"Ah, our God is a fine God, if only we could believe it!"

AELW 7:135

"But the wretchedness and weakness of our flesh, which does not allow us to believe what we teach, is to be deplored. For we have the Word, and we know that it is true and immovable. In use and practice, however, faith totters and trembles pitiably. Accordingly, it is a great favor on God’s part that He has shown us this consolation: “A dimly burning wick I will not quench” (cf. Is. 42:3). On the Last Day we will accuse ourselves, blame our impatience, and say: “If I were still permitted to live my former life, I would not refuse to suffer a thousand deaths and crosses.” But now is the time to stir up our heart to patience and obedience.

But the Lord takes pity on our weakness and loads us with countless favors beyond our merit and thought. Thus Augustine’s mother testifies that a greater abundance was given to her by God than she dared ask for.She prayed and sobbed for her son, only that he should be baptized. But after his baptism she was very glad to die, for she was content with this gift and the conversion of her son. She thought that satisfaction had been given to her prayer. But after her death Augustine became an illustrious and distinguished teacher of the church who freed countless souls from many errors and was second only to the apostles in conquering so many monstrous heretics. The tears and sobs of his mother undoubtedly achieved this. Ah, our God is a fine God, if only we could believe it!"

God sculpts the eternal body

AELW 132-133

"In this manner Holy Scripture awakens and strengthens faith in God, so that we say: “Lord God, Thou hast absolved me through a brother, hast baptized and fed me with Thy body and blood. Do as it pleases Thee with Thy servant. I shall not be angry or blaspheme, but I shall bear everything patiently. For I do not want Thy covenant with me, which was entered into in Baptism and in the Lord’s Supper, to become void.” Christ surely pronounces those who persevere in this way to the end blessed, but concerning the others Sirach says: “Woe unto those who have lost their endurance” (cf. Ecclus. 2:14); for although they hope and wait for a time, yet they soon waver and are broken by unbelief and despair. The wife of Tobias and the wife of Job are an example of this. Perhaps they did not immediately murmur at first; but afterwards, when they had been broken by the delay and by the magnitude of the misfortunes, they burst forth into the blasphemous words “Curse God, and die” (Job 2:9), as though they were saying: “You keep your patience and hope and are deceived; you are not using any wisdom or remedy; you keep on praising and blessing. Ah, keep on praising, and die in the devil’s name!” But Job replied: “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10.) “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

These examples should be carefully observed and should be inculcated in the minds of the godly. For carnal men despise them and do not perceive the inner qualities of the virtues recorded and set before the church for its consolation in order that we may learn that our afflictions are the surest argument and pledge that we are the sons of God. There is a saying of Tauler’s—although he does not speak in terms of Holy Scripture but employs a strange and foreign way of speaking—“Man should know that he has done great damage if he does not wait for God’s work,” namely, when God wants to crucify him, mortify him, and reduce the old man to nothing. This does not come about except through suffering and the cross; for then you are upholding the work of God, who forms you, planes you, and cuts off the rough branches. With ax, saw, and mattock He cuts down everything that hinders the eternal building, as David says: “Be still before God, and be formed for Him” (cf. Ps. 37:7)."

What more should I ask for?

AELW 7:131-132

"Thus today we are tormented and afflicted by Satan and the world in various ways. The pontiffs and cardinals persecute us; the heretics, the Sacramentarians, the Anabaptists, and others harass us. But what else should you do than wait for the Lord? You have the promise that God is your Father. Add faith and love to this, have no doubt about the promise, and wait, since what is promised is not shown immediately. For although “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Prov. 13:12), nevertheless what the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews points out should be kept in mind: “God is treating you as sons” (12:7). Thereupon we should encourage and arouse ourselves by such examples to bear any difficulties, dangers, and griefs. But if we are killed, it is certain that by this means we are truly liberated and rescued from all evils, just as no evil at all befell the martyrs in former times, but they obtained the end of all their troubles. But if we are preserved, we should persevere and wait in hope and faith; for God does not hate us or turn us away in hostile fashion, no matter how He may conduct Himself toward us otherwise. Let us rather conclude: “I know that I have been baptized, that I have eaten the body and drunk the blood of the Son of God, that I have been absolved by divine authority, that all my sins have certainly been forgiven me, and that victory over the devil, death, and hell has been promised me. What more should I ask for?”"

Close your eyes

AELW 7:105

"Therefore close your eyes, and all disputations about heaven and earth will vanish. Indeed, just as heaven and earth were nothing 6,000 years ago, so now, if you close your eyes, as though they had been reduced to nothing, they will present no further obstacle to faith and the words of Christ. For the Word, which created all things, must be compared with the creature, which, in comparison with it, is nothing at all.

