By Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller

With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the King.
(Psalm 45:15 ESV)

Change the tense from the future to the present. He is sketching how the church and the people of God are led into the palace, to Christ Himself, as if to a dance and royal banquet. Therefore here, too, spiritual eyes are required, such as Saint Agatha had. When they were taken off to torture on account of their confession of Christ, she said they were being led to the dance and sumptuous feasts. So the church is exposed to all misfortunes and torments, and individual Christians are either thrown into prison or overwhelmed by sorrow, temptations, and martyrdom. Yet they suffer all these things with a joyous conscience, because the Holy Spirit is with them, making them despise the wrath and fury of the world and the devil with all his terrors, so that they even enter into danger with joy. How is it that Christians remain steadfast in so many temptations, tortures within and without, and still do not deny Christ? Because they know they are in the service of this King and are being led to Him in splendor. So I, too, could not make even one sermon in public if I were not encouraged by such promises that Christ lives and is our Lord. This brings forth a certain confidence, so that we can think this way: “If it is true that Christ is our Lord and King, then, whether we are killed or despoiled, you may still be joyful and unshaken in your mind.” This is the allegorical dance about which the prophet speaks here, in which there is a joy that is neither natural nor carnal, but supernatural and spiritual, overcoming the fears of death and despising the madness of hell and of Satan and his members. The church should be instructed by faith; that is the golden garment. Then it must be adorned with love and patience, “that it may glory in tribulation” (Romans 5:3). Then, if anyone undergoes persecution for the sake of the Word, he may say: “Quite right. I have sought this by my preaching, that I might excite the world and Satan against me. But I will not quit on this account.” So this dance will be danced correctly. (AE 12:295–96)

From Martyr’s Faith in a Faithless World published by Concordia Publishing House, text © 2019 Bryan Wolfmueller. Used with permission. To order this publication, please contact Concordia Publishing House at 800-325-3040 or visit them online at cph.org.