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OT Enounters: Jeremiah 23:1-6 – Shepherding

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament text for this Sunday, July 22, 2018, the ninth Sunday after Pentecost, is from the book of the prophet Jeremiah. The text is Jeremiah 23:1-6 and contains the very familiar Messianic reference of “The Righteous Branch” and the title, “The Lord is our Righteousness.” However, the pericope begins with a common prophetic condemnation of false and evil shepherds who have been charged to care for the LORD’s sheep. Like Ezekiel 34, the shepherds have neglected the sheep for their own needs. In some cases, they are guilty of abusing the flock causing them to scatter and run away. Thus, the LORD promises that He Himself will gather up the remnants and they will prosper under His shepherding. At that time He will appoint new shepherds—obviously shepherds who are “undershepherds” to Him and properly care and provide for His flock.

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OT Encounters: Ezekiel 2:1-5 – Attending to the Mouth

 By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament text for this Sunday, July 8, 2018, the seventh Sunday after Pentecost, is from the book of the prophet Ezekiel. The text is Ezekiel 2:1-5 and is usually entitled the “Call of Ezekiel,” although the language of the Hebrew more indicates the “Sending of Ezekiel.” We see this language also in the “Call” of other prophets as well (Isaiah; Jeremiah). Horace Hummel, whose Commentary on Ezekiel 1-20 in the Concordia Commentary series we will point to on occasion, titles this section as “The Prophetic Commissioning of Ezekiel: Part 1.” Part 2 of this commissioning would begin then in chapter three.

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OT Encounters: Lamentations 3:22-33 – Chesed!

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament text for this Sunday, July 1, 2018, the sixth Sunday after Pentecost, is from Jeremiah’s book of Lamentations. The text is Lamentations 3:22-33 and is one of the few texts in the pericopal system from this writing. Lamentations, as the name indicates, is full of laments and woes. However, our text for this Sunday has a strong message of hope and confidence in the LORD. In the overall context of Lamentation, this text stands out as a breath of fresh air, or perhaps more accurately as words of relief after so much dismal lamenting!

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OT Encounters: Job 38:1-11 – Unanswered Questions

By Jeff Pulse –

Our text is from the book of Job. The text is Job 38:1-11 and begins the section in Job frequently called Yahweh’s first speech. In truth, this is the moment that Job and even his friends have been waiting for. They have been hoping that the LORD will break His silence and set things straight, answer the questions, and reveal the “why” of what is going on in Job’s miserable life. However, it is important to note that the LORD does NOT answer the questions that Job and his friends have been wrestling with. He ignores Job’s complaints and claims of innocence and refuses to support the accusations of Job’s friend—He just does not go there! This disappoints the readers of Job even today.

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OT Encounters: Ezekiel 17:22-24 – A New Planting

By Jeff Pulse –

Our text for this Sunday is from the book of the prophet Ezekiel. The text, Ezekiel 17:22-24, is quite short, only three verses, but it is quite interesting in the larger context of chapter 17. The chapter begins with a riddle, an allegory, which is introduced by, “The Word of Yahweh came to me.” Note also that this phrase is repeated in verse 11, which begins the second major portion of the chapter and contains our pericope. As we go through these three verses it is interesting and important to see them in the larger context of the allegory in the opening portion of chapter 17.

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OT Encounters: Genesis 3:8-15 – Clothed by God

By Jeff Pulse –

Our text for this Sunday, is from the first book of the Torah, Genesis. The text is a familiar one, Genesis 3:8-15, and describes separation of God and man as a result of the Fall into sin in the Garden of Eden. Obviously, the Fall is a tragic event on every level. Adam and Eve have disobeyed God, not trusting in His promises, and they find themselves hiding from God in their shame. There is no way this can work out for them, and they know it.