“He commanded and they were created,” says Ps. 148:5. It is always God’s wonderful practice to make all things out of nothing and again to reduce all things to nothing. And one should accustom oneself to this practice and cling to the Word, in order that those things which disturb and hinder faith, no matter how great and splendid they are, may be removed from our eyes."

We do not prescribe means to God, God gives us the means of grace

AELW 7:104

"Therefore let us learn this rule and order which God is wont to employ in governing His saints. For I, too, have often attempted to prescribe to God definite methods He should use in the administration either of the church or of other matters. “Ah, Lord,” I have said, “I would like this to be done in this order, with this result!” But God would do the very opposite of what I had sought. Then the thought would come to me: “Nevertheless, my plan is not disadvantageous to the glory of God; but it will contribute very much toward the hallowing of Thy name, the gathering and increasing of Thy kingdom, and the propagation of the knowledge of Thy Word. In short, it is a very fine plan and excellently thought out.” But the Lord undoubtedly laughed at this wisdom and said: “Come now, I know that you are a wise and learned man; but it has never been My custom for Peter, Dr. Martin, or anyone else to teach, direct, govern, and lead Me. I am not a passive God. No, I am an active God who is accustomed to do the leading, ruling, and directing.”

Continued advice for Pastors

AELW 7:97-98

"Thus today many who at the beginning were aflame with boundless zeal for the Gospel now most bitterly hate its doctrine and those who teach it. Therefore our life will have to be set up in such a way that we prepare ourselves for this outcome and these fruits of our labors; and if anything happens contrary to our hope, let us reckon it all as gain. You will not change the world. But this is the way you must speak: “I must keep at it, because I have taken up this office for God’s sake, not for the sake of the ungrateful world.” Just as the vine provides wine in great supply and pleasantness to the worst of men, so also, since we are the sons of God, let us imitate the clemency and kindness of our Father, and also the examples of other creatures. And let us not bear this ingratitude with impatience, since we have been born and placed into this life and station by God to serve the world and to gather the elect for eternal salvation. If there are any good men who acknowledge our services, there is reason for self-congratulation on our part. But if the greater part curses, condemns, and slays us, we should know that this is our reward. And in this we should become like the Son of God and all the saints, who, in return for the greatest services, experienced the utmost ingratitude of men."

Interesting advice for Pastors

AELW 7:97
"In great part we serve, teach, admonish, suffer, give consolation, and do the things commanded by God for unworthy men. Here we gain nothing for our services but hatred, envy, and exile; and our whole life is nothing else than the loss of kindnesses.

Therefore you must never hope that the world will acknowledge and remunerate your faithfulness and diligence; for it does the opposite, as this example attests. Set another goal, therefore, for your service and your life than the thanks of the world. Its gratitude is suddenly changed into fury. Reflect as follows: “If I am a pastor or the director of the studies of young people or in any other position, I shall perform my duty diligently, not because I am expecting some reward from those whom I serve—for I am simply giving up all hope of gratitude—but I shall imitate the kindness of my heavenly Father, who scatters His blessings, gives gold, silver, fruits, peace, and good health even to the unthankful and the worst men. And I shall be mindful of the admonition of Christ, who says: ‘You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (Matt. 5:48); that is, serve even the wicked, the unworthy, and the unthankful, and not only the worthy, the thankful, and the good.” There will be a few who will make acknowledgment and be grateful."

satan blows hot and cold from the same mouth

AELW 7:85

"for a married man or husband who has been joined to a woman for some time it is easier. Indeed, lasting and constant love in matrimony is even very rare. Thus among the things that are approved by God and men alike Ecclesiasticus enumerates a man and his wife who agree well with each other (Ecelus. 25:1). The Germans also praise a happy marriage as the highest good. “Ah, this is a good marriage!” they exclaim. For Satan commonly sows the seeds of hatreds and quarrels by which hearts are torn apart, with the result that they pollute themselves with adultteries and promiscuous lusts. In the beginning, before they contract matrimony, they burn inflamed with mutual ardor; but after they have entered the matrimonial compact, the devil, who tries to quench their ardor in various ways, is soon present. He can blow hot and cold from the same mouth. And when a youth is aflame with love and lust, this is not simple and natural love but the breath of the devil. Thus Job says: “Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth” (Job 41:19). Accordingly, he blows into the blood of a harlot and a whoremonger and kindles a most vehement fire. On the other hand, he blows cold breath into the hearts of married people, and as a result of this the fervor of married love grows cold. Hence these and similar words of adulterers have arisen: “Wife is a name for respectability, but woman is a name for pleasure.” Among such people a wife’s passion for her husband ceases, and vice versa. For the devil blows a horrible cold and frost from the north. Accordingly, he who wants to take a wife should seek from God the grace to live with a woman in mutual love, in order that their hearts may not be drawn apart, and when concord remains between married people, that the devil may not butt in with his icicle. Then the blessing and gift of God are manifest."

