Vengeance, the means through which God works, a probable typo, and an example using poop. Also, a beautiful framing for measuring the visible goal of clergy serving congregations.

Jeremiah 15:15-21

Therefore thus says the Lord:
If you turn back, I will take you back,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall serve as my mouth.
It is they who will turn to you,
not you who will turn to them.
— Jeremiah 15:19

Verse 19 is partly quoted in Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article 4: Justification (AP 4.261F) in the middle of an unpacking of the connection between faith, justification, and forgiveness. The beautiful phrase, “If you turn back, I will take you back,” is highlighted to show the power of faith in the forgiveness of sins for Jesus’ sake that is the justifying faith. Belief is how we atone for our sins and are justified to God, not through any work that comes after.

The Vulgate edition of verse 19 is partly quoted in Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Binding Summary (FC, SD Binding.14) as a reference to Luther, without a citation, to describe the two tasks of true shepherds. The two tasks are to “feed the sheep and ward off the wolves,” thus equipping the sheep to be able to turn away from what is not Jesus’ voice and—using the NRSV translation—”utter what is precious, and not what is worthless.”

Semicontinuous First Reading Exodus 3:1-15

There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed…
— Exodus 3:2ff

The story of Moses and the burning bush that starts in verse 2 is cited in a footnote to the Smalcald Articles, Part 3, Article 8: Concerning Confession (SA 3.8.323, n. 152) as an example against those who claim direct revelation from God without any kind of means or mediation, for even God appeared to Moses in a bush that was on fire but not being consumed before any revelation was given.

Romans 12:9-21

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
— Romans 12:12

Verse 12 is cited in a footnote to The Large Catechism, Part 3: The Lord’s Prayer, (LC 3.441, n.164) with several other passages all of which reference either Jesus or one of the apostles urging people to pray. That God wants to hear our prayers is always a helpful reminder.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
— Romans 12:19

Verse 19 is cited in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article 16: Political Order (AP 16.7) as Melanchthon wrestles with unpacking the reforming ideal of social involvement and political government. As early as the book of Acts, Christianity was accused of undermining social order and political government. With this verse, Melanchthon attempts to clarify that Christians are called to not seek personal vengeance, but can hold civil or political roles that would seek recompense for groups of people and make such decisions. And indeed, if seeking personal recompense becomes necessary, then doing so through the proper civic structure is okay.

For example, I can be upset with someone for leaving their dog’s poop in my yard, and maybe even—after talking to them about it several times, one on one, with someone else, and with a police officer, and they still don’t pick up the poop—maybe then calling the police on them so they can be cited through the appropriate civil authority and thus find a way to call them into living differently because that’s our social structure. This is probably okay. What I should not do is pick up their dog’s poop and throw it at them, or some such.

Matthew 16:21-28

[Jesus told his disciples,] “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
— Matthew 16:28

Verse 28 is cited through editorial insert in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article 12: Repentance (AP 12.63) as Melanchthon makes an argument that believing in the forgiveness of sins for Jesus’ sake is at least part of repentance, even from a Roman mindset, and so there is room to argue that repentance is itself that faith. The citation supports the phrase, “even if all the gates of hell oppose it,” which is Matthew 16:16, not 16:28, so my guess is that this is a typo.

TheoThru

There is a connection here between forgiveness and God’s vengeance. Faith, which is itself a gift from God, receives forgiveness from God that empowers us to live differently. Part of that different walk of life is to not become vigilantes, either on the small scale against a neighbor or on the large scale, like Batman. Instead, the Holy Spirit moves us to seek reconciliation, and if that fails, to turn to the civil authorities for arbitration or remediation. Why? Because the civil government at its best is the means through which God works to create a trustworthy world for all people.

Please note that this is about personal grievances and not addressed to those who use their constitutionally protected right in these United States to speak and peaceably assemble to address problems within the civil systems of government. Indeed, speaking up for the disenfranchised, those who do not have a voice, those who are being marginalized, and the oppressed is one aspect of God’s call to Christians.

And for any clergy who take the time to read this, please pay attention to the goal of the calling we have: to form and empower those who have called us to run away from voices that are not Jesus’ voice—even when it might be our voice—and to speak what is precious, not what is worthless. Are we modeling these behaviors as we feed and protect the sheep?