Luther was on a hunting trip. He didn’t really like hunting. On one trip a rabbit ran up his pants leg, and even though he thought for a moment he might be able to save it the dogs got it anyway. He was unsettled by that experience. Fighting a terrific headache he was advised by some of his friends that he needed to go on a hunting trip to relieve some of his tension and make him feel better. He went on the trip but stayed in the wagon. While there he started thinking about Psalm 147. His thoughts led to a commentary on the Psalm that became what one author called “one of the most beautiful testimonies to Luther’s creative piety.” (Martin Brecht – Luther – Shaping and Defining the Reformation. Fortress Press Minneapolis 1990
In the commentary Luther gives explanation of how human beings should work hard and do what is set before their hands, while still relying upon God for success and increase. In a refection of the explanation of the First Article of the Creed Luther laid out that the world is preserved by God who is also Creator and the creation and preservation comes from God’s Word which is also the greatest gift that produces all other gifts. Brecht says, “Wherever one possessed this treasure, sure, no damage could be done by “the feuding of the bigwigs, the malice of the peasants, the rage of the papists, the censure of the whole world, or the anger of all the devils,” in short, all the things that afflicted Luther. On the basis of this confidence he could also put up with the widespread apathy and disdain for the gospel in all classes of society, which apparently could not be overcome, although he still feared that God’s wrath over this ingratitude would not be delayed for long.”
