The Lord's Aid

Martin Luther’s Table Talk is arguably the most entertaining of his works. The Weimar Edition contains six volumes under this head alone! Thus, volume 54 in the American Edition represents about one-tenth of the total bulk of what we know as Table Talk. However, as the American Edition explains there are good reasons for editing the work. For example, there are less trustworthy sayings and there are sayings that have been elaborated on by his students. All of this is to say that the American Edition removes the dross.

I have been reading Table Talk lately. The paragraphs of reminiscences are perfect to give one a flavor for the man we know as Martin Luther. Some of the talks bring laughter, I mean belly rolling laughter, some of them cause a headshake, and still others a pause and reflection. January 22, 1532 is one of those that caused me to pause and reflect. It goes like this,

I am very busy. Four persons are dependent on me, and each of them demands my time for himself. Four times a week I preach in public, twice a week I lecture, and in addition I hear cases, write letters, and am working on a book for publication. It is a good thing that God came to my aid and gave me a wife. She takes care of domestic matters, so that I do not have to be responsible for these too.

I read that paragraph in the afternoon. Earlier that morning I had carried the laundry upstairs and while sorting and folding I was thinking about how my wife used to do this task, which is now mine. This and other domestic tasks are now mine because my wife went to be with the Lord a little over three months ago. She battled cancer for about a year before the Lord called her home. In the afternoon, I picked up Table Talk and read the above paragraph.  I sat down and thanked the Lord for my wife. He came to my aid for thirty-two years and in His wisdom domestic chores are now mine.

I have reflected on her tasks over these last three months. Many of them are repetitive and they often go unnoticed by other members of the household. But unnoticed or not, domestic chores bring a sense of orderliness. They have a way of bringing a calm space to the chaos of the world. It’s true and verification is simple. It only requires unwashed clothes when they are needed or that the travel mug not be ready and waiting for use. I know now what I knew before. I know now what I appreciated before. But somehow I wish now that I would have said “thank you” more.

Brothers, if God has come to your aid and given you a wife, then take the opportunity to thank Him for her and then thank her. She enables you to do more. She brings a peaceful space to a world in chaos. She loves your children, and she loves you. Godliness adorns her and there is no better adornment. No wonder God said in His word, “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord" (Prov. 18:22). Or as Luther would say, the Lord has come to your aid! Your clothes are washed and your mug is ready!

Jeffrey A Stivason (Ph.D. Westminster Theological Seminary) is pastor of Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gibsonia, PA.  He is also Professor of New Testament Studies at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. Jeff is the Editorial Director of Ref21 and Place for Truth both online magazines of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.