Reformation Day (1889)

2 Kings 22:81 We gather as God's children at Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost in order to delight in the attainment, the sealing, the distribution of our inheritance. This includes in particular the precious Word of God. Satan wanted to take this from us by the Antichrist; God has brought this back to us by His tool Dr. Luther. We rejoice in this on this day of remembrance of the Reformation. The book of the Divine Word again brought to light: a delightful heritage of the children of the Reformation; 1. how God brought the book of his word back into the light by Dr. Luther; a. a sad time had come upon the people of the old covenant. The ten tribes were lost, and how was it in Judah!2 As in the Papacy. Idolatry: worship of saints, worship of relics, the idolatrous Mass; idolatrous works; b. Josiah had indeed attempted a reformation, but in the external building of the Temple.3 As in the Papacy; e.g. the Councils of Pisa4, Constance5, and Basel6; as it was thought to "mend the breeches of the house".7 Or one built churches of wood and stone, as Leo X in Rome, and did not take account of the price8, c. Hilkiah found there the Book of the Law of the Lord; and did not keep it for himself, but relayed it, that it would be read. And Luther found the Bible, the Word of God, and his right mind, and gave to his Germans what he had found, and the blessings of the Reformation flowed out far beyond Germany; 2. How we children of the Reformation should faithfully keep and wholesomely apply it as a delightful heritage; a. Hilkiah handed over the book in order that it would be read, and it was read before the king and all the people.9 So also the Word of God shall be read among us and promoted by

And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 2 See 2 Kings 21:2ff. 3 Cf. 2 Kings 22:3ff. 4 1409. 5 1414-1418. 6 1431-1449. 7 2 Kings 22:5. 8 2 Kings 22:7. 9 2 Kings 22:10, 23:1-2.

preachers and hearers; it should be used, God has given this to us, for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, b. and in Judah it was otherwise, false worship was dismissed and the old worship again returned.10 So it was in the days of the Reformation, and we as children of the Reformation should be preserved from false doctrine and false worship by God's Word and always be fixed in the Truth and serve God always more diligently according to it, c. but even Josiah's successor Jehoahaz again did what was evil in the LORD.11 And in Germany the blessing of the Reformation was again forfeited. But God has again purely and richly bestowed His Word in grace. O, that we do not lose it, but preserve it and bring it to our descendants. Churches and congregational schools. Training of faithful Lutheran preachers and teachers. Home Missions, etc. The Word they still shall let remain, etc. A.G.

10 11

2 Kings 23:3ff, 22:21-24. 2 Kings 23:32.