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TOPIC: Luther, Martin - Table Talks (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 24. Of The Patriarchs and Prophets
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OF THE PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS
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DXXXIX.
David's fall was very offensive, for the holy man fell into adultery,
murder, and despising of God. He was afterwards visited and punished by God
in such sort, that the whole nation forsook him. His counsellors - yea, his
best beloved son, conspired and made a league against him, who before had
such high fortune, and was held in such esteem.
On account of these offences, the ungodly, doubtless, boasted, and
said: "Where is the king now? where is now his God? what has become of his
good fortune and prosperity?" For no doubt there were many kings more
powerful than David; as the king of the Moabites, whom Isaiah calls a
three-yeared cow; that is, strong, powerful, and fat.
It has always been so in the world - that it has gone evil with the
godly, and well with the ungodly; of this complaint is made in many Psalms.
We see at this day, that the popish bishops and ungodly princes live in
great honor, wealth, and power, while good and God-fearing people are in
poverty, disgrace, and trouble.
The Greek tragedies are not to be compared to the history of David.
DXL.
All kings, princes, rulers, and ministers, sin of necessity, and
therefore have special need of the remission of sins. I am persuaded that
Ahab was saved, inasmuch as God said to the prophets: "Seest thou not how
Ahab boweth himself before sin?" For to whom God affords speech, that is,
his word and promise, with him it stands well. Therefore, doubtless, he was
saved, notwithstanding the Scriptures witness against him, even to his
death. He believed the promise of the Messiah, and so at his death got hold
of the forgiveness of sins. In like manner I am persuaded also of all those
of whom the Scripture says: "And he slept with is fathers," that they are
all in heaven. For this word, slept, shows some good in the Scriptures. But
of whom it is written: They were made away and slain by the enemies, or were
devoured and torn in pieces by wild beasts, I am persuaded they are lost and
damned.
DXLI.
Although God charged David to build the temple, he could not perform
it, because he had shed much blood, and had carried the sword; not that he
did wrong therein, but that he could not be the figure or type of Christ,
who must have a peaceable kingdom, without shedding of blood. But Solomon
was to accomplish it, who is called peaceable, through which Christ's
kingdom was signified.
DXLII.
It is with us, as it was in the time of Judas Maccabaeus, who defended
his people, and yet was not able to suppress the enemies who possessed the
government; while his own people were unthankful, and wrought him great
mischief; these two oppressions make one weary.
The legends of the patriarchs far excelled the holiness of all the
saints; for they went on in simple obedience towards God, in the works of
their vocation. They performed such things as came to their hand, according
to God's command, without respect; therefore, Sara, Abraham's wife, excels
all other women.
DXLIII.
Philip Melancthon demanded of Luther: How it was, that though David was
instituted and ordained a king immediately of God, yet he had many
tribulations and plagues, as his psalms show? Luther said: David was not
acquainted with many good days: he was plagued by the ungodly and false
teachers, he saw that his people banded against him, he endured and suffered
many insurrections and tumults, which taught him his lesson to pray. When he
was without tribulation, he grew giddy-headed and secure, as we see in his
adultery, and his murder of Uriah.
Ah, Lord God! how is it thou sufferest such great people to fall? This
David had six wives, who doubtless were wise and understanding women; as was
the wise Abigail; if they were all such, he was furnished with surpassing
wives. Moreover, he had ten concubines; yet, notwithstanding, he was an
adulterer.
DXLIV.
Job had many tribulations; he was also plagued of his friends, who
fiercely assaulted him. The text says, that his friends fell upon him, and
were full of wrath against him; they tormented him thoroughly, but he held
his peace, suffered them to talk their talk, as if he should say, you know
not what you prate about. Job is an example of God's goodness and mercy; for
how upright and holy soever he was, yet he sorely fell into temptation; but
he was not forsaken, he was again delivered and redeemed through God's grace
and mercy.
DXLV.
Melancthon discoursing with Luther touching the prophets, who
continually boast thus: "Thus saith the Lord," asked whether God in person
spoke with them or no. Luther replied: They were very holy, spiritual
people, who seriously contemplated upon holy and divine things; Therefore
God spake with them in their consciences, which the prophets held as sure
and certain revelations.
We read in the books of the Jews that Isaiah was slain by king Ahaz,
because he said: "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne," etc. Doubtless,
Ahaz said unto him: Thou wretch! how darest thou presume to say, "Thou hast
seen the Lord?" whereas God said to Moses, "Shall a man see me, and live?"
