The day before
by Shane Altmann
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After this David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?’ The Lord said to him, ‘Go up.’ David said, ‘To which shall I go up?’ He said, ‘To Hebron’ (2 Samuel 2:1).
Read 2 Samuel 2:1–11
Have you ever wondered what Martin Luther was doing on 30 October? We all know what happens on 31 October, right? But I wonder what he was thinking on the 30th. I suppose he was finishing off his 95 arguments, or maybe he had 92 and then tried to go to sleep, but kept waking up with another one. Probably fell asleep sometime around midnight. Woke again at 2am. You know the drill.
Or maybe he had the 95 theses lying around for ages, wondering, ‘Should I, shouldn’t I?’ Maybe he was pondering what to do and rummaging through the Old Testament and stumbled upon today’s Bible reading.
Or maybe it went something like this: And Luther inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go up into any of the churches in town?’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Go up.’ Luther said, ‘To which shall I go up?’ He said, ‘To the Castle Church.’
Maybe. The rest is history, in any case.
It’s fun to think about. Certainly, Luther was a very gifted scholar, a talented musician, a brave and stubborn human and a man with a determined heart for God. A bit like David. Luther had his flaws like David, but that stuff doesn’t stop God.
God doesn’t need any of us to be amazing humans, brave battle-hardy leaders or university-trained medieval theologians. He just needs us to be.
Through God’s Spirit, in the water and the word, he works faith into our hearts. By his word and through his gracious action towards us, he strengthens and preserves us through the bread and the wine.
He is active, he is for us, and we say Hallelujah and Amen!
Lord Jesus, you were there when David slew Goliath, when he won victories in battle and when he ascended to the throne of Judah. Holy Spirit, you were there when Luther wondered what to do, when he prepared the spark that lit the world. Loving Father, you are with us even now. Bless us as we ponder; show us the way. Amen.
Shane Altmann is the principal of Faith Lutheran College Redlands in Queensland and has served in education for more than 35 years. Married to Monica and father of two children, Harry and Zoe, Shane has learnt that he is largely helpless without the love and support of the people with whom he lives and works. A pilgrim of multiple Caminos de Santiago, a Penrith Panthers tragic and a restorer of old stuff, Shane loves a project and, when he is able, fills his days tinkering with something.
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