Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended

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1 Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,
that we to judge thee have in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted!

2 Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!
‘Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;
I crucified thee.

3 Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered.
For our atonement, while we nothing heeded,
God interceded.

4 For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,
for my salvation.

5 Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,
not my deserving.

Johann Heermann was a German poet and hymnodist. He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on 26 October with Philipp Nicolai and Paul Gerhardt. 

Born: October 11, 1585, Rudna, Poland

Died: February 17, 1647 (age 61 years), Leszno, Poland

Church and Respect

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by Leanne Guenther

Have you ever been to a King or Queen’s palace?  How would you act if you were invited there?  Would you run around and talk loudly?  Would you push your brother or sister and talk back to your parents?  Would you ignore the Queen if she talked to you?

I’m sure you would be on your best behavior.  You would listen to your parents, mind all your manners, say “please” and “thank-you”, and be careful not to break anything.

One last question, why would you be on your best behavior at the Queen’s palace?  Is it because the Queen is important and she has lots of nice things, and you just know that you are supposed to be good in a fancy place like that?

This lesson is about how we should behave in God’s house.  Church is a special place where we learn more about God and worship him.  God doesn’t actually live there because God is everywhere but it’s one of the special places we can go just to honor him without any distractions of the outside world.

Have you ever noticed that people dress up when they go to church.  That’s because people are trying to be respectful to God and to get ready to worship him.  Have you ever wondered why people close their eyes and bow their heads when they pray?  People do that so they can think about what they’re praying to God and not looking and thinking about other things.  We bow our heads because God is our King and he deserves respect like a King and so much more!

When you are respectful you listen to others and treat others the way you want to be treated.  So how can you respect others at church?  By treating church like God’s house and listening to your teachers and parents, by walking instead of running and using your quiet voice instead of your loud voice.

Sometimes in church there are special times that we’re allowed to run around (in the church gym or a during a special lesson in Sunday School) and that’s okay if the teachers or parents give you permission but otherwise we need to learn and listen to what the leaders say.

Your teachers spend lots of time getting ready for a special Sunday School lesson just for you.  They care a lot about each one of you and want you to learn important things that can help you.  It makes them sad and disappointed if you don’t listen and that makes God sad.

When we respect others we are also respecting God.  So you may have guessed that we aren’t just supposed to be good in church but everywhere!  Respecting everyone we pass by.  Since God is everywhere he can see how we treat others and if we are making them happy or sad.

There’s a verse in the Bible (Romans 12:10) that says, love each other honestly and treat others better than you would treat yourself.

That means listening to your teachers at school, babysitters, parents and grandparents.  It also means respecting other people’s things.  So when someone has a toy or book that you want it’s not right just to take it away from them.  Ask them nicely and if they still don’t want to share play with something else until they’re finished.  I know that can be tough but that’s what God wants us to do.

Start to think about respect everywhere you go (the grocery store, other people’s houses, even restaurants).  Sometimes it’s important to be on your very best behavior, but your parents understand you need play time and a time to be loud too.

So have lots of fun but just keep in mind that church is a special place to learn about God and we need to treat it just like a king’s palace (because God is our king).  Listen to your parents and teachers, they love you and want the best for you and that’s how you can make God happy!

Friday Quote

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“Sometimes I go to God and say, “God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and, in the ages, to come for what Thou hast done already. God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums, I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.” ― a quote from AW Tozer

God delights in our Humility

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It was my observation that one thing God is not is silent.  He is the God who is there (Jehovah Shammah). And, our God is not silent. Ezekiel tells us of the noise present just under the platform (the vault) that supports the throne. A quiet murmuring? Gentle talking amongst the angels? Nope! We are told of a roar, like the sound of rushing waters. This is not ‘quietness’; this is in your face ‘loudness’. This is a wall of sound – 125 decibels of thundering water. Enough sound to cause your body to vibrate.  The sound was like the tumult of an army. Imagine a couple of thousand soldiers carrying all types of heavy metal gear. The clanging and crunching of steel on steel. This is described as loudness at a significant decibel level. I remember once a few years back, part of my job was to bend over and walk under a wing of an F4 while the engines were running to confirm the proper installation of AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles just before a launch.  The volume was overwhelming, organs in my body vibrated, the movement of the air because of the sound was intense. Then, above all that noise and air movement, comes a voice (in my ear from a headset) – we good? the young lieutenant pilot asks.  I reply – Sir, you are clear to launch.

Ezekiel 1:22-25 says — Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings [NIV].

