Advent 2014 "And His Name Shall Be Called "Israel?" Text: Genesis 35:9-15

Transcription

1 Advent 2014 "And His Name Shall Be Called "Israel?" Text: Genesis 35:9-15 Why lies He in such mean estate where oxen now are feeding? Good Christians, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear shall pierce Him through; the cross He'll bear for me, for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the Son of Mary! (WS 712) Dear Fellow Servant, you who have Christ, and therefore lack nothing: One last time we seek to focus our thoughts around the theme: "And His Name Shall Be Called " We have asked, "Why not Ichabod?" We have asked, "Why not Solomon?" This evening we ask: "Why not Israel?" Our final Advent meditation is based on the Word of God recorded in the Book of Genesis, the 35 th Chapter: Genesis 35:9-15 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." So he called his name Israel. 11 And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you." 13 Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel. These are the Words of our God and are therefore holy and without error of any kind. Confident of this fact, we seek to be guided and instructed by these words this evening. To this end we pray: Sanctify us by your truth, O Lord. Your word is truth. Amen. Why was our Savior named as he was? More to the point of our study this evening, why was he not named something else? "Ichabod" was probably rather obvious. It is inconceivable that anyone could give the Son of God a name that means, "The glory has departed." Nor would "Solomon" have been appropriate, since the name means "peaceable" and Jesus came to wage a bitter war against the devil and his minions, and he still serves as the sword that divides between heaven and hell. This evening we explore one last name Israel. Why not Israel? The actual, literal meaning of the name Israel is debated among Bible scholars. The various opinions range from "Prince with God" and "Soldier of God" to "Contends or wrestles with God" and "God Strives." So which is it? First of all, do you remember when and why God changed Jacob's name to Israel? Our text was actually the affirmation of the name change. God spoke the words of our text when Jacob (Israel) arrived back in Bethel after his exile with Laban. The rather unusual circumstances when he was first given the name Israel are recorded in Genesis 32:24-30: And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 27 And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 28 Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed." 29 Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered." (Genesis 32:24-30) Do you remember that account? Difficult to grasp story, isn't it? We find it a bit troubling, in part, because we just can't seem to wrap our minds around what exactly happened there. We can come up with possible explanations, but we are always much more satisfied with a "thus saith the Lord" from Scripture. In this story, was the "man" who wrestled with Jacob the pre-incarnate Son of God? It appears so, but the text doesn't exactly say that. Which brings up other questions: How was Jacob able to hold his own against God in a wrestling match? Was all of this figurative or literal? Was there symbolism in this, or are we supposed to take it as a simple account of what happened?

2 To answer these questions we have to go back and take a look at this man who "wrestled with God." Those of you who have studied the life of Jacob know what kind of man he was. It is unfortunate that some Bible commentators try to turn Jacob into a nearly sinless giant of character and ethics. He was, in fact, a man with glaring faults and weaknesses. This was a man who used extortion to rob his brother of his birthright, and shameless deception to cheat him out of his firstborn blessing. At various times he was a schemer, a conniver, and a liar. He married two women, and then fathered children both by them and by their personal maids. It is unfortunate that some have tried to explain away these obvious faults in Jacob, rather than accept the true picture painted by Holy Scripture. Therein, by the way, is truth and insight, for to acknowledge Jacob as exactly what he at one time was is to acknowledge once again the grace of our God, and to marvel again that he stoops to work with such raw, sinful human material as you and me. Although assigning Jacob the name "Israel" could have had a double meaning, clearly "wrestles with God" was a part, if not the whole, of what God intended. What is also clear is that a change seems to have taken place in Jacob at this point. Some believe that he was actually here converted that before he had known the Lord only as "the God of my fathers." From this point on it seems that the Lord also became his God. Though we see clear fruits of faith in Jacob's life after this incident, we also see evidence of the old Jacob. This is in keeping with individual sanctification. The believer's separation from sin and dedication to God (sanctification in the narrow sense) is a process rather than an event. It takes place by degrees. So it is that along with the Jacob who consecrates his entire family and banishes all of the foreign idols they had been carrying, we see also the Jacob who places his least loved concubines and children up ahead when danger approaches. We see a man who builds an altar to the one true God, while still acting like a snake oil salesman in his dealings with his brother. This is the man that God himself named "wrestles with God." So why not this name for the Promised Savior? Why not "Israel" as the name to identify the God-man who would endure the struggle for our salvation? Maybe the question is obvious; maybe it isn't. Jacob was obviously blessed by God. He was afforded honor, wealth, and long life. He knew hardship and deprivation, but he also knew success and comfort. True, he struggled with God, but aren't we encouraged in Scripture to do much the same thing in our prayers. Didn't Jesus himself commend those who were persistent in their dealings with God, like the Samaritan woman, the nighttime visitor in the parable, and others? All true, but we are obviously reaching to imagine that such a name would ever be appropriate for our Savior. In fact that is the aspect of our Lord Jesus that we examine in detail this evening the very fact that, far from wrestling against his Father in heaven, he lived always and only in perfect harmony with God the Father. Speaking of this unity and harmony, Jesus said in John 17:11, "And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." It is, in other words, not possible to separate between the will of God the Father and the will of God the Son. They are one. God the Son did not resist or "wrestle against" God the Father in connection with his plan to save mankind. He was a most willing participant. This understanding ought to be important and meaningful to us for several reasons. First, it ought to be a tremendous comfort to know that the desire or intentions of both God the Father and God the Son are identical because we have no doubt whatsoever as to the desire and intention of Jesus. Jesus left the perfection of heaven for one reason and one reason only: to secure salvation for lost mankind. Understand this well. Jesus lacked nothing in heaven. It wasn't as if eternity wouldn't be complete for him without a significant number of glorified human beings singing his praises. He made this clear when he prayed to his Father in John 17:5, "And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed." To imagine that Jesus came to earth for personal reasons is to profoundly misunderstand the gospel. In his own words he "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28) We therefore know full well Jesus' purpose and desire for us, sinners. We know this to be true, but how is that a comfort for us? How is it a comfort to have a Savior who was named "Jesus" rather than "Jacob One who wrestles against God"? The comfort is in knowing that when we look to and recognize the love that Jesus had and has for us, we can know that we are also thereby recognizing the love that God the Father has for us. If we are confident that Jesus loved us beyond human comprehension and there is no doubt of that fact and if we know that the will of the Father and the Son are identical, then we need have no doubt as to the depth and extent of God the Father's love for each one of us. There is therefore great comfort in the fact that Jesus in no way "wrestled against God." In paying for our sins and opening

