Devotion on Psalm 16 | Proper 8–Year C

The appointed Psalm for today is Psalm 16. Our devotional reading comes from Martin Luther’s First Lectures on Psalms, as found in Psalm by Psalm: 365 Selected Readings from Martin Luther.

Scripture Readings

1 Kings 19:9b–21
Psalm 16
Galatians 5:1, 13–25
Luke 9:51–62

Read the propers for the day on Lutheran Service Builder.

Devotional Reading

In this life God is the “portion” of the saints or a partial reward, as the apostle says in 1 Corinthians 13:12: “We know in part.” But in the future “God will be all in all” (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:28), since what is now in part will have been done away.

Therefore Christ here calls the Lord the portion of His lot and of His cup. . . . And if the text were carefully considered, our Lord is here claiming a double right that He has in relation to God. First, there is the inheritance; because He is innocent and the Son of God, He rightfully has everything as an inheritance; and in line with this He says, “the Lord is the portion of My inheritance,” because, as above, in this life even Christ did not have everything that by right of inheritance belonged to Him.

The second is the right of merit, and thus He says, “the Lord is the portion of My cup.” But all this is ours, because we, too, have a share in the Lord in this life, in the cup and suffering of Christ. For that reason there follows, Thou art the One who will restore My inheritance to Me, that is, “My faithful people, My Church,” as above in Psalm 2:8: “I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thy inheritance.”

            - From First Lectures on Psalms, on Psalm 16

            (Luther’s Works 10:106–7)

Choral Reflection

Choral reflection is “All for Christ” © 2015 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Devotional reading is adapted from Psalm by Psalm: 365 Selected Readings from Martin Luther, daily devotion for February 29 © 2017 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.