repent. Nathan’s ministry to David was characterized by using language that, though it exposed his sin, did so in such a way that this prodigal king would be called back to the love of the Lord from which he had strayed. David repented. He confessed. He was absolved of his sin. But strife and calamity would follow him for the rest of his days. The child conceived in adultery would die. Another son, Absalom, would betray him and try to steal his throne. Every conceivable difficulty would be experienced in his household and kingdom. Why? Did these terrible things mean that the Lord did NOT forgive him? By no means! Rather, through the things that David suffered, he would learn reliance upon the Lord’s grace alone. We see this miracle of repentant faith throughout David’s prayers in the psalter.CP240922

Catechesis Notes for the Week — The Reign of David Begins—This week’s Bible stories feature the beginning of David’s reign. He was a man after God’s own heart, a man of repentant faith in the Lord. We see this in the high regard he pays to the centrality of the Ark of the Covenant in Israel’s worship, in the Lord’s covenant with Him, and in how he kept his promise to Jonathan and the household of Saul to care for Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s cripped son. But to say that David was a man after God’s own heart does not mean that he did not struggle with sin. At the end of this week, we hear the account of David’s adultery with Bathsheba and how, through that one action, he transgressed all of God’s Law. David did so many great things throughout his career, but he is not the Savior. Only the greater Son of David is without sin, and only He, Jesus Christ, our Lord, is capable of saving sinners, even the likes of David.CP240915

Catechesis Notes for the Week — Satanic Arts—Under the Second Commandment, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord Your God,” the Catechism reminds us that the misuse of God’s name also involves ANY attempt to tap into powers other than God for guidance, strength, and support. The occult, or “satanic arts” involves seances, tarot cards, horoscopes, crystal balls, palm reading, etc. In this week’s bible stories from the Old Testament we hear about the tragic end of King Saul’s life. His reign as king had begun with such promise, only to end in the destruction of his kingdom and the loss of his own life by the judgment of the Lord. One of Saul’s final acts was to consult with a “witch” or “medium” at Endor. Scripture makes clear that we cannot and are not to attempt to contact the dead. This medium at Endor had a “familiar spirit” or demon who could impersonate people who had died to mislead people that they were actually consulting with their dead relative. In the case of this week’s bible story, the Lord intervened and allowed Samuel to appear and pronounce God’s judgement. Immediately, the medium was terrified because she did not see her familiar demon, but Samuel himself. God protect us from such wickedness; thus, we call on the Lord’s name alone.CP240908

Catechesis Notes for the Week — The Stories of David—The Old Testament narratives this fall take us from the beginning of the Monarchy of David, when he is persecuted and hunted by the apostate King Saul, to the divided kingdom of Judah and Israel, and the return of the exiles. As we meditate upon David’s life and ministry, we are to think of the greater Son of David, our Lord Jesus Christ. David the shepherd, at his best, gives us a picture of Jesus. He is merciful, compassionate, he draws to himself those who are suffering and downtrodden. In the book of psalms, so many of which were written by David, we see a man of faith, like our Lord, who “calls upon God in every trouble, who prays, praises, and give thanks.” In David’s life, unlike Jesus, we also see a man of sinful weakness. Yet even this teaches us much about living as sinners by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s promises did not fail David. He was called to repentance for his failings, he heard the voice of the Lord, and in contrition and repentance returned to the Lord repeatedly. The penitential psalms, like 38, 32, and 51, give us examples of what the baptismal life of the Christian is really like. We are called to daily contrition and repentance for our sin, to faith in Christ’s mercy, that the Lord might bring forth in us, as He did for David, His good works and the fruits of faith.CP240901