Rejoice in the Holy Spirit (Lk 10:21-10:21)

“At that same hour,

Jesus rejoiced

In the Holy Spirit.

He said.

‘I thank you!

Father!

Lord of heaven

And earth!

Because you have

Hidden these things

From the wise

And the intelligent.

You have revealed them

To infants.

Yes!

Father!

It was pleasing in your sight.”

 

Ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἠγαλλιάσατο τῷ Πνεύματι τῷ Ἁγίῳ καὶ εἶπεν Ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι, Πάτερ, Κύριε τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι ἀπέκρυψας ταῦτα ἀπὸ σοφῶν καὶ συνετῶν, καὶ ἀπεκάλυψας αὐτὰ νηπίοις· ναί, ὁ Πατήρ, ὅτι οὕτως εὐδοκία ἐγένετο ἔμπροσθέν σου.

 

Luke said that at the same time or hour (Ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ), Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (ἠγαλλιάσατο τῷ Πνεύματι τῷ Ἁγίῳ).  Jesus said (καὶ εἶπεν) that he acknowledged and thanked (Ἐξομολογοῦμαί σοι) his Father (Πάτερ,), the Lord of heaven and earth (Κύριε τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς), using the second person singular.  This was a strong personal Trinitarian theological statement about the relationship between God, the Father, and the Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  This was like eavesdropping on a conversation between Jesus and his heavenly Father, who had hidden these things (ὅτι ἀπέκρυψας ταῦτα) from the wise (ἀπὸ σοφῶν) and the intelligent (καὶ συνετῶν).  However, he had revealed them to the infants (καὶ ἀπεκάλυψας αὐτὰ νηπίοις).  Yes (ναί, ὁ Πατήρ), this was the gracious will of the Father, well pleasing in his sight (ὅτι οὕτως εὐδοκία ἐγένετο ἔμπροσθέν σου).  This theological statement about the relationship between Jesus and his heavenly Father was also found in Matthew, chapter 11:25, indicating a possible common Q source.  Matthew also indicated that Jesus said that the unlearned little one had received revelation, but the wise and intelligent ones did not understand it.  Jesus said thank you to his Father, the Lord of heaven and earth, because he had hidden these things from the wise and intelligent ones.  However, he revealed them to the unlearned little ones.  Somehow, the unwise ones were the ones who got God’s revelation, while the wise and intelligent ones did not understand it, because God had hidden it from them.  Both Luke and Matthew are in agreement on that.  They also agreed that Jesus had a special relationship to God, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.  Do you understand the Trinity?

Prayer

A Christian is not without contact with God.  Prayer in its various forms is the normal contact with the transcendent reality, whatever name we place on it.  The ceremony of all religions is the point of contact with the divine.  Prayer can and should be both personal and public.  Thus, the Christian never forgets the admonition to pray always.  He or she remembers the great prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven.”  The importance of prayer is like good communication.  Take time to pray.  Develop a personal prayer life.  Faith without prayer is impossible.  Request, give honor, praise, thank, listen, and share verbal and non-verbal prayer.  Prayer is the breath of the Christian spiritual life.  If we stop praying, it is like as if we stop breathing.  Your spiritual life will die without prayer.

Final praise to God (Dan 3:67-3:68)

“Give thanks

To the Lord!

He is good!

His mercy endures

Forever!

Bless him!

All who worship

The Lord!

He is the God of gods!

Sing praise to him!

Give thanks to him!

His mercy endures

Forever!”

This prayer of Azariah ended with a beautiful appropriate final praise to God. The Lord is good. His mercy endures forever. Thus, he should be blessed by all those who worship the Lord. He is, after all, the God of gods. Therefore, everyone should sing praise to him and thank him for his enduring everlasting mercy.

Trust in God (Ps 52:8-52:9)

“I am like a green olive tree

In the house of God.

I trust in the steadfast love of God

Forever and ever.

I will thank you forever,

Because of what you have done.

In the presence of the faithful

I will proclaim your name,

Because it is good.”

David was like a green olive tree in the house of God.  He had always trusted in the steadfast love of God.  He would be eternally thankful.  Thus this psalm ends with David proclaiming the name of God because it was good.  Once again there is a connection that is more vivid in English with God being good, the difference between God and good being just a little “o.”

How long would David have to wait for revenge? (Ps 35:17-35:18)

“How long?

Yahweh!

Will you look on?

Rescue me from their ravages!

Rescue my life from the lions!

Then I will thank you in the great congregation.

In the mighty throng

I will praise you.”

David wanted to know how long this malicious activity towards him was going to continue. He wanted Yahweh to see what was going on. He wanted to be rescued from the ravages of these wild beasts, like the lions. David was again very descriptive as the enemies were like wild animals or lions. If Yahweh would help him, David would thank him before the whole congregation, in the mighty throng of people. There he would praise Yahweh.

The people honor Simon and his brothers (1 Macc 14:25-14:27)

“When the people heard these things they said.

‘How shall we thank Simon and his sons?

He and his brothers and the house of his father have stood firm.

They have fought and repulsed Israel’s enemies.

They have established its freedom.’

So they made a record on bronze tablets. They put it on the pillars on Mount Zion.”

They wondered how they could thank Simon and his family. His father and brothers stood firm against the enemies of Israel. They actually established the freedom of Israel. They decided to make a record of this so that they put it on bronze tablets like the Romans did. They then put the tablets on the pillars on Mount Zion. Important documents at this time were usually inscribed in bronze.