Thou art an insane heretic; thou blasphemest God; thou art worthy of death;
take him away. And many think it quite just that Isaiah was slain for this,
not enduring that any man should say he had done or seen greater things than
Moses.
DXLVI.
The history of Elijah is awful, and almost incredible. It was a fierce
anger indeed, that so holy a man should pray it might not rain; but he saw
that the teachers were slain, and that good and God-fearing people were
hunted down, and persecuted. Therefore he prayed against those upon whom,
with words and preaching, he could not prevail.
DXLVII.
The majesty of the prophet Jonah is surpassing. He has but four
chapters, and yet he moved therewith the whole kingdom, so that in his
weakness, he was justly a figure and a sign of the Lord Christ. Indeed, it
is surprising, that Christ should recur to this but in four words. Moses
likewise, in few words describes the creation, the history of Abraham, and
other great mysteries; but he spends much time in describing the tent, the
external sacrifices, the kidneys and so on; the reason is, he saw that the
world greatly esteemed outward things, which they beheld with their carnal
eyes, but that which was spiritual, they soon forgot.
The history of the prophet Jonah is almost incredible, sounding more
strange than any poet's fable; if it were not in the Bible, I should take it
for a lie; for consider, how for the space of three days he was in the great
belly of the whale, whereas in three hours he might have been digested and
changed into the nature, flesh and blood of that monster; may not this be
said, to live in the midst of death? In comparison to this miracle, the
wonderful passage through the Red Sea was nothing.
But what appears more strange is, that after he was delivered, he began
to be angry, and to expostulate with the gracious God, touching a small
matter not worth a straw. It is a great mystery. I am ashamed of my
exposition upon this prophet, in that I so weakly touch the main point of
this wonderful miracle.
DXLVIII.
The harsh and sharp words of the prophets go to the heart, yet when
they say: "Jerusalem shall fall and be destroyed," the Jews held such
preaching merely heretical, and would not endure it.
Even so say I: the Romish church shall fail, and be destroyed; but the
papists will neither believe nor endure it; it is impossible, say they, for
it is written in the article: "I believe in the holy Christian church." Many
kings are destroyed before Jerusalem, as Sennacherib, etc.; when the prophet
Jeremiah said: "Jerusalem shall be destroyed," which he spake through the
Holy Ghost, so it fell out.
If the pope should bring against me only one such argument as the Jews
had against Jeremiah and other prophets, it were not possible for me to
subsist. But the pope disputes with me, not according to justice and equity,
but with the sword and his power. He uses no written law, but club law. If I
had no other argument against the pope than de facto, I would instantly hang
myself, but my dispute is just.
DXLIX.
An upright Christian is like unto Jonah, who was cast into the sea,
that is, into hell. He beheld the mouth of the monster gaping to devour him,
and lay three days in its dark belly, without consuming. This history should
be unto us one of the greatest comforts, and a manifest sign of the
resurrection from the dead.
In such sort does God humble those that are his. But afterwards, Jonah
went too far; he presumed to command God Almighty, and became a great
man-slayer and a murderer, for he desired that a great city and many people
should be utterly destroyed, though God chose to spare them. This was a
strange saint.
DL.
To translate the prophets well from the Hebrew tongue, is a precious,
great, and glorious work; no man before me well attained thereunto, and to
me it is a hard task; let me be once clear from it, it shall rest.
DLI.
It is easy to be conceived, that David dealt uprightly, and
repentingly, in not rejecting Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, but marrying her.
Forasmuch as he had shamed her, it was fitting for him to restore her to
honor. God was also pleased with that conjunction; yet, for a punishment of
the adultry, God caused the son, begotten in it, soon to die.
DLII.
No man, since the apostles time, has rightly understood the legend of
Abraham. The apostles themselves did not sufficiently extol or explain
Abraham's faith, according to its worth and greatness. I much marvel that
Moses so slightly remembers him.
DLIII.
Job at one time lost ten children, and all his cattle; he was punished
in body and in goods, yet it was nothing in comparison of David's troubles,
for though David had the promise which could neither fail nor deceive -
namely, where God says: "Thou shalt be king," God thoroughly powdered and
peppered his kingdom for his tooth; no miserable man ever surpassed David.
DLIV.
Adam had more children than the three that are mentioned in the Bible.
