Do Not Despair, O Little Flock
Luther often commented that the devil cannot stand to be ridiculed. In our Lutheran Book of Worship hymnal, hymn #361 “Do Not Despair, O Little Flock” depicts the Church on earth—The Church Militant (including our congregation)—confident in the face of growing opposition.
Do not despair, O little flock,
Although the foes’ fierce battle shock
Loud on all sides assail you!
Though at your fall they laugh, secure,
Their triumph cannot long endure;
Let not your courage fail you! (LBW 361 vs. 1)
In these days of fear and dread, we do feel like we are “assailed on all sides.” The King of all creation comes to this world as a lowly child, born of a young virgin in a stable. The person in whom all time and eternity meet, “very God of very God”—was laid in a manger. Herod receives work that there’s a new king in town, and madly seeks to overthrow Him. The birth of this little babe prompts a mad rage by the powerful, the preferred, the establishment.
Christ’s glory was hidden, even as He was revealed—from the flight to Egypt to His boyhood in Nazareth; from a humble baptism by John, to His temptation in the wilderness, to attempts at His life, plots to confound and kill Him, to suffering in a garden, betrayal, capture, trial on false charges, conviction by a mere mortal, crucifixion, ridicule even on the cross, last words and death. The Son of God’s divinity flashed forth here and there—at His baptism, transfiguration, in His miracles and miraculous words—but His glory was hidden. God’s Word records this state of affairs in an upside-down way. “The house has come for the Son of Man to be glorified,” said Jesus, speaking of His very crucifixion (John 2:23).
And then, the glorious resurrection proved Jesus’ life and words to be true. His resurrection was the great absolution of the sins of the world.
As sure as God’s own word is true,
Not Satan, hell, nor all their crew
Can stand against His power.
Scorn and contempt their cup will fill,
For God is with His people still,
Their help and their strong tower. (LBW 361 vs. 3)
The odds against the babe in the manger and the Christ on the cross where enormous, even absolute to any betting man. But there was something more than meets the eye. As Luther put it, if it were a mere man in the balance, over against the sins of the world, we’d be lost. But on the scale, over against our sins, is God in the flesh, and it’s not even close. The power of sin? The power of the devil? The power of this world? The power of the flesh? Their might? A joke, a mere face! God is with us and we with God—our vict’ry cannot fail.
Then help us, Lord! Not hear our prayer.
Defend Your people everywhere
For Your own name’s sake. Amen.
Then with a mighty hymn of praise
Your Church in earth and heav’n will raise
Their songs of triumph. Amen. (LBW 361 vs. 4)
So much for this world’s pomp and praise. So much for a vastly unchristian world. So much for the fleeting worldly glory. So much for the odds against the Church. The prayer of the littles child, “Come, Lord Jesus,” is more powerful than all of that. For our Lord shall soon make His arm bare. He waits for us to share the blessed Gospel with the last of the elect. So shall we, with Thy saints and martyrs raise a mighty chorus to His praise forevermore. Amen.
Do not despair, O little flock.
In Christ,
Pastor Ray
Do not despair, O little flock,
Although the foes’ fierce battle shock
Loud on all sides assail you!
Though at your fall they laugh, secure,
Their triumph cannot long endure;
Let not your courage fail you! (LBW 361 vs. 1)
In these days of fear and dread, we do feel like we are “assailed on all sides.” The King of all creation comes to this world as a lowly child, born of a young virgin in a stable. The person in whom all time and eternity meet, “very God of very God”—was laid in a manger. Herod receives work that there’s a new king in town, and madly seeks to overthrow Him. The birth of this little babe prompts a mad rage by the powerful, the preferred, the establishment.
Christ’s glory was hidden, even as He was revealed—from the flight to Egypt to His boyhood in Nazareth; from a humble baptism by John, to His temptation in the wilderness, to attempts at His life, plots to confound and kill Him, to suffering in a garden, betrayal, capture, trial on false charges, conviction by a mere mortal, crucifixion, ridicule even on the cross, last words and death. The Son of God’s divinity flashed forth here and there—at His baptism, transfiguration, in His miracles and miraculous words—but His glory was hidden. God’s Word records this state of affairs in an upside-down way. “The house has come for the Son of Man to be glorified,” said Jesus, speaking of His very crucifixion (John 2:23).
And then, the glorious resurrection proved Jesus’ life and words to be true. His resurrection was the great absolution of the sins of the world.
As sure as God’s own word is true,
Not Satan, hell, nor all their crew
Can stand against His power.
Scorn and contempt their cup will fill,
For God is with His people still,
Their help and their strong tower. (LBW 361 vs. 3)
The odds against the babe in the manger and the Christ on the cross where enormous, even absolute to any betting man. But there was something more than meets the eye. As Luther put it, if it were a mere man in the balance, over against the sins of the world, we’d be lost. But on the scale, over against our sins, is God in the flesh, and it’s not even close. The power of sin? The power of the devil? The power of this world? The power of the flesh? Their might? A joke, a mere face! God is with us and we with God—our vict’ry cannot fail.
Then help us, Lord! Not hear our prayer.
Defend Your people everywhere
For Your own name’s sake. Amen.
Then with a mighty hymn of praise
Your Church in earth and heav’n will raise
Their songs of triumph. Amen. (LBW 361 vs. 4)
So much for this world’s pomp and praise. So much for a vastly unchristian world. So much for the fleeting worldly glory. So much for the odds against the Church. The prayer of the littles child, “Come, Lord Jesus,” is more powerful than all of that. For our Lord shall soon make His arm bare. He waits for us to share the blessed Gospel with the last of the elect. So shall we, with Thy saints and martyrs raise a mighty chorus to His praise forevermore. Amen.
Do not despair, O little flock.
In Christ,
Pastor Ray