Main Menu
SitemapRecentHomeBeliefsLiturgy and PreachingParishEducationArticlesHistoryLinksContactPastor * Pastor's BlogCalendarDirectionsPhotobook
Lent 1 - 2005
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Gospel from Matthew four, the Temptation of Christ, as well as the story of David and Goliath.
Who doesn’t like the story of David and Goliath? Everyone loves rooting for the underdog. Whether you’re talking about sports, business, or even war, stories of how people overcome tremendous odds are very attractive to all of us. Why? Because we all like the idea of beating the system, of doing something unexpected, some great play, some winning strategy that will turn losers into winners.
Thus we come to the story of David and Goliath. If you were to examine most of the modern versions of this story, from Veggie Tales to Turner Classics, it all comes down to on basic interpretation: luck. David got lucky. He had five smooth stones, and got a lucky first shot in at just the right angle, and thus was able to defeat the nine-foot giant. Goliath loses his head, and little David becomes King David. In this “lucky” view of David’s story, it is his courage and spunk, basically, that puts him into a position of getting lucky in his battle against the giant.
This, dear friends, is basically what we believe about our struggle against sin. We believe that when it comes to sin and temptation, that we are going to get lucky. I won’t give in to gluttony or drunkenness or anger or cheating or despising God’s Word. Why? Well, I don’t really know why. I just won’t. Who knows what drives us to think this way? It certainly isn’t experience. You know as well as I that you sin in thought, word and deed every day. If we were faced with a trial of faith like David, or like our Lord even in the wilderness, we would fail. Why? Because we don’t trust that God will take care of us no matter what. We are selfish and stingy with our giving to God, because we don’t believe that God will provide for us. We are selfish and stingy with our spouses and family for the very same reason. Satan tempted Jesus to make stones out of bread and use His power for his own selfish purposes. We, on the other hand, can hardly WAIT to use our gifts for our own selfish purposes. It’s nigh well impossible to use what God has given us for anything else!
And if we do actually manage to keep the Law outwardly, there is always what is in the heart, lurking underneath like a virus waiting to show itself. Even if what is on the outside seems right, you know what is in your heart. You would fail, every single time. With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected…Luther of course had it right.
So getting back to David, we look at this stories with the wrong lens, because in our sinfulness we cannot believe that this is actually God at work, saving and preserving David. David didn’t get lucky. He wasn’t just an unusually good shot with a sling. No, He trusted that God would save him. And it was that trust which defined him. It was that faith in the power of God to do what He promised that David clung to when he faced Goliath. You see, God had promised to the children of Israel that He would defeat their enemies in the land of Canaan. Goliath the Philistine never had a chance, because of the sure and certain promises of God. It wasn’t luck that saved David; it was God Himself.
So what about you? How will you fare in your struggle against sin and temptation this Lent? Do you trust that God forgives your sins for Jesus’ sake, or do you believe that you can manage just fine all by yourself? Do you live your life believing that you can defeat all of your enemies, and handle all your problems yourself, or do you live believing that it is only by the power of the Word of God that your life is held together? Repent. Repent of your selfishness. Repent of your false belief that you can do all things all on your own. Repent of your belief in luck and chance, for if you believe that your life is bound by such things, then you are not trusting in the God of mercy to protect you.
There is, of course, a far greater place to put your trust. You, like the children of Israel, have a champion who will fight for you. When the children of Israel cowered in fear, David stepped forth in faith to face the enemy. And when you cower in fear over your sin and weakness, the greater son of David, Jesus Christ, steps forth to face your enemies. Jesus Christ stands before you as your champion. He is the one who fights for you, because you cannot fight and defend yourself against such great foes as the devil, the world, and your own sinful nature.
Yes, Jesus Christ, the mighty fortress stands here to protect you. How does He do it? He does it by keeping the Law where you fail. He does it by taking the punishment for your sins. Jesus stands here to protect you by standing firm in the Word and work of God Himself. Even though you may cower in fear and confusion over your sins and its dreadful effects in your life, Jesus comes now and offers you hope.
For you see, dear friends, when Jesus defeats Satan in the wilderness by the power of the Word of God alone, His victory is your victory. Jesus wins the victory, but we receive the spoils. God forgives your sins even this day because of Jesus’ victory over sin, death and hell itself.
Where does God do this? He does it right here, in His word of Holy Absolution. He does it in His Word preached and given to you. He does it at that font, where Dominick will be baptized in just a couple hours. And perhaps as the culmination of it all, Jesus defeats Satan and all his foes by giving you His body and blood from this holy altar. Here you receive the victor’s spoils of war. Here God forgives your sins, draws you into Himself, and gives you hope for a new life. Even though you sins may oppress you sore, when you come to this place, God is at work giving you a life and a future that is not bound by your sin. God will not have His children defeated. You are victorious. Why? Not because you got lucky. No. You are victorious because Christ is victorious. There is no chance, no randomness to your life at all. God is guarding you every step of the way. You are His, because Jesus is our great champion.
And now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith unto life everlasting. Amen.
This page was created on 02/18/2007 and last edited on: 02/23/2007