Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household. Ephesians 2:19
It’s Getting Personal
Most people know what it feels like to be an outsider. Perhaps you have walked into a room where everyone else seemed to know each other. Perhaps you have moved to a new community, started a new job, or attended an unfamiliar gathering. Being a stranger can be lonely.
Paul says that this was our spiritual condition apart from Christ. We were “foreigners and strangers.” Because of sin, we were separated from God. We did not belong in his kingdom. We could not claim a place in his family. The holy God seemed far away, and we had no right to draw near.
But then Jesus changed everything.
Through his perfect life and sacrificial death, Jesus removed the barrier that stood between God and us. He took away our guilt and reconciled us to the Father. Now Paul can announce the astonishing result: “You are no longer foreigners and strangers.”
Notice that God does not merely grant us a visitor’s pass. He does not allow us to stand at a respectful distance from his holiness. He brings us near. Very near.
Paul first says that we are “fellow citizens with God’s people.” We belong to God’s kingdom. We have a place, a name, and an inheritance. But Paul goes even further. We are “members of his household.”
God could have saved us and kept us at arm’s length. Instead, he welcomes us into his home.
Think about what a household means. Family members share daily life together. They enjoy the father’s protection, provision, and love. They have access to him. They know his voice. They belong.
When life makes you feel alone or forgotten, remember where you belong. Through Jesus, you are not standing outside God’s house hoping to be noticed. The door has been opened, and you have been welcomed in. You are a member of God’s own household.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing me near through Jesus Christ. Help me live each day in the comfort of your personal love and presence. Amen.
The Sovereign LORD declares—he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.” Isaiah 56:8
More Than Expected
Have you ever thought of God as a gatherer? Isaiah 56 paints a surprising picture. The Lord is not content merely to bring back the exiles of Israel. He promises, “I will gather still others.” The gathering will be bigger than anyone expected.
For centuries, God’s people might have assumed that the blessings of salvation belonged only to a certain nation and a certain family line. Yet God had larger plans. He intended to gather people from every tribe, language, nation, and people. He would gather outsiders, foreigners, and those who seemed far away from his promises. Through the coming Savior, God’s kingdom would expand far beyond the borders of ancient Israel.
That promise includes us.
Most of us are not descendants of ancient Israel. We were not standing at Mount Sinai when the covenant was given. Yet here we are, gathered among God’s people. We hear his Word. We receive his promises. We call upon Jesus as our Savior. How did that happen?
Not because we found God. Not because we were wiser, better, or more spiritual than others. The Lord gathered us.
Like lost sheep, we had wandered away. By nature, we were separated from God and hostile to him. Yet the Good Shepherd came looking for us. Through the gospel message, the Holy Spirit created faith in our hearts. Through baptism, God claimed us as his own. Through his Word, he continues to gather and keep us in the one true faith.
What makes this gathering so remarkable is that it is completely unexpected. If anyone had predicted our spiritual future before God called us, they would have been wrong. Left to ourselves, we would never have chosen Christ. Yet God chose us. He sought us. He gathered us.
So, when you wonder whether you belong among God’s people, remember who did the gathering. The Sovereign Lord himself brought you near through Jesus. The God who gathered Israel has gathered you, too.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for seeking me when I was lost and gathering me into your family of believers. Amen.
To keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
When Weak Is Good
“That’s so weak!” If you’ve had that shouted your way, you know it usually isn’t a compliment. Weakness is normally not a trait that gets much praise.
God doesn’t give spiritual weakness any praise, either. Being weak to do what God wants leads to falling into sin. Does your spiritual weakness show itself by hating or lusting? Stealing or hurting others? Gossiping or cursing? That is sin. And God hates that kind of weakness.
In today’s Bible reading, the apostle Paul talked about a different kind of weakness, a physical weakness that God allowed to come into Paul’s life. We are not told exactly what it was, just that it was severe enough that Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away. God’s answer: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
When Paul suffered from this physical weakness, in whom did he need to put his trust and hope? Who was his strength? Not himself! No, God was Paul’s strength and hope. God’s power carried Paul through thick and thin. At no time was this more evident than when he suffered from this weakness. Then God’s grace and strength were all the more apparent, and that’s what Paul and others needed to see—God’s grace and strength.
When God allows hardship or troubles or “weakness” into your life, remember that when you are weak, he is strong. Trust and rest in his strength and grace.
Prayer:
Lord God, you work all things according to your love and wisdom. Spare me from hardship and heartache. And, when you allow them into my life, use them to draw me closer to you and increase my trust in your power and grace. Amen.
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For the choir director. According to “Doe of the Dawn.” [1]
A psalm by David.
Part One: The Messiah’s Suffering
The Messiah’s Plea
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? My groaning does nothing to save me. 2 My God, I call out by day, but you do not answer. I call out by night, but there is no relief for me. [2]
God’s Help in the Past
3 Yet you are seated as the Holy One, praised by Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted. They trusted and you delivered them. 5 They cried out to you, and they were rescued. They trusted in you, and they were not disappointed.
