#46- Seek A Spouse That You May Live Honorably

“Moreover, Isaac does not oppose his father but takes his advice with the utmost goodwill.

Therefore let all young people remember this example, and let them learn to respect the authority of their parents and the sanctity of the divine ordinance. Let them not think that intercourse is bestial, as the pope supposes it to be. But above all they should call upon their true Father and the Author of all things, in order that they may start without sin: “Lord God, Thou hast created me a man. Thou seest that I cannot be continent. I am calling upon Thee. Direct and bless my undertaking. Give me counsel and help. Choose for me a woman with whom I may be able to live honorably and to serve Thee, and by faith and prayer to overcome the inconveniences and difficulties of marriage.” Those who disdain these admonitions and are carried away by a blind impulse, without faith and prayer, will eventually experience, and be overwhelmed by, all kinds of misfortunes” (Luther’s Works, v.4 p.247).

Theology Summary Bible Class, Pt. 8: Wonderful

Class #8:  Romans 10:13-15 quotes Joel 2:32, “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” With this phrase, the New Testament and the Old Testament agree that “calling on the name of the LORD” encompasses (1) the entire revelation of Jesus Christ (2) through the pastoral ministry(the preaching of the Word, the divine service, faith, confession, etc.).

In Judges 13, Manoah and his wife do not realize that the angel of the LORD is God Himself.  When they figure it out, Manoah is sure that they will die for having seen God.  In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestles with a man but does not know who He is. The revelation of God which they desire is too wonderful(Isaiah 9:6). That is, it is beyond human understanding. Through Jacob’s clinging to Jesus Christ, God says to him,  “you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.” The revelation of God is always centered in Jesus Christ!

Document: Handout The Name of the Lord Jun 17 2018
Presentation: Presentation The Name of the Lord Jun 17 2018

Theology Summary Bible Class, Pt. 7: Yahweh

Class #7:  Exodus 3 is the greatest revelation of God’s proper name, “Yahweh,” in the Old Testament.  Verses 13-14 read, “Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

YHWH or Yahweh is the proper name of God and is translated “I am” in most English Bibles. The name Yahweh is not a secret or magic formula, but a revelation of God’s nature and his Gospel promise to redeem His people (Ex 6:2-8).  Yahweh is the God, who remembers His unilateral covenantal promises.

[Unfortunately the last ten minutes of this study didn’t get recorded.]

Document: Yahweh Name Explanation Lord
Document 2: The Name of the Lord c
Document 3: Diagrams

#45- A Respectable Girl in Marriage

“Therefore Abraham is concerned about his son and about the bride and the family of his son. And this is a matter of divine right and has to do with the definition of marriage over against the pope, who makes a brothel of marriage and does not see any difference between the coition of beasts and that of human beings.

I do not doubt that very many girls were offered to Isaac and that among them there were some who were beautiful, rich, and of noble birth. But Abraham closes his eyes and forbids his son to marry any one of them, not because he opposes the honorable desire of his son, who, because of his age, was now ready for marriage, but because he wants by all means to give him a respectable girl in marriage, not one who would be his son’s ruin and an offense to the entire church” (Luther’s Works, v.4 p.246-247).

Theology Summary Bible Class Pt. 6: The Name of the LORD

Class #6:   Genesis 4:26, says, “And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.” The “name of the LORD” is not one particular name, nor does it simply denote prayer, as if there had been no prayer before Enosh. It is by God’s name that He reveals the nature of who He is and has will toward us. “To call on the name of the LORD” refers to the formal church activities of invocation, profession, and the reception of God’s gifts.

In the New Testament, the Gospel of St. John also speaks this way.  Rather than say, “believe in the LORD,” it says “… He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…” (1:12). We believe in Jesus because of the revelation of God in His Word.  Our prayers are to be in accordance with God’s revelation of His person and His work (Jn 14:13). Finally, the gift of the Holy Spirit also comes through the self-revelation of God through His Word (Jn 14:26).

Handout: The Name of the Lord Handout
Handout 2: The Definition of God Handout b

#44- Seek An Honest and Respectable Woman

“Therefore these dangers to his household came into his mind in order that he might not look for a beautiful or rich woman but might seek one who was honest and respectable, one who would be diligent and painstaking in managing the household. For to be subject to domineering wives is not only irksome but also disgraceful; and they should not lord it over their husbands but over oxen, sheep, and asses….

Abraham understood all these things, for he was a spiritual and intelligent man. Therefore he was unwilling to mix his seed with the blood of the Canaanites, lest his son become an idolater and the commingling of the seed lead at the same time to an intermingling of holy and idolatrous forms of worship. The worship of the saints is evidently plain and without show and splendor. On the other hand, the ungodly are puffed up with their righteousness, and by their show they very easily deceive the weak. Therefore Abraham saw that his son would nevertheless be in grave danger, even though he might not be led astray” (Luther’s Works, v.4 p.246).

#43- Extolling Married Life

To sum the matter up: whoever finds himself unsuited to the celibate life should see to it right away that he has something to do and to work at; then let him strike out in God’s name and get married. A young man should marry at the age of twenty at the latest, a young woman at fifteen to eighteen; that’s when they are still in good health and best suited for marriage. Let God worry about how they and their children are to be fed. God makes children; he will surely also feed them. Should he fail to exalt you and them here on earth, then take satisfaction in the fact that he has granted you a Christian marriage, and know that he will exalt you there; and be thankful to him for his gifts and favors.

With all this extolling of married life, however, I have not meant to ascribe to nature a condition of sinlessness. On the contrary, I say that flesh and blood, corrupted through Adam, is conceived and born in sin, as Psalm 51[:5] says. Intercourse is never without sin; but God excuses it by his grace because the estate of marriage is his work, and he preserves in and through the sin all that good which he has implanted and blessed in marriage” (Luther’s Works, v. 45, p. 48).