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OT Encounters: Hosea 2:14-20 – God’s Bride

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament lesson for this Sunday, May 27, 2018, is from the Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets, specifically Hosea 2:14-20. The context is very important because these verses are right in the middle of Hosea’s prophetic object lesson ordained by God. As you may recall, Hosea was told by God to marry a woman of whoredom and have children. This he did. Her name was Gomer, and they had three children—“not my people,” “not loved,” and “Jezreel.” At this point, Gomer left her husband and began to play the harlot with other men. It is finally at this point that the LORD Gods provides Hosea, Israel, and us with a glimmer of what is going on—what’s the point? The LORD tells Hosea that Gomer is Israel! The LORD married her, but she is an unfaithful bride who has played the harlot with other gods and other nations. Therefore, she is not His people; she is not loved! These are harsh words of condemnation, but our text lays out how the LORD will restore the relationship. Following our text, Hosea is instructed to buy back Gomer so that she will be his bride once again. And so has the LORD purchased His bride—not with gold or silver, but with the holy, precious blood of Jesus.

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OT Encounters: Isaiah 6:1-8 – Triune Forgiveness

By Jeff Pulse –

Our text for Holy Trinity Sunday is from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 6:1-8. The reason this text is chosen for Holy Trinity is the rare triad in verse 3: “Holy, holy, holy.” The Early Church considered this to be a Trinitarian formula (and I would agree). However, during the Arian Controversy, they stepped away from that use as Arias used this text against them as he supported his heretical position. It took a while, but the Church has returned to that Trinitarian interpretation, and thus it is in the pericopal system for Holy Trinity Sunday.

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OT Encounters: Exodus 24:3-11 – Real Presense

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament reading for Maundy Thursday, March 29, 2018, is written in the second book of the Torah, Exodus. The text appointed for this special service is Exodus 24:3-11 and is the strange account of Moses and 70 elders (along with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu—perhaps Joshua) being called up the Mount of Sinai to eat in the presence of God. The language used indicates that this is the full manifestation of God, not simply the pre-incarnated Christ. However, the question is, “How can this be?” Sinful men cannot look upon the face of God and live, and yet here these men are doing just that and not dying. This account is one of the places where God breaks His own rule. We have seen this with Moses as well when God shows him his backside. It is important to remember two things in this regard. First, God is the One who makes the rule. Therefore, He can opt to break it; man does not have that right or luxury. Second, whenever God does break one His rules in the Scriptures, it is always on the side of grace. Therefore, we need not fear that one day God will wake up and destroy us, hate us, or abandon us because He decides to break a rule/promise.

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OT Encounters: Zechariah 9:9-12 – The New King

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament lesson for the Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday), March 25, 2018, is from the Book of the Twelve: Zechariah. The text is Zechariah 9:9-12 and is the prophecy of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on what is now called the Sunday of the Passion. This is the beginning of Holy Week and all that is involved in the events leading to the most important celebration of the Church Year: Easter.

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OT Encounters: Jeremiah 31:31-34 – New Covenant

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament text for the fifth Sunday of Lent, March 18, 2018, is written in the Book of the prophet Jeremiah. The text is Jeremiah 31:31-34 and is a very familiar pericope that finds its way into the lectionary frequently. Of strong interest is the language of “New Covenant” verse the Old Covenant that made its way down Mt. Sinai in the wilderness. This is the only place in the Old Testament where the idea of “New Covenant” is written. The language of “yada” (to know) is connected to this New Covenant, as it was in the Old, (though I was a husband to her…) and indicates an intimate relationship in this New Covenant. However, the New Covenant has qualities that distinguish it from the Old and are connected to the promised Messiah. The language of “husband” and the new relationship reminds us of Hosea 1-3 and the living object lesson that the prophet Hosea is subjected to in order to give the prophecy a picture.

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OT Encounters: Numbers 21:4-9 – Can You Recognize a Snake?

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament lesson for Lent IV, March 11, 2018, is from the fourth book of the Torah, Numbers. The text is Numbers 21:4-9 and is the interesting account concerning the grumbling and sinning of the Israelites and the LORD’s response of sending the “fiery serpents” into their midst. Moses’ making of a bronze serpent and raising it upon a pole is directly referred to in the New Testament passage from John 3:14: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so also the Son of Man must be lifted up.”

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OT Encounters: Exodus 20:1-17 – The Ten Words

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament lesson for the third Sunday of Lent, March 4, 2018, is written in the second book of the Torah, Exodus. The text is Exodus 20:1-17 and provides us with the first giving of the Ten Words—usually referred to as the Ten Commandments, although the Hebrew does not call them this. While these are very familiar words to us frequently, they are dealt with in ways that fail to take into account the context and the situation.

