Life Together: Chapter Two

Chapter Two: The Day with Others
While Chapter One focused largely on issues of fellowship, and the basis for our community of faith, Chapter Two centers around what we do as we gather—worship and pray.
Though much of the chapter focuses on the devotional life of the family, we must remember that Bonhoeffer was at this time living with a bunch of young, college aged men studying to be pastors. They were, for all intents and purposes, a family unit. He writes this chapter, not only with this present assemblage in mind, but with the knowledge that most of them would eventually, one day, find themselves in their own family, as the head of that family, and as an example to their parish.
The focus of this chapter then, whether we find ourselves in a family, or in the larger family, the church, is, “How do we spend our time together with Christ?” He begins with Paul’s exhortation to the Colossians:
“Let the word of Christ Dwell in you richly” (Colossians3:16)
The Day’s Beginning
In the Old Testament the “day” began at sundown, thus one went to bed with the expectation and wonderment of what God would provide the next day. “Would this be the day the Messiah comes?” But Bonhoeffer points to fact that the New Testament day begins with daybreak. It’s a time of fulfillment.
26. Of what fulfillment does the breaking of a new day remind us?
27. Read Malachi 4:2 and Judges 5:31. What was the Old Testament Church expecting?
28. How was deliverance and fulfillment of God’s promise pictured in their minds and in their poetry?
Ancient people and cultures had a fear of the dark—that it might not end and that a new day may not arrive. We now know better and do not have that fear. But this idea of expectant daylight should not be lost on us. (41)
29. From what deliverance or expectation can we associate with the rising of the sun?
30. Since our deliverance is found in Christ, and since (as we learned in chapter one) our fellowship in Christ presents us with a divine reality that we are in fellowship with all other believers, then to whom/what does the dawn belong? (bottom of 41)
Given this understanding, that the daybreak is an ever-repeating reminder of the re-birth of the Sun/Son of God, and therefore, our resurrection and our fellowship under that sun/Son, its no wonder then that the church, in both Old and New Testaments saw this time of day as the time of worship as a community.
31. What do the following verses say about mornings?
Psalm 5:3,
Psalm 88:13,
Psalm 57:7-8,
Psalm 119:147,
Psalm 63:1,
Psalm 46:5
Lam. 3:23
[Have it] “known that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring pray to thee.” The Wisdom of Solomon 16:28 (Appoc.)
[Of the Bible Student,] “he will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him and will pray before the most High.” Ecclesiasticus 39:5(Appoc.)
32. However, in the New Testament, mornings take on even more importance. Describe Ephesians 5:14.
The important men of God arose early in the morning to seek out God and to do his commands.
33. Which men of God do the following verses show arising early to speak with God? (43)
Genesis 19:27
Exodus 8:16,
Exodus 9:13,
Exodus 24:4
Joshua 3:1
Joshua 6:12
Mark 1:35
34. According to Psalm 127:2, for what reason should we NOT rise early in the morning? (44)
The Psalter
35. According to the New Testament, what book did the early church apparently rely upon most in the morning? (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16) (pp. 44 ff)
Bonhoeffer rightly asserts that the Psalms are God’s word (44) and that, with few exceptions, are the prayers of men as well. He then goes on to reason that as we pray the Psalms they are at the same time the Prayers of God.
36. If we then follow this understanding and, remembering our conversation last chapter about being a community rooted in and through Christ, when we pray the Psalms, who else then is praying?
37. Some of the Psalms are particularly difficult for us to pray—we cannot seem to ‘identify’ with them. What does Bonhoeffer say regarding this? If we don’t feel as if this Psalm is our prayer, then whose is it? (bottom 45)
“Only in the whole Christ does the whole Psalter become a reality, a whole which the individual can never fully comprehend and call his own. That is why the prayer of the psalms belongs in a peculiar way to the fellowship. Even if a verse or a psalm is not one’s own prayer it is nevertheless the prayer of another member of the fellowship; so it is quite certainly the prayer of the true Man Jesus Christ and his Body on earth.
38. When put in this perspective, how do we approach not only the psalms, but the Prayer of the Church?
39. How could this knowledge of the Body praying in unity help you in your prayer life?
40. Though we may never experience the full range of the emotion and experiences in the psalms we still pray them because who has experienced them? (47)
Next Bonhoeffer speaks of the structure of the Psalms themselves, as even their structure speak to community.
41. Read Psalm 5. What rhetorical devise is employed? What might this say about how it was prayed? (49)
Is this not a hint that one who prays never prays alone?
Reading the Scriptures
Bonhoeffer, having thrown the Psalms into a special hybrid category which is part Word of God, part prayer and part song, now turns his attention to the other portions of scripture as an important part of our Life together. In particular he encourages his students not to think of it as “individual passages; it is a unit and is intended to be used as such.”
42. What it his suggestion for families (and, shall we assume, congregations?) as they read the scriptures? (middle of 51)
43. But what is the problem with reading scripture? (top 52)
44. So, then, what is the purpose of reading the scriptures if there is such a broad range of understanding? What shall we expect from our reading it? (middle 52)
To this it must be said that for the mature Christian every Scripture reading will be “too long” even the shortest one.”
45. What does this mean?
46. Where do we find the answers—even to the scriptures? (Col. 2:3)
47. Because of our divine fellowship with all believers across time and space, what does Bonhoeffer say we share? How are we part of the lectio continua, or, ‘continuous reading’ of scripture? (53-54)