3 heaven's door for us, he did exactly what his Father wanted and what he himself wanted. Now, is this any great revelation, that "God loves us"? Yes and no. When you put it that way, the vast majority in the world around us would probably wholeheartedly agree; but just what would they be agreeing to? For the most part they are agreeing that God loves them on the basis of their own merit, rather than on grace. Unbelievers, for the most part, believe that God owes them love by default, and that he is entitled to remove his love only if mankind does something really bad. In this they are not altogether wrong. The problem is identifying what God considers "really bad." The answer is sin any sin, all sin. To say that "God loves us" is not to say that he overlooks sin, or grades man "on the curve" allowing all but the very worst scoundrels into heaven. God's love for us cannot be separated from, or understood apart from, Jesus Christ and what he did for us. God desired our redemption, but he would not, could not grant it apart from the satisfaction of the debt of sin that Jesus provided. We can see then how disturbing it would be to have a Savior named "Israel - Wrestles against God." Wouldn't the implication of such a name strike terror in the heart of every human being? Wouldn't that leave us with a picture of God as one who lies in ambush for our souls, hoping to snatch each one of us from this life at a time when saving faith is not found in our hearts? This is not our God. God the Father, instead, shares with his Son the exact same undeserved love for sinners. In fact God the Father loved us enough to will untold suffering upon his own Son in order to secure our pardon. This same God wants us with him in heaven for all eternity. God grant that each of us might be found faithful and ready when he sends his Son the second time to take us home. Amen. Scripture Reading Romans 9:6-33 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 25 As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" 26 "And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'" 27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay." 29 And as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah." 30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

4 ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 2510 E. Divide Ave, Bismarck, ND Office: (701) Cell: (701) Visit Our Website Mr. Michael McEnroe, President Mrs. Eileen McEnroe, Organist Rev. Michael Roehl, Pastor Miss Suzannah Miller, Organist The Opening Prayer by the Pastor The Opening Hymn -60 Liturgy A Service of the Word (Supplement page 22) The Scripture Reading for the Day The Confession of Faith (The Christmas Creed) I believe in God the Father Almighty, Who sent His Son to be my Savior; I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, my Lord, the longpromised Messiah, Who came as foretold, being conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, announced by the angels, worshipped by the shepherds, adored by the Wise Men, Who lived to suffer, die, and rise again, To free me from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil; And I believe in the Holy Spirit, Who has brought me to faith in my Savior, And by whose continuous work in my heart, I rejoice in my salvation, Walk in Christ, Show forth His praises, And will one day live and reign with Him in all eternity. Amen. The Pre-Sermon Hymn 106 (Verses 1-5) The Sermon Theme "His Name Shall be Called " Dec. 3: Ichabod? (1 Samuel 4:10-22) Dec. 10: Solomon? (1 Chronicles 22:5-9) Dec. 17: Israel? (Genesis 35:9-15) The Offertory [Sung by All] Midweek Advent Services 2014 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen. The Post Sermon Hymn 116 (Verses 1-3, 5-6) The Offering 108 (Verses 1 & 6) The Collect for Peace Pastor: The Lord will bless His people. Congregation: The Lord will bless His people with peace. Pastor: Lord God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed, give unto Your servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be prepared to obey Your commandments, and also that we, being defended by You from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in peace and quietness. This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Congregation: Amen. The Prayers of the Day The Lord's Prayer The Benediction (Spoken by the Pastor) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Congregation: (Sung) Amen. The Closing Hymn 106 (Verses 6-7) Silent Prayer ********************* Sermon Texts: 1 Samuel 4:10-22 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. 12 A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. 13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out. 14 When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, "What is this uproar?" Then the man hurried and came and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see. 16 And the man said to Eli, "I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today." And he said, "How did it go, my son?" 17 He who brought the news answered and said, "Israel has fled before the Philistines, and

5 there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured." 18 As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years. 19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer or pay attention. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured." 1 Chronicles 22:5-9 For David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it." So David provided materials in great quantity before his death. 6 Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. 8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. Genesis 35:9-15 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." So he called his name Israel. 11 And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you." 13 Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel. Advent 2014 His Name Shall be called - Please Return This Bulletin to the Entry Table to be Used Next Week - St. Paul Lutheran Church Bismarck, ND