God’s Present Absence
6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me. They sneer. They shake their heads. 8 They say, “Trust in the Lord.” [3] “Let the Lord deliver him. Let him rescue him, if he delights in him.” [4]
The Mutual Love of Father and Son
9 But you are the one who brought me out of the belly. You made me trust when I was at my mother’s breasts. 10 I was cast on you from the womb. From the belly of my mother you have been my God. 11 Do not be distant from me, for distress is near, and there is no one to help.
The Power of His Enemies
12 Many bulls surround me. Strong bulls from Bashan encircle me. 13 Enemies open their mouths wide against me, like a lion that tears its prey and roars. 14 Like water I am poured out. All my bones are pulled apart. My heart has become like wax. It has melted in the middle of my chest. 15 My strength is dried up like broken pottery, and my tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded me. A band of evil men has encircled me. They have pierced [5] my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my garments among them. For my clothing they cast lots.
The Greater Power of God
19 But you, O Lord, do not be distant. O my Strength, come quickly to help me. 20 Deliver my life from the sword, my only life from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion. From the horns of the wild oxen you have answered me. [6]
Footnotes
Psalm 22:1 This may be the name of the tune. An alternate reading is help at dawn.
Psalm 22:2 Or I am never silent
Psalm 22:8 Literally roll [your troubles] to the Lord
Psalm 22:8 The first part of the quotation is addressed to the suffering Messiah. The second part is addressed to their fellow mockers, so they are marked as two separate quotations.
Psalm 22:16 The reading they have pierced is found in some Hebrew manuscripts, including one of the oldest, as well as in other ancient versions. Most Hebrew manuscripts read like a lion instead of a verb.
1 May the Lord answer you in the day of distress. May the name of the God of Jacob lift you up. 2 May he send you help from the holy place. May he support you from Zion. 3 May he remember all your sacrificial gifts. Interlude May he accept your burnt offerings. 4 May he give you whatever your heart desires. May he fulfill all your plans. 5 We will shout joyfully when God saves you. In the name of our God we will lift up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your prayers.
The King’s Response
6 Now I know that the Lord saves his Anointed. [1] He answers him from his holy heavens with powerful acts of salvation from his right hand.
The People’s Prayer
7 Some rely on chariots, and some on horses, but we rely on the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. 9 Lord, save the king! Answer us in the day we call!
Psalm 21
Thanksgiving for Victory
Heading
For the choir director. A psalm by David.
The People Thank the Lord for Victory
1 O Lord, the king rejoices in your strength. He joyfully celebrates salvation from you. 2 You have granted him what his heart desired. Interlude You have not denied the request from his lips. 3 Yes, you meet him to give him great blessings. You place a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days, forever and ever. 5 He receives great glory through the salvation you gave. You bestow splendor and majesty on him. 6 Surely you grant him blessings forever. You make him glad with joy in your presence. 7 Surely the king trusts in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he will not be shaken.
The People Assure the King of Future Victory
8 Your hand will reach all your enemies. Your right hand will reach those who hate you. 9 At the time when you appear, O Lord, you will make them like a blazing furnace. In his anger he will swallow them. Fire will consume them. 10 You will cause their fruit to perish from the earth, their seed [2] from among the children of Adam. 11 Indeed, they intend [3] evil against you. They plan wicked schemes, but they will not succeed, 12 because you will make them turn and run when you get ready to aim your arrows at them.
The People Praise the Lord
13 Rise up, O Lord, in your strength. We will sing and make music because of your might.
Footnotes
Psalm 20:6 That is, the king of Israel, who as a type of Christ was called by the title the Anointed
Psalm 21:10 Fruit and seed refer to their descendants.
1 The heavens tell about the glory of God. The expanse of the sky proclaims the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour out speech. Night after night they display knowledge. 3 They do not speak. They say no words. Their voice is not heard. [1] 4 Their voice [2] goes out into all the earth, and their word reaches the end of the world.
God has pitched a tent for the sun in the heavens. 5 It comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy. It celebrates like a champion who has run his race. 6 It sets out from one end of the heavens. It runs until it reaches the other end. There is nowhere to hide from its heat.
The Glory of God Revealed in His Word
7 The law [3] of the Lord is perfect. It revives the soul. The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy. It gives wisdom to the inexperienced. [4] 8 The precepts of the Lord are right. They give joy to the heart. The commandment of the Lord is bright. It gives light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure. It stands forever. The just decrees of the Lord are truth. They are altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even better than much pure gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the honeycomb.
The Glory of God Revealed in the Believer’s Life
11 Yes, by them your servant is warned. In keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can recognize his own errors? Declare me innocent of hidden sins. 13 Restrain your servant also from deliberate sins. Do not let them rule over me. Then I will be blameless. Then I will be innocent of great rebellion. 14 May the speech from my mouth and the thoughts in my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Footnotes
Psalm 19:3 Or there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard
Psalm 19:4 The translation follows the Greek. The Hebrew reads their measuring line.
