From Depths of Woe I Raise to Thee a Reformation Hymn

detail from Martin Luther Preaching by Lucas Cranach the Elder 1547

Happy Reformation Day!!!!

Here's a hymn by Martin Luther to help us celebrate today.

From Depths of Woe I Raise to Thee

Martin Luther 1523

From depths of woe I raise to Thee

The voice of lamentation;

Lord, turn a gracious ear to me

And hear my supplication;

If Thou iniquities dost mark,

Our secret sins and misdeeds dark,

O who shall stand before Thee?

To wash away the crimson stain,

Grace, grace alone availeth;

Our works, alas! are all in vain;

In much the best life faileth:

No man can glory in Thy sight,

All must alike confess Thy might,

And live alone by mercy.

Therefore my trust is in the Lord,

And not in mine own merit;

On Him my soul shall rest, His Word

Upholds my fainting spirit:

His promised mercy is my fort,

My comfort, and my sweet support;

I wait for it with patience.

What though I wait the livelong night,

And till the dawn appeareth,

My heart still trusteth in His might;

It doubteth not nor feareth:

Do thus, O ye of Israel’s seed,

Ye of the Spirit born indeed;

And wait till God appeareth.

Though great our sins and sore our woes,

His grace much more aboundeth;

His helping love no limit knows,

Our utmost need it soundeth.

Our Shepherd good and true is He,

Who will at last His Israel free.

From all their sin and sorrow.

Where is the path to the dwelling of light?

I've recently become awe-struck when I see beams of sunlight piercing through these beautiful autumn trees. Sadly the photos can't compare with the real splendor but maybe it can help us worship the one who spoke light into existence.

I'm reminded of the book of Job. When Yahweh wanted to reveal his magnificence to Job, he questioned Job about the dwelling place of light in Job 38:19-20,

Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness? Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?

Or I'm reminded of how the psalmist exalts the Creator God in Psalm 74:16-17,

Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun. You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.

It's difficult to imagine that on the new earth we will no longer need the light of this beautiful, dazzling, awe-inspiring sun. Isaiah 60:19,

No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

(Revelation 21:23, 22:5)

Amen.

Look what God has done for the Jita people

We're so excited! The Holy Spirit is at work among the Jita people.

When we say, "DONE" we mean that these books have been Consultant checked and are ready to go! "In process" means I am still checking these books for accuracy and clarity and they need to be checked in the community and then Consultant checked. "Not started yet" means, well, we haven't started them yet. Of course, we could also add the rest of the Old Testament to that list.

Please pray for us as we bring God's Word to the Jita people.