Over the heads of the angels (living creatures) we see something that is awesome. Some translate this idea as sea of ice, hail congealed like a glazer, or mountain snow that has melted and frozen again like ice. Psalms 33:14 is clear, he can see is clearly 24/7 from his throne as we move about on earth. He sees the angel wings from his throne, even though they are on the other side of the platform that supports the throne (see Ezekiel 1:23). One thing is for sure, the wings are used for flight or covering. God is above platform; the angels are below the platform. They are ready for dispatch. They are under God’s authority, subject to his plan, ready to fly on errands and such, and serve God. Then comes the eye of God attached to the wheels.

There is a chain of events which is always drawing the eye of God one way or other. Fortunately, he has a lot of eyes on the job.  Life ebbs and flows, in the same way God’s plan unfolds, but always in the stated appointed times and measures. We see things in part, we do not see all of the story.  We know of the shortcomings in our ability to see and accept them.  But we know God sees so much more.  He sees everything.  Everything!  As he sees events unfolding, he speaks, he makes known his will.

Consider the loudness of a bee when they fly near our ear, it is amazing how much noise their wings create.  Transfer that magnification of sound to four angel’s wings.  This suggests tremendous volume.  Then add in the notion of intelligent communication.  God’s voice appearing over the top of the loud waters, the mass of sound coming from the angelic wings. 

When God starts talking, the angels drop their wings in respect, their noise subsides, God’s voice now fills the space.  There will be order in the universe.  We hear the voice by opening up our ears to hear the message from the word.  I have heard testimony many times from young Christians; before I knew Jesus, the bible made little sense to me, but now when I read, God jumps off the page.  Thus, when the town crier speaks out the message of God; men yield to God or perish.  Earthly noise distorts the message, but when people respect the sound, they hear the message.  Selah.  I choose Jesus.

Fire moved Back and Forth

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It has been my observation while trying to feel a small portion of the things Ezekiel must have felt when he was confronted with his throne room vision – we are called to service. He could hear and see the angels moving. Perhaps he could feel the wind and the vibrations emanating from the vision. The angels are active, they are industrious by nature, seeking the opportunity to serve. I think, on our best days, that should be our view, our singular chosen role in life – service to Jesus.

Ezekiel 1:12-14 says — Wherever the Spirit would go, they [the angels] would go, without turning as they went. The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning [NIV].

They went straight forward, looking where they were heading, they were not looking about, the singleness of their gaze revealed the singularity of their heart to the matter at hand. There was no hesitation. They moved as a community to accomplish one goal. They did not hinder each other. Each was interested in the community goal, no shining stars seeking individual glory in this group.

They moved wherever the Spirit of God beckoned, they used the wisdom God gave them to drive their motions and actions so they could implement God’s will, to serve the purpose and vision of God, to accomplish his directives. I wonder, when we read that Lucifer falls like lightning into his own ruin (see Luke 10:19), if we can assume that angels fly like lightening as they accomplish God’s work? Perhaps.

Some people I read suggest that the Spirit of God is the driver of the angels. It is their honor to be led directly by God, thus their instant obedience. I find their obedience to be awe inspiring. They are created, just as we are, yet we rebelled. They did not. Consider for a minute the honor they receive for their obedience. The angels are ‘that close’ to the one true living God. Our rebellion keeps us at a distance. Yet we know our turn is coming, soon we shall be eye to eye with God, as the angels are.

Ezekiel saw them by their own light, as if it was burning coals of fire, the amber glow reddish burn, yellow flames of fire. The heat and glow could be seen as their love and fervent zeal of service for the one true living God. Their splendor and brightness flashing like lightening could be their forcefulness against the enemies of God (similar to Psalms 18:12).

The fire moved back and forth (up and down) and it was laser bright. We know the counter point is the world of darkness, the place deeper and darker than the valley of the shadow of death, the lair of the ruler of darkness, the operational headquarters granted to Lucifer. This laser light pierces all places even the headquarters of lucifer. Angels operate in Gods shekinah glory. They conceal the reflected light for us, we see then as with a candlelight, the dim light of man. This is what we see moving around the angels. But when the arc angel shouts and we rise to go home, then we will see them clearly.

I think the appearance of the burning coals and lightening points to the wrath of God, his judgement happening at that time to the Israeli nation. The coals were scattered upon the city of Jerusalem to consume it, to level it because of their rebellion (please make a careful read of Ezekiel 10:1-22, take note of the similarities). At the same time, I think we should see the light display as a message of comfort, God is on the job, taking care of business, bringing truth and light into the darkness of this present trouble. To the one this fire is bright, it is very reviving and refreshing; to the other, out of the fire comes fresh lightning to destroy them. Rejoice, bow down and be grateful we are on the right side of the fence.

I choose Jesus.