#DailyDevotion When Prophets Cease & The Sacraments Are No More
Psalm 74 9We no longer see signs, and there are no prophets anymore, or anyone who knows how long this will last.
For some commentators they see this verse as being some time after the return of the Jews from Babylon, after the time of Nehemiah, maybe during the time of Maccabees, because it says there are no prophets anymore. We know the exiles had Ezekiel and some had Jeremiah, and there was Daniel. But during the exile, perhaps it just didn’t seem as if there were any because there were so few. But what need are there of prophets if they have God’s Word? They had the Torah. They had the writings. They had the books of the prophets. They didn’t listen to them. Why send more prophets who would only be proclaiming the same thing.
I hear there is a pastoral shortage these days. I don’t know. Perhaps the LORD is performing the same work here. The people of Israel and Judah didn’t listen to them. The LORD took them away and left them with His Word. Perhaps we need to listen to the pastors the LORD has sent us to preach His Word. If we don’t or aren’t, maybe He is just leaving us with His Word. It is available in abundance in thrift stores and they are often just trying to get rid of them. Like the Jews, we too may ask, how long will this last. The LORD though never leaves us without a witness. In all the places the Church once reigned, there are still outposts where Word and Sacrament are still being given out for the few faithful that are there.
10How long, O God, will the enemy insult us? Will the enemy scorn Your name forever? 11Why do You withdraw Your hand and keep Your right hand in Your bosom? 12Yet from long ago God has been my King, performing victories throughout the country.
The people whom the LORD had sent to discipline His people insult God’s people and scorn the LORD’s name. Why didn’t the LORD do anything? Why should He? His people scorned the LORD’s name and insulted Him by their unbelief and their lives which were to be a witness to the nations. The faithful among God’s people wonder why God does not act. What were we doing when His pastors tried to discipline those who did not live according to our confession? Did we support them or trash their name? Did we support them or did we remain silent while others attacked him for fear of being next?
The psalmist recalls how God has been his King who had performed victories through the country. He will recount all the LORD had done in the past. We too should join him in recalling all the LORD had done for us throughout all of the Scriptures before Israel, when there was an Israel, and now in Christ Jesus for His Church, who is His Israel. We should thank Him for preserving a remnant among us and for continuing to provide His Word and the Sacraments. Where the LORD preserves a pastor to do these things, he needs to be supported and encouraged in all his work the LORD has called him to do lest he give up and join those who are served rather than the one who is serving.
Let us then recall the goodness of the LORD and how He has provided us and set our hearts and minds to trust Him and to carry out His will for us in our daily lives as a sacrifice of thanksgiving and a testimony to His grace, mercy and kindness toward us.
Heavenly and Merciful Father, forgive us when our love for you has grown cold and we have acted as if we did not trust You. Give us Your Holy Spirit that we might live lives of boldness, trusting in Your goodness and living out lives that demonstrate our thankfulness to You and for Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.