Emphasis Preaching Journal

This lesson is part of a love song. For Martin Luther, the text reports that "the Lord had embraced this people as a mother her son" (Luther's Works, Vol. 16, p. 61). The song also refers to God expecting justice (v. 7). Augustine well describes a Christian understanding of government in light of this biblical preoccupation: "...there is no republic where there is no justice. Further, justice is that virtue which gives every one his due" (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 2, p. 414).