The reason why particular mention is made of Seth, is the genealogy of our
Lord Christ, who was descended from that patriarch. Adam, doubtless, had
many sons and daughters, full two hundred, I am persuaded, for he lived to a
great, great age, nine hundred and thirty years. It is likely that Cain was
born thirty years after the fall of his parents, as they were then comforted
again. I believe they were often comforted by the angels, otherwise it had
been impossible for them to enjoy each other's society, by reason they were
filled with great sorrows and fears. At the last day, it will be known that
Eve exceeded all women in sorrow and misery. Never came into the world a
more miserable woman than Eve; she saw that for her sake we were all to die.
Some affirm that Cain was conceived before the promise of the seed that
should crush the serpent's head. But I am persuaded that the promise was
made not half a day after the fall; for they entered into the garden about
noon, and having appetites to eat, she took the apple; then, about two of
the clock, according to our account, was the fall.
DLV.
The reason that Abraham gave to Agar, his concubine, and Ishmael, his
son, only one flagon of wine, was that she might know she had no right to
demand anything of the inheritance, but that what was given her proceeded
out of good will, not of any obligation or reason of law, yet that,
nevertheless, she might repair again to Abraham, and fetch more.
The text in Genesis say: "Isaac and Ishmeal buried Abraham;" hence it
appears that Ishmael was not always with is father but was nurtured out of
the father's goodness and bounty, which was done to this end, that Abraham,
intending to lead Christ through the right line, therefore Ishmale was
separated like Esau.
DLVI.
I hold that Jacob was a poor perplexed man; I would willingly, if I
could, frame a Laban out of the rich glutton in the gospel of Luke, and a
Jacob out of Lazarus who lay before the gate. I am glad that Rachael sat
upon the idols, thereby to spite her father Laban.
DLVII.
Neither Cicero, nor Virgil, nor Demosthenes, are to be compared with
David, in point of eloquence, as we see in the 119th Psalm, which he divides
into two and twenty parts, each composed of eight verses, and yet all having
but one thought - thy law is good. He had great gifts, and was highly
favored of God. I hold that God suffered him to fall so horribly, lest he
should become too haughty and proud.
DLVIII.
Some are of opinion that David acted not well in that, upon his
death-bed, he commanded Solomon his son to punish Shimei, who had cursed and
thrown dirt at him, in his flight before Absalom. But I say he did well, for
the office of a magistrate is to punish the guilty, and wicked malefactors.
He had made a vow, indeed, not to punish him, but that was to hold only so
long as he lived.
In so strange and confused a government, where no man knew who was cook
or who butler, as we used to say, David was often constrained to look
through the fingers at many abuses and wrongs. But afterwards, when in
Solomon's time, there was peace, then through Solomon he punished. In
tumultuous governments, a ruler dares not preceed as in time of peace, yet,
at last, it is fitting that evil be punished; and as David says: Maledixit
mihi maledictionem malam.
DLIX.
Hezekiah was a very good and pious king, full of faith, yet he fell.
God cannot endure that a human creature should trust and depend upon his own
works. No man can enter into heaven, without the remission of sins.
DLX.
Elisha dealt uprightly, in permitting the children to be torn in pieces
by two bears, for calling him baldpate, since they mocked not him, but his
God. And so as to the jeering and mocking of Elijah: "Thou man of God,"
etc., `twas just that fire came down from heaven and devoured the mockers.
DLXI.
Many strange things, according to human sense and reason, are written
in the books of the kings; they seem to be slight and simple books, but in
the spirit they are of great weight. David endured much; Saul persecuted and
plagued him ten whole years; yet David remained constant in faith, and
believed that the kingdom pertained unto him. I should have gone my way, and
said: Lord! thou hast deceived me; wilt thou make me a king, and sufferest
me in this sort to be tormented, persecuted, and plagued? But David was like
a strong wall. He was also a good and a godly man; he refused to lay hands
on the king when he had fit opportunity; for he had God's Word, and that
made him remain so steadfast; he was sure that God's Word and promise never
would or could fail him.
Surely Jonathan was an honest man, whom David loved entirely; he marked
well that the kingdom belonged to David, therefore he entreated David not to
root out him and his. Jonathan also wrought wonders, when he, alone with his
armor-bearer, went over the mountain, and slew and destroyed the
Philistines; for, doubtless, he said in himself, the Lord that overcomes
with many, is able also to overcome with few. His death was a great grief to
David. So it often happens, that the good are punished for the sake of the
wicked and ungodly. The Son of God himself was not spared.