Once upon a time, the liturgy started with the Introit. You can probably hear “enter” in Introit. It was that entrance hymn. Confession and absolution were done privately prior to attending service instead of our corporate confession. Our opening hymn, or processional hymn, is really a duplication of the Introit. Think of it this way. The Psalms were the original hymnbook. The Divine Service of the Word grew out of the Synagogue worship. So the opening hymn, the Introit, typically comes from the Psalms. Over the centuries it got handed to the choir to chant. And in our case has become a call and response spoken act. That Introit is meant to encapsulate the theme of the entire service. When we didn’t all carry calendars with us in our phones or have them on every wall the weeks of the year were often known by the first word or phrase of the Introit as they were standardized across all of Christendom. After the antiphon, this week might have been “The Heavens Declare” week.
That comes from Psalm 19:1-14. What do the Heaven’s declare? And how are they declaring? According the Psalmist they declare the Glory of God. And it is the mere existence of the sky that proclaims his handiwork. The Scriptures are consistent. We – mankind – can look at creation and know there is a creator. We can also know by looking at creation that this creator is glorious. And the scriptures are equally as clear that this is not a subtle or hidden speaking. “Day to day pours out speech…there is no speech whose voice is not heard…the voice goes out through all the earth.” You can call this natural revelation. You might call it the natural law. Wherever we go we can perceive the natural workings of God. They are as persistent and as dependable as the sun. “In them [these naturally proclaimed words] he has set a tent for the sun…and like a strong man runs its course with joy.”
But those natural words that we all live and move and have our being within are not all the words that God has shared with us. He has also revealed to us his law. “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The testimony of the LORD is sure, make wise the simple.” And the Psalmist continue praising and extoling what that revealed law does: enlightens the eyes, endures, shows truth, refines. “By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
But the meditation upon the law – whether that be the glory of Almighty God shown forth in creation, or the perfection of the revealed law, the commandments of the LORD – has a flaw. “Who can discern his errors?” The glory is beyond my understanding. The keeping of the revealed law is deeper than I can understand my own heart. My own heart works against me. Hiding its purposes. Convincing me of falsehood and foolishness. Hiding the truth from myself. “Declare me innocent from hidden faults, keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins.” The meditation of the law leads all of us to that place where we know our sinfulness, even if we don’t know it’s depth or reach. We need a savior. One who will ‘declare us innocent..keep us back.” One who will free us from what has enslaved us. “let sin not have dominion over me.”
The Psalmist leaves it there. His petition is to God to deliver him. And he trusts in God – “O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” He does not know the how, but he has faith that God shall redeem him. But to you has been proclaimed the fullness of the story. You know your rock and redeemer are Jesus Christ. We share the faith of the Psalmist that God has done this. But we know the how. The cross. And His son who hung on it. As the Baptist will point out in the Gospel lesson. “Behold, The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Here is the one who has moved us from the dominion of sin into his Kingdom.