"I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)
Day 178 - (Today’s Bible readings:1 Kings 19:1-18, Psalm 147; Revelation 20:1-10)
THE STILL SMALL VOICE
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13 ESV)
“Elijah found no comfort and no assurance in God’s power manifested in nature through the wind. Rather, when God’s Word came to instruct him in a quiet voice, then the prophet found truth and strength. What the Lord whispers is a mystery. Luther: ‘The Law is a hammer that crushes rocks, a fire, a wind, and a great and mighty earthquake that overturns mountains. When Elijah cold not bear the terrors of the Law that were signified in these events, he wrapped his head in his mantel, and after the storm was over, there came a still small voice, in which the Lord was present. But the storm and the earthquake had to come first, before the Lord Himself followed in the still small voice.’” (The Lutheran Study Bible, CPH 2009, page 571)
So, dear reader, when the storms of life engulf you, get ready to listen for the still small voice of God shortly after the storm is stilled. In fact, this is precisely why you attend church on a weekly basis. You come in from the tumult of the previous week and are met with the Word and the meal that God has prepared just for you.
God Himself is present:
Let us now adore Him
And with awe appear before Him.
God is in His temple;
All within keep silence;
Humbly kneel in deepest rev'rence.
He alone
On His throne
Is our God and Savior;
Praise His Name forever!
(Lutheran Service Book, CPH, 2006, #907, stanza 1)
Almighty God, thank You for coming to me in Your still small voice in weekly worship. Help me to listen to and heed Your guiding and saving voice. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), undergirds this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
Then scroll down to 2022 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
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