Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Psalm 33 - Affliction in the world, peace in the Lord Christ

AELW 10:152

"Some rejoice in the Lord by taking pleasure in the blessings of spiritual salvation. It is these the apostle encourages with the words (Phil. 4:4): “Brethren, rejoice in the Lord, and again I say, rejoice.” At the same time these people have sadness in the world, for “blessed are those who mourn” (Matt. 5:4). Thus they have affliction in the world and peace in the Lord Christ at the same time. Therefore we read in 2 Cor. 1:4: “Who comforts us in all our affliction.” Others, however, take their pleasure in the world, in the flesh, in the devil, in evil things, and rejoice when they have done evil (that is, in doing evil). This should not be understood in the sense that they rejoice over the evil deed, but that their joy is not in good works but in evil, for they rejoice in things of the flesh. And about these the Lord says: “Woe to you who laugh now. Truly, I say to you, you shall weep.” And again: “Woe to you who have your consolation here” (cf. Luke 6:25, 24)."

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