Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Psalm 59.

TEXT: For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers
encircles me (see Psalm 22:16).

King David's prophecy of Jesus' crucifixion returns to the
animal theme we saw several days ago. He wrote of bulls
and lions; now he writes of a pack of wild dogs. By itself,
a single dog may not be as powerful or intimidating as a
bull or lion. A pack of wild dogs, however, are relentless
predators that run down their prey. These dogs take turns
leading the pack, so there are always fresh dogs heading
up the chase. That's where the expression "to dog
someone" comes from, to keep nipping at their heels,
pursuing them until they grow weary and become
exhausted. This method allows a pack of dogs to bring
down prey animals much larger than themselves.

All kinds of Jewish officials dogged Jesus' steps throughout
His ministry. They spied on Him, challenged Him, countered
Him, accused Him, tried to interfere and turn the crowds
against Him.

When the single, exhausted animal stops to rest, the dogs
form a circle around it, and close in for the kill. David uses
a couplet to reveal the true identity of the "dogs"
encompassing Jesus: they are a company of evildoers
encircling His cross. It includes all those who have brought
Him to the cross: the Roman soldiers who nailed Him there,
Pontius Pilate who abandoned Him, the Jewish leaders who
engineered His destruction, and the mob that sought His life,
now standing, watching and mocking Him.

That company of evildoers includes Judas who betrayed Him,
Peter who denied Him, and the remainder of the Twelve who
abandoned Him. It also includes you and me-for He is
carrying our sins to the cross.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, Your enemies showed the persistence of
a pack of wild dogs. Forgive my sin and protect me from all
harm and danger that I may remain in this faith and live with
You in Paradise. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Psalm 44.

TEXT: You lay me in the dust of death
(see Psalm 22:15).

A clay water pot strikes the ground and shatters. The
precious water pours out in every direction, seeps into
the dust and disappears, leaving only the broken
potsherds behind. In this image King David prophecies
the crucifixion of his great descendent, the Lord Jesus
Christ. We see His very life pour out of His wounds
and disappear into the dust beneath the cross.

When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden He
strongly warned him against eating the fruit of the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil, saying, "for in the
day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (see
Genesis 2:16-17). When Adam and Eve ate that fruit,
God pronounced their-and our-punishment: "By the
sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return
to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are
dust, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19).

Because of our sinful nature each of us has forfeited
our lives. We too must die and our bodies be buried in
the ground to return to the dust from which we were
taken. But God provided a substitute sacrifice-the
Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world. Jesus
laid down His life in the dust. His lifeless body, the
broken potsherd, was buried in a borrowed tomb. But
three days later He rose in triumphant victory. Because
He lives forever, all those who trust in Him will live forever
with Him. One day we will die, be buried and return to
the dust (unless Jesus returns first). But Jesus will return
in glory to raise our lowly bodies and make them glorious
like His own.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You took on Yourself the punishment
for my sin, being laid in the dust of death that I might live
in Your presence forever. Receive my thanks and praise
now and forever. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Psalm 143.

TEXT: And my tongue sticks to my jaws (see Psalm 22:15).

Jesus has used powerful imagery to describe His thirst:
poured out like water, heart melted like wax, strength dried
up. Now His tongue sticks to His jaws.

He has had nothing to drink since the Last Supper, unless
perhaps the angel that ministered to Him during His prayer in
the Garden of Gethsemane gave him some liquid refreshment.
But even in that intense prayer in the Garden, Jesus began
pouring Himself out for us. Luke tells us His sweat "became
like great drops of blood falling down to the ground"
(see Luke 22:44). From that moment on no water or other
drink was permitted Him.

Hanging naked on the cross, under the blazing sun, Jesus
grows more and more dehydrated. He is so thirsty His tongue
sticks to His jaws. The Roman soldiers fill a sponge with wine
vinegar and hold it in front of His lips, but just beyond His reach,
it's part of their cruel mockery (see Luke 23:36). Only in the
moments before His death-after Jesus has finished paying for
our sins-will He actually receive a drink.

Jesus gave us a similar description of hell in His account of the
rich man and Lazarus. Here, the rich man "in Hades, being in
torment ... called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and
send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my
tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said,
'Child, ... between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in
order that those who would pass from here to you may not be
able, and none may cross from there to us'" (see Luke 16:23-26).

Jesus suffered the fires of hell and great thirst on the cross so
you and I need never go thirsty.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You endured the pangs of hell in my place.
Guard me in this faith as You bring me through this life to Your
glorious home. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)