DEDICATION TO FREDERICK, THE ELECTOR,
Before the Postil, or the interpretation of the Epistles and Gospels
of the Advent Circle was issued in Latin in 1521, and immediately
translated into German.(for the whole pdf go to http://media.sabda.org/alkitab-8/LIBRARY/LUT_SER1.PDF)
I do not know, most illustrious, most gracious Lord, at whose door I should lay the fault that I, having been hindered day after day through numerous circumstances, have not been able to comply with your wishes. Your Electoral Grace has counseled well that I should turn from the quarrelsome, sharp, and entangling writings, with which I have been engaged nigh unto three years, and that I should occupy myself with the holy and kindly doctrine, beside the work of the interpretation of the Psalter, labor in the interpretation of the Epistles and Gospels (which is called Postil) for the benefit of the ministers and their subjects: you having been of the opinion that I, burdened with such an amount of work, would the sooner attain peace also against the attacks of my enemies. So noble is, according to the peaceful name of Your Electoral Grace, the natural soul of Your Electoral Grace that you have often plainly told me how tiresome the quarrels and useless questions concerning the goat-wool are to Your Electoral Grace.
How do you think Luther felt as he had to endure the conflict and criticism being thrown at him? Obviously he knew that Elector Frederick didn't like it, but it's almost as if he's saying, "YOU don't like? What about me?" Think of Jesus' words in today's Gospel from Luke 12: I have not come to peace but division.
How is division a part of following Jesus?
How hard is it to endure that division?
Monday:
Luther writes to Elector Frederick, who has requested that he pen a commentary (postil) on the lectionary texts: http://media.sabda.org/alkitab-8/LIBRARY/LUT_SER1.PDF
I myself do not wish to say how I have been affected by these storms and have been kept from my studies, so that I desired to give my flesh and blood free play, yes, have not abstained from answering these evil writings somewhat more pointedly than is becoming to a clergyman. I hope, however, just as I confess my guilt, that I may not reap the displeasure of all those who think differently what fierce Lions of Moab, what Rabsake of Assyria, what evil, poisonous Simei I alone had to endure, to the detriment of myself and of many to whom I might have been of service in the Word of God. In such storms, however, I have always firmly hoped that I would attain peace so that I could comply with the wishes of Your Electoral Grace, through which the mercy of God has, without doubt, done much good to the Gospel of Christ.
How often do the pressures of life, and the conflicts around us (even in the church, or especially in the church we might say) keep us from serving others?
Luther confesses that his words to his opponents haven't always been "becoming to a clergyman." How do we get maintain our "cool" in the face of certain conflict?
He goes on:
But now when I see that my hope has been a very human thought and that, with every day, I sink deeper into the deep great sea, in which there are numberless creeping animals that help one another and are against me: then I also see that the devil with such vexations of my hope had nothing else in view but that I may finally abandon my purpose and would much sooner have to go to Babylon than to furnish my Jerusalem with armor’s nourishment. This is his wickedness. In consideration of it I have thought of the holy Nehemiah, and, forsaking the useless visions of Ezra, the scribe, have begun not to hope for peace, have prepared for peace as well as war, have taken the sword into one hand, to fight my Arabs, and wished to build the wall with the other, in order that I while applying myself to one work only, may not fail in completing both faster. For St. Jerome also says that not to withstand the enemies is just as detrimental to the church, as if we would only build. And the Apostle commands that a bishop ought to be able not only to exhort the people in the sound doctrine but also to convict the gainsayers. I do not say that I think I am a bishop, for I have neither riches nor an island, which in these days constitute the office of bishop; but that he who adminsters the office of the Word of God ought also to be able to fulfill the duties of a bishop, who must be capable with both hands, as Ehud, and able to kill the strong Aeglon with the left hand.