Any man is a miracle

AELW 7:71

"Any man is a great miracle per se; and even if the whole world and the angels were to gather all their strength, they could not create even one hair on a human being. Thus we see that heaven is moved and that the sun shines, but we are not at all impressed by this. Yet when the Word of God teaches that these most beautiful bodies were created out of nothing, we can in some way estimate the greatness of the wonderful work, which is not perceived with the eyes, to be sure, but can be learned and grasped by hearing alone, when the Word of God points it out."

The Golden Mean - via regia

AELW 7:44 "One must stay on the royal road. "(for context see previous post)

What does this mean? From AELW 4:277, note 51" Luther’s Latin is regia via, which he sometimes uses to refer to the idea of the golden mean."

and the context...

"There is a time for feasting, fasting, mourning, and rejoicing. It is proper to mourn with those who are mourning, and God says (Is. 66:2) that He will dwell with the humble and contrite heart that trembles at His words. On the other hand, He does not hinder an upright and believing heart when it rejoices in the Lord. As a matter of fact, He praises it. One should live a spiritual life, but in such a manner that the physical life, too, has its recreation, especially among those who are in great troubles or trials and are plagued by sleeplessness. They should drink more plentifully, in order to induce sleep; for Holy Scripture says (Ps. 104:15) that wine was created to gladden man’s sad and afflicted heart. Let him eat and drink, in order that body and soul may come together again.

Hence we ought to steer a middle course, lest we become either Epicureans and dissolute or hypocrites and gloomy monks. Weddings should not be stripped of respectable displays and of respectable pleasures; but excesses by day and by night, extravagance in clothing, or unseemly pranks should in no wise be tolerated, because they are condemned in Holy Scripture."

Great saints must make great mistakes

AELW 7:44-45

"Great saints must make great mistakes in order that God may testify that He wants all men to be humiliated and contained in the catalog of sinners, and that when they have acknowledged and confessed this, they may find grace and mercy. If one falls, how is he to get help? Nevertheless, those who crucify Christ hear this prayer: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). To be sure, one must beware of sins; but if anyone has fallen, he should not become despondent on that account. For God has forbidden both despair and presumption, turning aside to the left hand and to the right. There should be no presumption on the right and no despair on the left. One must stay on the royal road. The sinner should not abandon his confidence in mercy. A righteous man should not be proud. For “the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him and in those who hope in His mercy” (Ps. 147:11). He hates those who are proud and presumptuous, and He loves those in whom fear still retains some hope and confidence, not in ourselves but in the mercy of God.

In this way, then, the saints are humbled and celebrated together with their lapses, in order that they may instruct us by their examples and show us the royal road between despair and pride."

Hysteron Proteron

Luther speaks of Hysteron Proteron, meaning latter before. What does this mean? An example would be from Aeneid written by Virgil, "Let us die, and charge into the thick of the fight."

So what does this mean for Luther and what is the context?

In his Genesis Lectures, Chapter 38 verses 1-5, (AELW7:3) Luther states...

"On several occasions above I have suggested that the historical order should be observed in the narrative about the death of Isaac and the selling of Joseph. For Moses has used the figure which men call hysteron proteron, after the custom of other historians. At the end of chapter 35 he said that Isaac, having fulfilled his days, died at the age of 180 (vv. 28–29). Later on, in chapter 37, he says that his father Isaac wept for Joseph (cf. v. 35). Therefore this chapter, too, should be considered carefully, and it should be noted that the events it embraces were enacted long before Isaac died or Joseph was sold."

In his Genesis Lectures, Chapter 25, verses 1-4, (AELW 4:300), Luther stated

"In the previous chapter Abraham concluded his span of life, drew up his testament, and made Isaac the heir of all his goods. Now however, after his son’s wedding, he himself also takes a wife. It is not sufficiently evident what one’s reaction should be, and I am altogether uncertain whether there is a hysteron proteron or, on the other hand, a proteron hysteron. But if we follow the order of the text, a strange question arises. Paul himself explains in Rom. 4:19 that “Abraham’s body was as good as dead and unfit to procreate, because he was now 100 years old.” Hence it seems somehow that this part of the chapter should have been inserted earlier and that Abraham married the girl Keturah before he begot Isaac. Perhaps it would be possible to answer that pressing question in this manner. But I am not making a positive statement."