We must learn to know the Scriptures again, as the Reformers and our fathers knew them. We must not grudge the time and the work that it takes. We must know the Scriptures first and foremost for the sake of our salvation. But besides this, there are ample reasons that make this requirement exceedingly urgent. How, for example, shall we ever attain certainty and confidence in our personal and church activity if we do not stand on solid Biblical ground?
48. According to Bonhoeffer, on what should we NOT base our authority when making crucial decisions? (55)
49. In order to build up this scriptural authority in the home, who should read the scriptures? (bottom 55)
Singing the New Song
Here is where Bonhoeffer rubs many a Lutheran the wrong way, though his points are worth examining for what is at their heart. Like many of us, he loves the hymns of the church, not because of their musical value, but because of what the music does for the prayers they offer.
50. What is the focus of the Christian hymn? (58)
51. How do our songs compare to those of heaven? (58)
52. What makes our songs palatable to God? (58)
“Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19). The new song is sung first in the heart. Otherwise it cannot be sung at all. The heart sings because it is overflowing with Christ.
53. According to Bonhoeffer, when we find ourselves unable to sing in church, what is lacking?
54. Can the Christian ever be without Christ? How then, can He, at times, not be in our hearts? (58-59)
55. What might one do then, if one is found without the joy of Christ in one’s heart?
56. What type of singing does Bonhoeffer advocate when we sing as the Church? (59)
57. Why does he feel unison singing is the best form of singing?
58. To what is the music always bound?
“Unison singing, difficult as it is, is less of a musical than a spiritual matter.”
59. What are some of the results of singing together (in unison!) as a congregation? (61)
Saying Our Prayers Together
In this section Bonhoeffer encourages the brethren to pray together. He begins with talking about the prayers we offer up singly within a group, something most people find very difficult, yet which he encourages and says is even necessary.
60. What are some reasons why we should gather to pray together in small groups? (62)
61. How might we encourage free and open prayer? (bottom 62)
62. What reminder does Bonhoeffer give us regarding even the most halted of prayers? (62)
While all types of prayer are encouraged to be said by any and all in the fellowship, Bonhoeffer does point out that certain prayer should be certain persons at certain times. (63)
63. Why does he assert the head of the house, or at least one designated prayer, should pray the prayer at the end of the family devotion? (63)
64. What is also understood of the fellowship for whom the leader is praying at the close of the devotion? (63)
65. Likewise, what covenant does the lead pray-er have with the fellowship he/she is praying for? (63)
66. How does this person stay on track and on task? (bottom 63)
67. “Thus, the prayer will become more and more the ________ __________ of all.
It will happen again and again that the person who is charged with offering the prayer for the fellowship will not feel at all in the spiritual mood to do so, and will much prefer to turn over his task to another for this day. Such a shift is not advisable, however. Otherwise, the prayer of the fellowship will too easily be governed by moods which have nothing to do with spiritual life.
68. What does the fellowship do when the one who offers up their joint prayer is burdened and feels unable to lift up that prayer? (bottom 64)
69. What encouragement does scripture give in this regard? (Romans 8:26)
70. How does Bonhoeffer feel about “Prayer Fellowships”? (65)
71. What must be incumbent upon such gatherings?
72. What must the fellowship guard against?
The Fellowship of the Table
Here Bonhoeffer sets forth a short description of the necessity and the purpose for celebrating bread of life with earthly bread at a shared table. He notes that Jesus shared three types of table fellowship with the disciples: daily fellowship at table, the table fellowship of the Lord’s Supper, and the final table fellowship in the Kingdom of God. “But in all three the one thing that counts is that “their eyes were opened, and they knew him.” So, to be at table within the fellowship is to know Jesus.
73. How do we first know Jesus through table fellowship? (bottom of 66)
74. The second way is similar, but takes into account that we would not enjoy the first if not for this second acknowledgment of Christ, which is what? (top of 67)
75. Thirdly, when the congregation prays, “Be our guest” in what is it confessing? (67)
76. The festive nature of table fellowship is rooted in what reality? (top 68)
77. Does this impart new meaning to our understanding of “Sunday Dinner”?
78. What might Bonhoeffer say about our habit to very often eat meals in isolation whether that is in our cubicle at work or at the coffee table in front of a television?
79. What obligation does table fellowship imply according to Bonhoeffer? (bottom 68)
The Day’s Work
With all this praying, singing and eating, what else is a person to do? Work! The last six pages of this chapter are devoted to the subject of work and its relation to prayer and faith.
80. Which should come first, prayer or work? (bottom 69)
81. Moreover, can one have one without the other? Why or why not? (top 70)
82. What is the purpose of work in Bonhoeffer’s (and Luther’s) eyes? (middle 70)
83. Bonhoeffer talks about an “it”/”Thou” relationship. What is it? (70-71)
84. How does Colossians again help us in our understanding of Life Together?
Colossians 3:17
Colossians 3:23-24
Noonday and Evening
85. What shall we do at mid-day? For what must we give thanks?
86. What noon-time event might we contemplate over our bologna and cheese and how is that relevant to our daily routine of work and prayer?(72)
“At the end of the day” is a common expression. Bonhoeffer too seems to know is as he posits, “A day at a time is long enough to sustain one’s faith; the next day will have its cares.”
87. How, then, does he suggest the day end? (73)
88. What petition should be particularly included in the evening fellowship? (74)
89. What special accommodation might one consider for this special time in the evening when prayers and petitions are offered by the fellowship to our heavenly father? (74)
The day is thine, the night also is thine. Psalm 74:16.

