June 15, 2016
Evening Prayer, Wednesday of Trinity 3
At the head of the Augsburg Confession, the first great Evangelical statement of faith in the sixteenth century, is this Bible verse: “I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame.” The Evangelical princes stood before the Emperor, Charles V, who had other things on his mind than reforming the church. He needed church unity in order to keep the sale of indulgences going, because he needed the money to fight his wars.
The war with the Turks was a serious concern. Unity in the church is of profound importance. But for those great leaders at Augsburg, they knew there was something of still greater importance: fidelity to God’s Word. This little text of Scripture was a comfort to them: “I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame.” Other men had stood up to political leaders: Moses; John the Baptist; Peter; Paul; the Lord Jesus Himself. Even where there was success—Moses in leading the Exodus from Egypt, Jesus in His resurrection—there was hardship: wandering in the wilderness; crucifixion. And for men like John the Baptist, beheading.
The promise that we shall not be put to shame does not mean we will not face the rage of the devil and the hatred of the world. The promise is that when we stand before the judgment seat of God, we will not be put to shame because we trusted in the Word of God, and did not fear the threats of men or devils.
We have one calling: to confess. In our day, confessing the truth about natural marriage, or abortion, will earn the scorn of the world. It is not for us to choose the time we live. It is only for us to confess. Thus the great Evangelical confessors set before us our program as well: “I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame.” They may listen, or not; but this does not affect our calling: to confess, with charity and respect, but never setting aside God’s Word.
Will we receive taunts in response? Perhaps. But this too is addressed in tonight’s portion of Psalm 119: “Then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.” We do not respond with derision, hatred, taunts of our own: our only answer to taunts is total, complete, utter confidence in God’s Word.
The first verse of this section tells us what we hear in God’s Word. First the Law, which this Psalm has continually set before us: the Commandments of God which ever call us to repentance. But then, “Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise.” This is the answer we give to a lost and dying world: the steadfast love, the mercy, the kindness and forgiveness of the God who made us from the dust. He saves, He rescues, He loves, through the God-man Jesus Christ, our Savior and our salvation.
So do not fear kings and politicians, nor put your trust in them. Also do not despair when our leaders seem incapable of addressing the world’s problems. It is only given to us to do our work quietly, love our family, and when the hour comes, speak of the Lord’s testimonies before the kings and powerful ones. He will not abandon us, or leave us to shame. Jesus testified before Pilate, and though He was killed, yet did He rise. So shall it be for you who are in Him. +INJ+