Luke 15 (3)

Pray Psalm 91.11-13.
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

Sing Psalm 91.11-13.
(Lauda Anima: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven)
He shall give His angels charge to bear us up, lest we should fall.
They will guard and carry all who on the Savior’s mercy call.
Cobra, mighty lion, serpent: We shall tread upon them all!

Read Luke 15.1-10; meditate on verses 8-10.

Preparation
1. How did the woman seek the lost coin?

2. How do angels respond to one who repents?

Meditation
This parable parallels the previous one, so that both together reinforce a single astonishing idea: Jesus treasures His chosen ones, and He will spare no effort to bring them to Himself.

We notice the addition in this parable of light and sweeping (v. 8). We will not repent of our sins until the light of God’s Word floods our sinful soul and the broom of His Spirit sweeps us clean of all wickedness. We must repent of sin, as must all who would come to faith in Jesus. But all the work of repentance – conviction, illumination, cleansing – is the Lord’s work, to which we, repentant, gladly submit.

Repentance thrills the angels no end (vv. 9, 10). They rejoice “over one sinner who repents”, and that includes sinners such as you and I. The angels are sent from God to serve us. We cannot fathom how much energy they expend, how many obstacles they clear away, how much spiritual warfare they engage (cf. Ps. 35.1-6), or how great their longing is for us to be more like Jesus. Thus, when sinners repent and return to the Lord’s treasury, the angels rejoice. We can’t see this, of course, but we have it on the authority of Jesus that it is so. Just think: We can bring joy to those overworked servants, thus, no doubt, inciting them to even more fervent effort in keeping us for the Lord.

The angels serve us by doing whatever angels do to keep and grow us in the Lord’s salvation. We serve the angels both by repenting of our sins and by leading others to repent as well. Make a point to give the angels reason to rejoice every day.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
In these parables that came out of the treasury of Jesus’ own heart, we learn of two very determined characters who never give a hint of giving up.

They are the antithesis of folks like this: “Well, that little rascal is just too far gone, and frankly my feet hurt, it’s getting towards evening, and I’ve got a grumbly tummy and really need to get home to supper. Wouldn’t want the wife to be upset. Maybe I’ll try again tomorrow if the weather’s nice.” Or the other: “This house is a hot mess! Nobody ever picks up after themselves; no wonder my coin is lost. If only things were tidier, I might be able to find it. Anyway, I swept last week; wouldn’t want to overdo, and it’s getting late, and dark, and I’m hungry. I think I’ll ease off for today.” Sounds a lot like we sound sometimes.

They had excuses; Jesus’ heroes had determination.

Both the characters that Jesus created for His stories were examples of determined love that emanated out of the abundance of His heart (Lk. 6.45). Neither of His subjects were quitters. They were going to find the lost thing, no matter what. They were putting their hand to the plow and not looking back (Lk. 9.62). Their faces were set to finish the task at hand, and nothing would dissuade them from their goal (Lk. 9.51). Sounds a lot like Jesus.

Do you see how Jesus is showing us Himself in these parables?
Do you feel His love and determination for you? For others?
Do you sense His longing that we follow in His footsteps?

“God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (1 Pet. 3.9).

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and
You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
For with You is the fountain of life;
in Your light we see light” (Ps. 36.7-9).

Jesus’ heart was overflowing with a good theme (Ps. 45.1) in the story He told.
It is a classic with real staying power, and we would do well to listen.
Because hearing we will rejoice…to “be found in Him” (Phil. 3.9).

For reflection
1. Angels are going to bat for us every day. Why is it important that we know this?

2. The work that angels do is part of how Jesus seeks us every day. What else does Jesus do to seek us and to draw us closer to Himself?

3. What can you do to become more of a seeker like Jesus?

Be a source of joy to the angels. Ambrose of Milan (333-397), Exposition of the Gospel of Luke 7.210

Pray Psalm 91.1-10.
Give thanks to God that He will guard and sustain you throughout the day, and that angels stand ready to serve and keep you. They rejoice in your salvation, so ask the Lord to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sing Psalm 91.1-10.
(Lauda Anima: Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven)
All who dwell within God’s shelter in His shadow will reside.
He our Tow’r, our Fortress ever, in Him we our trust confide.
From the trapper’s snares He saves us; safe from sickness we abide.

He will shade us with His pinions, ‘neath His wings we safety find.
From night’s terror, from day’s arrow, from the fears that stalk our mind.
When destruction falls at noon time, safe in Him shall we abide.

Thousands at our sides may falter – it will not to us come near!
We instead shall see the end of all who at God’s mercy sneer.
Evil shall no more befall us for we hold the Lord most dear.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.