I myself do not wish to say how I have been affected by these storms and have been kept from my studies, so that I desired to give my flesh and blood free play, yes, have not abstained from answering these evil writings somewhat more pointedly than is becoming to a clergyman. I hope, however, just as I confess my guilt, that I may not reap the displeasure of all those who think differently what fierce Lions of Moab, what Rabsake of Assyria, what evil, poisonous Simei I alone had to endure, to the detriment of myself and of many to whom I might have been of service in the Word of God. In such storms, however, I have always firmly hoped that I would attain peace so that I could comply with the wishes of Your Electoral Grace, through which the mercy of God has, without doubt, done much good to the Gospel of Christ.
How often do the pressures of life, and the conflicts around us (even in the church, or especially in the church we might say) keep us from serving others?
Luther confesses that his words to his opponents haven't always been "becoming to a clergyman." How do we get maintain our "cool" in the face of certain conflict?
He goes on:
But now when I see that my hope has been a very human thought and that, with every day, I sink deeper into the deep great sea, in which there are numberless creeping animals that help one another and are against me: then I also see that the devil with such vexations of my hope had nothing else in view but that I may finally abandon my purpose and would much sooner have to go to Babylon than to furnish my Jerusalem with armor’s nourishment. This is his wickedness. In consideration of it I have thought of the holy Nehemiah, and, forsaking the useless visions of Ezra, the scribe, have begun not to hope for peace, have prepared for peace as well as war, have taken the sword into one hand, to fight my Arabs, and wished to build the wall with the other, in order that I while applying myself to one work only, may not fail in completing both faster. For St. Jerome also says that not to withstand the enemies is just as detrimental to the church, as if we would only build. And the Apostle commands that a bishop ought to be able not only to exhort the people in the sound doctrine but also to convict the gainsayers. I do not say that I think I am a bishop, for I have neither riches nor an island, which in these days constitute the office of bishop; but that he who adminsters the office of the Word of God ought also to be able to fulfill the duties of a bishop, who must be capable with both hands, as Ehud, and able to kill the strong Aeglon with the left hand.
What is Luther's Jerusalem?
What is your Jerusalem?
How does the devil try to stop you from your work?
Ok, I'll admit I was hoping someone had posted soemthing to help me better understand what ML was talking about here. Help!
ReplyDeleteLuther was frustrated with conflict and criticism that was thrown his way because of his unwavering and passionate stand on the Light of the Gospel. Elector Frederick was more concerned about his position and keeping peace with enemies, than he was in upholding the Word of God in the Holy Gospel. We will also be attacked as we stand firm on God's Word and the Gospel of Christ. It is immensley difficult to withstand the venomous attackes from our enemies and even harder to swallow criticisms from our "friends". We all want to be loved and Jesus calls us Love one another including our enemies. We are also called to be salt of the earth and if we lose our flavor we will be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
ReplyDeleteLife presents many "opportunities" to battle real and imagined conflicts that distract us from the Gospel. I feel a sense of troment from a growing central government authority which has usurped the ideals of self government. We have ceded our Christian responsibilities to an earthly kingdom and equate this folly as "serving others".
ReplyDeleteWhen we follow Christ and center our lives in an "unalloyed sense" of the Gospel, we have a chance maintaining our "cool" under pressure.
Luther's Jerusalem is Woed of God and The Gospel of Christ.
ReplyDeleteI pray that my Jerusalem is shared with ML. My Jeruslam is also the freedom and liberty of mankind. Men are cursed with the idea that concentrated power is best for humanity as a collective.
The devil places his minions of "numberless creeping animals" that join together and tell us that we are wrong, hurtful, hateful, and misguided. These creeping animals are disguised as virtuous citizens in places of power, including the church.
Not sure what woed is. :/, maybe WORD is the word I was looking for.
DeleteI like how seriously Luther takes the task that Frederick has commended to him. He says his ability is less than what is needed that if he were himself seven times over it wouldn't be enough to tackle the Psalms, let alone the gospel.
ReplyDelete