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OT Encounters: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 – Entry Into the Covenant

By Jeff Pulse –

Our Old Testament text for Lent II, February 25, 2018, comes to us from the first book of the Torah, Genesis. The text is Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 and is the establishment of the covenant which is marked by the Sacrament of Circumcision—although the actual verses dealing with circumcision have been left out of the pericope. This is unfortunate because the cutting of the covenant (berith karat) includes the mark of the covenant in the flesh: circumcision. We even have the language that indicates that everyone who is not “cut” shall be “cut off” (vs. 14).

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OT Encounters: Gen 22:1-18 – Sacrificing a Son

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament lesson for Lent I, February 18, 2018, is from the first book of the Torah, Genesis. The text is Genesis 22: 1-18 and is not only the well-known, much discussed account of Abraham’s sacrifice of his son Isaac, but it also holds a special reverence among the Jewish people who refer to it as the “Aqadah,” which in Hebrew is “The Binding.” The reason this account stands out for the Jews is the unique circumstances that surround it. The Abrahamic covenant is in great danger because the LORD has called upon Abraham to sacrifice his only son, the son in the Messianic line. In addition is the peculiar kind of sacrifice; Isaac would be the ONLY living sacrifice in the Old Testament.

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OT Encounters: 2 Kings 2:1-12 – Through Water to Eternity

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament text for Transfiguration Sunday, February 11, 2018, is from the second book of Kings. The text is II Kings 2:1-12 and is the account of Elijah being taken up into heaven in a whirlwind right before the eyes of Elisha, his chosen successor. There are several interesting things to consider in this text, especially as one considers why it was chosen to compliment the Mark account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. We especially want to look at two things: 1) The aspect of death and resurrection demonstrated in this text and 2) the movement through water into eternal life/heaven that is so prevalent in the pages of Scripture, both Old and New Testaments.

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OT Encounters: Isaiah 40:21-31 – Waiting for the Lord

By Jeff Pulse –

Our text for Epiphany 5, February 3, 2018, is from the book of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. The text is Isaiah 40:21-31 and is part of the larger narrative of chapter 40 which first addresses the question of God, “Will you save us?” (40:1-11) and then approaches the question, “Can you save us?” (40:11-31). Of course, as we should expect from Isaiah, the answer is “Yes!” He does this by showing/discussing the LORD’s power. R. Lessing outlines this second portion as follows: 12-17: Yahweh’s transcendence over the nations; 18-20: Yahweh’s transcendence over idols;…now, our text for today, 21-24: Yahweh’s transcendence over rulers; 25-26: Yahweh is the transcendent Creator; 27-31: Yahweh wields His transcendent power for the sake of His people.

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OT Encounters: Deut 18:15-20 – A Promised Prophet

By Jeff Pulse –

The Old Testament text for January 28, 2018, the fourth Sunday of the Epiphany, is from the last book of the Torah, Deuteronomy. The text is Deuteronomy 18:15-20, and we hear Moses addressing the people of Israel and giving them the promise that the LORD will raise up a prophet LIKE HIM from the people. At first, this does not seem to bear much comment, but as we read further into Deuteronomy, we see in chapter 34: 10-12 words that seem contradictory to the words of our text. Chapter 34 says there has not arisen a prophet like Moses who knew the LORD face to face and spoke to Him mouth to mouth.

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OT Encounters: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 – Repent!

By Jeff Pulse –

Our Old Testament text for this Sunday, January 28, 2018, is from the Book of the Twelve, the Prophet Jonah. The text is Jonah 3:1-5, 10, which begins with a unique case in the Scriptures. Jonah is the only prophet to be “called” twice! As you recall, Jonah’s first call is recorded in chapter one of Jonah. Now this call comes after Jonah rejected the job description and headed in the opposite direction. There’s probably a sermon there somewhere! The language used in the two calls is almost identical—God has not changed His mind through all of this, although it appears that the LORD has toned down His attitude toward Nineveh, as He does not bring up their “great evil” as He did in 1:2. The LORD also makes no mention of the first call, or Jonah’s failure to take up that call.

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