Psalm 11:7 "For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face"

Read Psalm 11 and Luthers Commentary on pg. 34 & 35 of "Reading the Psalms with Luther" and then come back to this blog.

The first and last verses of this Psalm are the Gospel message of this Psalm while everything in between is Law.  Kind of reminds me of parenting...let me explain.

As a parent now for some 15 years I'm finally beginning to learn that when your child needs to be disciplined, if you come at them "full-bore" right from the beginning, they tend to run away and hide in their rooms (if you saw how messy their rooms were you would understand just how brilliant a plan that is).  However, when I begin the conversation with, "Hey (name of child), come here for a minute let's talk" things tend to go a lot better. It's especially helpful when the issue at hand is some sort of an argument between siblings and coming to me allows one of them to escape the fracus.  Then we talk about what they did or what needs to change, and I will point out all the bad consequences which will probably result from their actions including groundings, going without desert, etc.  Then, after they have fooled me into thinking they have fully understood all we talked about and have made a sollomn vow to obey all I have commanded, I tell them how much I love them and how I want to see them being a good boy/girl from now on.

Now, what I just described is probably a whole lot niceer than how you might have recieved the Psalm we read for today--and for good reason.  Our God is our creator and the Holy One.  He demands adhearence to his laws and expects righteousness from his people.  This Psalm is very negative in tone because, through the Psalmist, he wants us to know that he doen't just turn a blind eye to sin.  It is, indeed, an affront to him and he will dissown all those who sin and so these words are not only a warning for us to avoid sin, but also a sentencing of those who are wicked.

The Psalm begins with "In the Lord I take refuge".  Isn't that a little crazy?  I mean, I know I sin and I'm certain you know that too, so why in the world would we find refuge in the very person who promises to punish that sin?  Because only he can grant mercy.

Our God is a just God, and so someone had to pay the price for our sin and that person was Jesus.  All those who believe in him are declared righteous--"upright," as in verse 7--and therefore we can come to our Lord with out fear and watch as those who are against God are condemned and sent to eternal punishment and separation from God.