In addition, Note 1 on AELW 4:300 also states,

"In his Computation of the Years of the World (WA LIII, 69) Luther considered the possibility that many of the accounts in the Pentateuch had been written per hysteron proteron, but he was inclined to reject it."

One important lesson here is that while one may speculate as to occurrences in the Bible, if definitive conclusions may not be drawn from scripture...at the end of the day one must fill very comfortable not filling in the blanks.

AELW Volume 7 - Genesis 38 - 44

LUTHER’S
WORKS

VOLUME 7

LECTURES ON GENESIS

Chapters 38–44

The Ministry of the Law and the Gospel

AELW 6:399-400

"it is the mark of Christians not to be angry and not to be indignant in regard to evil inflicted on themselves. Although the flesh is accustomed to grumble after its own fashion, the spirit is not angry, but rather thinks: “Woe to you! You have not done this to me, you have done it to yourself. You have offended yourself in particular, not me!” In this way Jacob and Joseph were able to say: “You do not sell, cast off, and kill me, but yourselves.” The flesh, indeed, thinks otherwise, but this is how the spirit feels.

But now someone will ask: “What, then, is to be done? Is the rein to be loosened to ungodliness and no curb to be placed upon the fury and ill will of men by laws or punishments, but, in addition, should thanks be rendered to a wicked man for injury inflicted on us, and must we say: ‘You have done me no harm. Do what pleases you, and I shall be glad to suffer it!’? Will not evil men in this way be invited to increase and augment their outrageous sins when, indeed, we teach that troubles placed in our way by others should be borne with joy and a good conscience?”

My reply is that to us there has been entrusted the ministry of the Law and the Gospel according to the direction of Paul: “Rebuke, be urgent in season and out of season, be confident in reproof and blame, and even be angry and indignant with sin” ( cf. 2 Tim. 4:2). This pertains to the ministry of the Law and the duty of fathers, teachers, magistrates and, indeed, private citizens also for the sake of brotherly reproof and admonition which has been entrusted by God to individuals so that as far as possible we may resist evil, each one in his own station, and take precautions that evil men do not rage with impunity either against us or against others. If that is done and nothing helps, I must be content and say: “You will punish not me, your teacher, but yourself.” When we have made no progress by all these means, the only thing left for us to do is to be content at heart and wait for the vengeance of God. For they will experience to their great loss that they have gravely injured not others but themselves. The devil will be able to attend to their tortures!

But we have this consolation, that the more they vex, afflict, and torment us, the more they increase our glorious crown in heaven. In the meantime, however, they must be reproved, not in such a way that we harm them but that we may bring evildoers back onto the right way, lest they run up against the hatred and wrath of God, who is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29) for those who do not repent. In this manner we resist evil with the ministry of Word and sword, and yet, the evils which cannot be averted we bear to our great advantage but to their detriment and destruction.

This is the theology and wisdom of Christians; and although we have not yet attained thereto, we should nevertheless be exercised therein and accustomed thereto daily so that in a crisis and the disasters which we endure we may be able to say with steadfast and tranquil heart: “You cannot harm me; I am a Christian. You are not harming me but benefiting me. Take heed to yourself!” What harm does the selling and exile do Joseph? Indeed, for what did it not benefit him? Or how could the brothers have provided him with greater honor and dignity? For in the very thing by which they try to hinder and crush him, they most conveniently raise him to that pinnacle and peak of sovereignty which he had dreamt of a little while ago."

Old guilt not rusting

AELW 6:377

"We must be on our guard against sins with all zeal and watchfulness, for they never depart with impunity unless the punishments are removed by very earnest repentance and God’s mercy. Otherwise it is a case of old guilt not rusting. Moreover, when dangers are impending, we pray: “O God, do not avenge old guilt; do not remember our iniquities, O Lord.” Simeon and Levi sin quite freely, and for a time the sin lies dormant. But it is sleeping at the door (cf. Gen. 4:7) so that sometime later it may be aroused for punishment. Then it is suddenly present and bites so that the sinner cries out: “O wretched man that I am! I have merited this punishment by some sin or another. Alas! This is what I learned thereby.” Here sin is a horrible and sad matter, carrying punishment from God with it, especially if we do not judge ourselves, just as, on the other hand, our good deeds never lack their own rewards."

