A Mighty Fortress

Psalm 46
Years ago a young woman asked to have the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” sung at her wedding, explaining that it had been a favorite of her deceased father’s. It then fell to me as the minister to make sense of the matter for folks who attended the wedding. Why would a young woman be thinking about fortresses and bulwarks on her wedding day? Why would she request a hymn with the words, “Our helper, He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing”? What meaning on this particular day might she find in the words, “Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also…”? Yet the more I thought about it the more sense it actually made to me. Here was a young couple bringing their lives together, facing a lot of uncertainties in themselves and in each other, wondering what the future would bring. What better time to lay claim to God’s work for humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, even if it did come in a rather foreboding musical style?

Martin Luther wrote “A Mighty Fortress” — a classic of the Reformation –– based in part on Psalm 46 and the words, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Luther himself faced many difficult challenges in his life and obviously took great comfort from the psalmist’s assurances that God protects and defends God’s people. This was good news indeed for a man who was willing to challenge the Roman church in all of its power and glory. As the psalm reminds us, “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea” (v. 2). As Luther knew, it is Jesus Christ in whom we encounter God-with-us. It is Jesus Christ who lived in such a way as to demonstrate that God is in control, that God is a mighty fortress, “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” It is Jesus Christ who reaches out to us in the pages of scripture, who is willing to die for us, and who invites us to trust and believe in him.

Our God is a mighty fortress, when “the mountains shake at the heart of the sea,” when our lives teeter on the brink of uncertainty; or when we enter into new relationships, even if we have a pretty good idea of where we are headed. Whether we seem threatened by the forces of this world, or we find ourselves living in relative safety and peace, God remains a mighty fortress for us, come what may.

Prayer: Lord, give us your guidance and protection, all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Not So Fast, Paul!

1 Corinthians 7:32-40

As a happily married man I find Paul’s words to the church in Corinth to be interesting. “The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided” (1 Corinthians 7:32b-34a). Now I will admit that I am concerned about a number of things, among them living up to the expectations of my family. But I can not in all honesty claim that were I single my concerns would all be focused on God. I know myself better than that; there would always be something for me to worry about.

It is not that I believe Paul is wrong necessarily. Relationships--and especially marriages--do lead us to new levels of concern and even anxiety. There are a whole host of things that I deal with now that I did not face when I was single. Add children to the mix and the list grows even longer. But committed relationships based on mutual love and regard are among the most profound blessings one may receive in life. When taken seriously and nurtured with care close friendships, marriages, and families each offer their own benefits and help us to carry much of the pain and sorrow of life.

Were I unmarried I am sure that my anxiety would still be split between the Lord and any number of other matters. So, all things being equal, I will count myself richly blessed to be in a loving relationship, one that helps me to make sense of my life and to be a better person, one that also helps me to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, help us to live our lives in mutual love and support so that together we may deal with the pain of life and give glory to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Is He Kidding?

1 Corinthians 7:1-9

I don’t think Paul was being intentionally funny but the last verse of the reading from 1 Corinthians today sounds a little like a gag from a standup routine. “For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion” (1 Corinthians 7:9). There’s on old Henny Youngman bit that goes, “A fellow asked me, ‘Who was that lady I saw you last night?’ I said, ‘That was no lady, that was my wife.’” Paul’s joke is just as good. But did Paul really think marriage would cure passion?

Ah, but that’s not the point, is it? And that is why context is so important in Bible study. One verse may sound like a joke, but when seen in the broader picture its tone changes and the real meaning becomes more readily apparent. In fact, one of the strategies for understanding scripture is to use the general to explain the particular, the whole to help make the individual pieces clearer.

Paul is not talking about the effect of marriage on the relationship of two people. He’s talking about the propriety of human relationships in light of the reign of God and the imminent return of Jesus. If we take the one verse we might not see Paul’s intent. When in doubt, look around.

Prayer: Lord, help us to understand your word for our lives and to live accordingly. In Jesus’ name. Amen.