While we must be careful not to inturpret specific tragedy as direct punishment from God for specific sin, we can be certain that all pain, suffering, and catastrophe in this world ARE a result of sin in the world and that these come to both the godly and the godless.  But along with this Psalm we also take comfort in the words of Isaiah where God promises to be beside us and to protect us through the floods and firestorms of life because we were reclaimed by him as his own.  For us in the New Testament that reclaimation came when we were baptized and God marked us with the sign of the cross on our forheads and on our hearts to mark us as one of Jesus' little lambs.  Here is how Isaiah expressed that love:

1 But now thus says the LORD,

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

3 For I am the LORD your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

your Savior.   Isaiah 43:1-3 (ESV)

Now that's a God I can take refuge in.  How about you? 

Leave a comment our two on when you have sought refuge in the Lord or when you have experinced him upholding you and your good descisions in the face of others who where not following God's commands.  Be an encouraging witness to others by this bold proclamation of God's mighty deeds and eternal mercy

Looking for help?

Ok, I'm expecting lots of comments on this one so don't let me down.  The last few Psalms have been of a similar type and so as not to get into a rutt I've decided to jump ahead in our book. So, Psalm 146 is the next Psalm I would like us to look at on pg. 347. 

Have you ever had a friend (I use the term loosely) who alway had advice for you which you just knew you should never heed?  Regardless of how much you may have enjoyed being around them, you could just tell by the events and occurances in their life that their advice should not be taken seriously.  Unfortunately, whether out of a sense of loyalty or just wanting to "throw them a bone, we occasionally follow their advice and regret it later.

This Psalm reminds us that when we follow God's guidance we will never be disappointed.  As Luther says, "He helps so that it can really be alled being helped."  Even as that sentence may be very poor english grammar, it demonstrates the germanic way of using redundancy of the obvious to make clear the point--"God's help is good help."

The Psalmist clearly knows this as he begins the peom with "Praise the Lord!" because he knows the Lord and frequently/constantly experiences the Lord's help.  And so my topic for todays discussion:  So that we might support one another as well as share in one another's joys, tell of a time when you experienced the Lord's help and, if you are really feeling adventurous, write your own little Psalm prayer which reflects how you feel about it.

Sticks and Stones

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."  Remember saying that phrase when you were younger?  If you were like most you were probably called a few names and called others a few too.

But think back to those times.  Did that name calling really not hurt?  Of course it did.  That's why today's Psalm (Psalm 10) is a Psalm of lament.  The Psalmist is crying out to God to have compassion upon all those who are being picked on in one way or another, some even to the point of death.  But while the writer is asking the Lord "why?" and "how long?" he is also confident that "someday, Lord, you will make it right." (vv 14-18)

My question for today is, what things in your life to you anguish over?  Who or what gives you such a bad time that the devil uses it to tempt you away from God at times?  Write them down, then search your heart and/or your bible for ways in which God assures you that you will not be overcome by this temptation and by which he will preserve you.

Please feel free to share.  If you choose to use a fake name that's ok.  The more conversation we have the better our experience will be.

As we look at the 2nd part of the 9th Psalm on pg. 31 of "Reading the Psalms with Luther" we notice that while the first 10 verses gave encouragement to the faithful, the second 10 verses speak of retribution to the world who ignores God.
Life in American society is very worldly and I-centric, that is, centered on the self; what I want. Rev. Jerry Todd, A pastor friend of mine, once told me that when he speaks with children and confirmation students about sin he defines it this way: "Sin is this--I want what I want when I want it! NOW!"

Now, as with any good analogy or maxim which tries to capture a theological point or doctrine the analogy will always break down and never be a perfect substitute for God's word itself. And so if we look at the above quotation we might be tempted to go to the extreme and say we must slosh our way through life never making decisions and never setting goals and living a minimalist life because to have goals and preferences is sinful--WRONG! Quite the contrary. Revelation 3:15-16 says this: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-- neither hot nor cold-- I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

No, I think one of the warnings for us today from this passage of scripture is to not get caught up in what the world thinks is good, right, and profitable but, rather, in all the plans we make, temper them against God's word and his will so that when we do make up our mind to do something we may have the hardened tools necessary to do what is right in a manner which will make a difference in the world and proclaim Christ as its king.

So, the homework part of our discussion: Think of one thing that our society has embraced, which you know is contrary to God's will, and give us an idea of how we might positively be counter-cultural to that one thing in a way which is winsome and effective in reflecting our faith in Christ.

I would love it if you would post comments, but if you would rather e-mail me privately that's ok too.

Have a great day in the Lord,