Hymn of the Day Studies for Propers: Series A
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THREE-YEAR LECTIONARY THREE-YEAR Hymn of the Day Studies for PROPERS SERIES A THE WORD IN Song Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from Quotations from the Lutheran Confessions are from Concordia: the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), The Lutheran Confessions, copyright © 2005, 2006 by copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, call 800-325-3040. Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. This work may be reproduced by a congregation for its own © 2019 Used with permission. use in the study of the Scriptures. Commercial reproduction, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Lutheran Service Book Propers of the Day © 2007 Concordia or reproduction for sale, of any portion of this work or of the St. Louis, MO 63122-7295 Publishing House. Used with permission. work as a whole, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. lcms.org/worship Quotations from the Small Catechism are © 1986 Concordia Publishing House. THREE-YEAR Hymn of the Day Studies for PROPERS SERIES A LECTIONARY Contents All Depends on Our Possessing . 1 From East to West . 3 To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray . 5 Let Me Be Thine Forever . 7 Lift High the Cross . 9 God Loved the World So That He Gave . .11 O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth . .13 Lord of Our Life . .15 When All the World Was Cursed . .17 Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus . .19 Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head . .21 I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say . 23 Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast . 25 In Holy Conversation . 27 Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds . 29 From God Can Nothing Move Me . .31 Christ, the Life of All the Living . 33 O Living Bread from Heaven . 35 Eternal Father, Strong to Save . 37 In Christ There Is No East or West . 39 When in the Hour of Deepest Need . .41 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones . 43 Built on the Rock . 45 God Has Spoken by His Prophets . .47 Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus . 49 If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee . .51 My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker . 53 Come Down, O Love Divine . 55 Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle . 57 The Royal Banners Forward Go . 59 Salvation unto Us Has Come . .61 What Is the World to Me . 63 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word . 65 Lord God, to Thee We Give All Praise . 67 O Love, How Deep . 69 A Multitude Comes from the East and the West . .71 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name . 73 O God of God, O Light of Light . 75 I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light . 77 The Law of God Is Good and Wise . 79 Praise the Almighty . .81 O Christ, Who Called the Twelve . 83 Lord Jesus Christ, with Us Abide . 85 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God . 87 For All the Saints . 89 Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying . .91 The Day Is Surely Drawing Near . 93 The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns . 95 All Depends on Our Possessing Lutheran Service Book 732 | study by Allen D. Lunneberg Introduction What a wonderful expression of faith and trust in God in its power to give and renew in us strength, boldness and this hymn as we hear Jesus say in today’s Gospel, “Do not confidence. be anxious” (Matt. 6:25, 34). For faith in the face of any ❚ Notice the hymn begins and ends praising God’s grace. and all anxiety is the precious possession of all who come How does God’s grace strengthen faith? to belong to God’s family. It is a faith that does not depend on possessions nor even on hope based on whether our days ❚ How do we receive that grace? are going well at the moment! In fact, this faith becomes all ❚ What’s the difference between “treasures on earth” and the stronger under persecution or pressure. God’s grace is “treasures in heaven”? our anchor, our hope and our confidence. ❚ What does Jesus say we ought to seek before and after Through the text of this hymn and the Scriptures upon all? Why? which they are based we meditate on God’s gift of faith and Exploring the Scriptures The Gospel for today and the primary basis of our hymn Read Col. 3:1–4. St. Paul says that “you have been raised text is Matt. 6:24–34. It is from the Sermon on the Mount. with Christ.” Notice that he says this of us even before the After the Beatitudes and illustrations of how our Lord came resurrection of the Last Day! not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, Jesus speaks of how ❚ In what way, then, have you been “raised” with Christ? the Christian faith is to be shown in the three fundamental When were you raised to “live a new life” (LSB, p. 325)? acts of piety: almsgiving, prayer and fasting. But even these good works are not motivated by the Law, but are the activi- ❚ Paul tells us, “Set your minds on things that are above, ty of the heart redeemed, restored and renewed by God’s not on things that are on earth” (v. 2). What are the gift of faith. With a tender and understanding heart Jesus “things that are above”? What are the “things that are then seeks to strengthen our faith and calm our hearts and on earth”? minds by saying, “Do not be anxious.” Read Matt. 6:24–34. Read Rom. 8:31–32 and 38–39. ❚ What are some of the issues that most often ❚ What are the “all things” that God graciously gives us? cause anxiety? What is the one word that describes what all these things in verses 38–39 are attempting to do? Why or how will ❚ What is “the kingdom of God” (v. 33)? they fail? ❚ What is God’s “righteousness” (v. 33)? ❚ How is this confidence reflected in the hymn, “All ❚ How does seeking these things calm anxiety? Depends on Our Possessing”? Exploring the Hymn Background ❚ What is the main “earthly concern” mentioned in both It is amazing that such a well-known hymn of so many stanza 1 and stanza 6? centuries would have been penned by an anonymous author ❚ How are these things described in stanza 3? unknown to this day! It first appeared in the Andächtige Haus-Kirche, oder Aufmunterung zur Gottseligkeit … ❚ With what sort of “sorrows” is stanza 4 concerned? (Nürnberg: W. M. Endter & Erben, 1676). Catherine ❚ What do you think the author means by “the longing Winkworth’s first translation of the text sounds almost hopes that haunt me” in stanza 5? more modern, saying, “All things hang on our possessing.” Still it has remained a strong confession of faith in God’s Text care and provision for Christians in the face of all the The key to understanding this hymn is in the final stanza. changes and chances and reverses of life. In the face of the fact, “Earthly wealth is not abiding, / Like Proper 3A | Three-Year Lectionary 1 a stream away is gliding,” nevertheless the Christian says, ❚ How does Eccl. 3:1–8 reflect stanza 5 of our hymn? “All my trust in [God] I place.” ❚ What blessings of God are mentioned in stanza 2? ❚ To whom are we singing the words of this hymn? ❚ In stanza 3, what is the “treasure / That will bring me ❚ If this hymn is not a prayer to God, what would you lasting pleasure”? See Matt. 6:33. call it? ❚ How many things, how much of life “depends on our ❚ Read stanza 3. How does this reflect Ps. 39:6? possessing / God’s abundant grace and blessing”? Making the Connection This hymn helps us confess the comfort of our faith in God’s The transience of life is an underlying concern of our hymn. constant care, provision and grace. God’s kingdom, His rule ❚ How are the following words of Ps. 90:3–6 echoed in the in our lives and in our world, are contrasted with earthly sixth stanza? wealth and “things that have no solid ground.” When fear or sorrow seizes us the hope of faith is there, grounded in “You return man to dust God’s Word. God “feeds us” not only with food for the body and say, “Return, O children of man!” but with food for the soul, especially as He strengthens For a thousand years in your sight faith every time we gather to receive our Lord’s holy body are but as yesterday when it is past, and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar. or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, ❚ How does receiving the body and blood of the Lord like grass that is renewed in the morning: strengthen faith and confidence before God? in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; ❚ How do the words of this hymn give comfort to in the evening it fades and withers.” calm anxiety? In Closing ❚ Sing or read aloud together LSB 732. Almighty and most merciful God, in this earthly life we en- dure sufferings and death before we enter into eternal glory. Prayers Grant us grace at all times to subject ourselves to Your holy Eternal God, You counsel us not to be anxious about earthly will and to continue steadfast in the true faith to the end of things.