Psalm 19:7 The Hebrew term torah, traditionally translated law, includes other forms of instruction besides laws. Here it refers to God’s whole word, including the gospel.
31 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 32 This God wraps me with strength and makes my way perfect. [1] 33 By making my feet like those of a deer he enables me to stand on high places. 34 Because he trains my hands for battle, my arms can draw a bronze bow. 35 Then you give me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me, and you stoop down to lift me up. 36 You widen the path under my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
David’s Victories
37 I pursued my enemies, and I overtook them. So I did not turn back until they were wiped out. 38 I crushed them so that they could not rise again. They fell beneath my feet. 39 You wrapped me with strength for battle. You made those who rose up against me bow down to me. 40 You made my enemies turn their backs and flee. I destroyed those who hate me. 41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them. They cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them. 42 So I grind them as fine as dust blown by the wind. I dump them out like mud in the streets. 43 You delivered me from the accusations of the people. You made me the head of nations. A people I did not know serve me. 44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me. Foreigners cower before me. 45 Foreigners fall exhausted. They come trembling from their strongholds.
Closing Words of Faith
46 The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! May the God who saves me be exalted! 47 The God who avenges me subdues peoples under me. 48 You delivered me from my enemies. Yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me. You rescued me from the violent man. 49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, Lord. To your name I will make music. 50 By providing great salvation for his King, he shows mercy to his Anointed One, to David and to his Descendant [2] forever.
Footnotes
Psalm 18:32 Or smooth
Psalm 18:50 Literally seed. The word seed connects this passage to the messianic promises given to Eve and to Abraham. By preserving David and his royal line, God carried on the messianic line that would reach its goal in Jesus.
Unfailing Kindness to David
And to His Descendant Forever
(2 Samuel 22)
Heading
For the choir director.
By David, the servant of the Lord, who spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the grasp of all his enemies, even from the grasp of Saul.
Praise to the Rock of Salvation
1 Then he said: I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rocky cliff, my stronghold, and my deliverer. My God is my rock. I take refuge in him. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my high fortress. 3 I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
Deliverance From Death
4 The ropes of death entangled me. Floodwaters of destruction [1] rolled over me. 5 The ropes of the grave wrapped around me. The traps of death threatened me. 6 In my distress I called to the Lord. To my God I cried out. He heard my voice from his temple. My cry came before him. It reached his ears.
The Greatness of the Deliverance
7 Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains [2] trembled. They shook because the Lord was angry. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils, and fire from his mouth devoured. Coals were set on fire by it. 9 Then he tore open the heavens and came down. A dark cloud was under his feet. 10 He rode upon a cherub, [3] and he flew. He soared on the wings of the wind. 11 He made the darkness around him his hiding place. Dark rain clouds [4] surrounded him like a canopy. 12 Emerging from the brightness in front of him his clouds passed by with hail and coals of fire. 13 Then the Lord thundered in the heavens. The Most High raised his voice with hail and coals of fire. [5] 14 Then he shot his arrows and scattered the enemy. He shot great lightning bolts and routed them. 15 Then the sources of water [6] were revealed, and the foundations of the world were uncovered by your rebuke, O Lord, by the breath of wind from your nostrils. 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me. He drew me out of deep waters. 17 Because they were too strong for me, he rescued me from my powerful enemy, from those who hate me. 18 They confronted me on the day of my disaster, but the Lord supported me. 19 Then he brought me out into a wide-open space. He rescued me because he delighted in me.
David’s Uprightness as a Basis for God’s Judgment
20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands he has repaid me, 21 for I have kept the ways of the Lord. I have not done evil and departed from my God. 22 So all his just decrees remain before me, and I have not turned his statutes away from me. 23 I have been blameless with him. I have kept myself from guilt. 24 The Lord has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
God’s Uprightness as a Basis for His Judgment
25 To the merciful you reveal yourself as merciful. To the blameless person you reveal yourself as blameless. 26 To the pure you reveal yourself as pure, but to the crooked you reveal yourself as crafty. 27 For you save humble people, but you bring low the eyes of the arrogant. 28 Yes, you light my lamp, O Lord. My God turns my darkness to light. 29 For with you I can charge against a battalion, and with my God I can jump over a wall.
God Equips David for Victory
30 This God—his way is blameless. The speech of the Lord is pure. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
Footnotes
Psalm 18:4 Hebrew floodwaters of belial. Belial means worthless or unrestrained. It later became a name for Satan.
Psalm 18:7 See 2 Samuel 22:8, which reads foundations of the heavens.
Psalm 18:10 The cherubim are the powerful angels who serve as God’s honor guard.
Psalm 18:11 Literally darkness of waters, clouds of a cloudy sky
Psalm 18:13 The Greek text does not include hail and coals of fire in this verse. It may be an accidental repetition from the preceding verse. The parallel in 2 Samuel 22:14 does not have this repetition.
Psalm 18:15 Sources of the sea is the reading in the parallel text in 2 Samuel 22:16.
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