The cross, sword, and fire

AELW 6:375

"when the ungodly threaten us with death, the cross, sword, and fire by which they plan to kill us and bury us, let us know for certain that God, who said (Gen. 15:1): “I will be your Protector,” is laughing at their folly and setting the opposite in motion. For Joseph’s brothers say: “Come, let us kill Joseph!” God, on the contrary, says: “Let him live and preserve him unharmed.” They say: “We will bury him in a pit.” He says: “Raise him up.” They promise themselves praise for justice and innocence; He, on the contrary, says: “Accuse yourselves and hurl yourselves into eternal damnation.” In this way God changes and overthrows the plans of men, and those who have the Holy Spirit and have experienced God’s help and liberation from dangers understand this."

You were a Jacob, so you will be an Israel

AELW 6:262

"The Law of God sets up and ordains the active life; it does not ordain monastic traditions but those things which belong to our vocation in external life. Let men individually consider in which kind of life they are engaged, and in that let them serve their vocation and carefully practice the duties commanded in the Decalog. Afterwards, in trials you will become an Israelite by retaining and practicing faith in the promise. As you were a Jacob in the Decalog, so you will be an Israel in the promises, which urge you on to prayer. The outstanding example of this is the Canaanite woman in Matt. 15:22–28, who is very well exercised in the speculative life and who presses on in such a manner that she does not allow herself to be repelled by any words, however harsh. She knocks at and pounds the door so long until Christ is compelled to yield and listen to her and to praise her faith and perseverance."

You are given a new Name

Genesis 35:10

10. And God said to him: Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.

AELW 6:258

"We are born into this life as sons and daughters of carnal parents and, as Paul says (Eph. 2:3), as “children of wrath,” bringing with us the name of sinful and corrupt nature because of original sin. But when we are baptized, we receive a new name. He who is baptized is no longer called the son of John, or Peter, etc., although among men there is need of these names in the associations of civil life. But before God his name is changed and abolished, and he is called by a new name as a result of Baptism and faith, namely, he is called a Christian. This name reminds us of Baptism, which should be practiced in daily tribulations and produce its effects so that we grow into a new and perfect man (cf. Eph. 4:13–15) and in this way the name of Christian be perfected until our name and Old Adam are abolished.

Therefore it should be noted that GOD Himself gives a name to the patriarch Jacob, and by this new name a difference is made between the flesh and the spirit. For Israel is a divine name, and God has a different reason for giving a name from that which is customary with parents, relatives, neighbors, the fatherland, and the condition in life. But the name by which God calls and recognizes us is a special one, as He says to Moses in Ex. 33:12: “I know you by name.” Paul also had regard to this when he said: “Not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel” (Rom. 9:6). Not all are Israelites who are descendants from the flesh and bear the name of Israel. But the true Israelites are spiritual and have a spiritual name given by God. This is explained fully and learnedly in Rom. 9.

God, however, wants to say: “Hitherto I have not revealed your name to you by which you are named in My presence, but I allowed you to be called by your paternal name and according to the flesh. But now I am giving a name to you in accordance with what I have done with you, even as I have not exalted you as a son of the flesh. But I have led, governed, afflicted, purged, and sanctified you by many vexations that I might make you a new man and a new creature, and now I give a new name to you not of the flesh but of the spirit.”

God speaks through us...

AELW 6:257

"However, those things which the saints speak should be regarded as being spoken by God Himself. When, for example, we teach the Gospel, baptize, call men to the ministry of the Word, and ordain ministers, we ourselves do not preach, we do not baptize, we do not ordain, but God is speaking through us. So it is called God’s Word, God’s sacrament, God’s ministry, and it is rightly said: “God is speaking, God is baptizing” when He does it through ministers, since indeed all things are attributed to God which holy men have spoken."

The examples of the fathers...

AELW 6:221 Genesis 35:1

"these examples of the fathers are set forth for the churches to be read and learned so that the godly may see that they are disciplined in a wonderful manner through weakness and strength, through triumph and dejection, through good fortune and bad fortune so that by being tossed to and fro in various ways they might at length become martyrs, a very sweet odor and a “column of smoke,” as is stated in the Song of Solomon (3:6), and that their flesh might be completely destroyed in them. Secondly, these examples teach us that our sufferings are trivial and light over against such troubles. Therefore let us seek consolation from here and prepare our hearts for patience. For we have not yet been smitten by such great difficulties and troubles as this one patriarch endured in his life."