Archive for the ‘Psalm 41’ Category
Above: Jesus Heals the Man with Palsy, by Alexandre Bida
Image in the Public Domain
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According to the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (ILCW) Lectionary (1973), as contained in the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) and Lutheran Worship (1982)
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Isaiah 43:18-25
Psalm 41 (LBW) or Psalm 130 (LW)
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Mark 2:1-12
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Lord God, we ask you to keep your family, the Church, faithful to you,
that all who lean on the hope of your promises
may gain strength from the power of your love;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Lutheran Book of Worship (1978), 16
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God of compassion, keep before us the love
you have revealed in your Son, who prayed even for his enemies;
in our words and deeds help us to be like him
through whom we pray, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Lutheran Worship (1982), 16
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O Lord, keep your family and Church continually in the true faith
that they who lean on the hope of your heavenly grace
may ever be defended by your mighty power;
through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
—Lutheran Worship (1982), 28
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The key word this week is forgiveness. A second word–faithfulness–relates to it. As we read in 1 Corinthians 1:18, God is faithful.
I, I wipe away your transgressions for My sake,
and your offenses I do not recall.
–Isaiah 43:15, Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary, Vol. 2, Prophets (2019), 766
Those are words addressed to Jews at the twilight of the Babylonian Exile. This forgiveness is unconditional and absolute, apparently without any sign of repentance.
Psalm 130 reminds us that nobody could endure if God were to “watch for wrongs” (Robert Alter) and encourages the chosen people of God to wait for God, in whom is steadfast kindness.
Psalm 41 cites the betrayal by the author’s enemies, including a former friend. The author, not forgiving, seeks divine vindication:
But you, LORD, take note of me to raise me up
that I may repay them.
–Psalm 41:11, The New American Bible–Revised Edition
A rejoinder from the Gospels is appropriate:
For if you forgive others, the wrongs they have done, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs that you have done.
–Matthew 6:14-15, The Revised English Bible
Forgiveness, from a human perspective, can be challenging to commit or to accept. Committing forgiveness liberates one, regardless of the effect on the person or persons forgiven. Lugging a grudge around is never spiritually helpful and healthy.
Forgiving someone is a matter separate from seeking justice. Some deeds are inexcusable and indefensible. Sometimes justice requires punishment. Forgiveness precludes revenge, not justice.
Isaiah 43:25 occurs in a particular context. I notice the lack of penitence and repentance between verses 24 and 25. This does not mean that penitence and repentance are irrelevant; they occur in other passages. Yet Isaiah 43:25 tells us that sometimes God forgives for divine purposes.
Divine judgment and mercy exist in balance throughout the Bible. Trust nobody, O reader, who pretends to know what that balance is. I have some guesses. Some may be correct for the same reason for the same reason that a broken clock is correct twice a day. Grace remains a glorious mystery.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MARCH 14, 2023 COMMON ERA
THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF LENT
THE FEAST OF FANNIE LOU HAMER, PROPHET OF FREEDOM
THE FEAST OF ALBERT LISTER PEACE, ORGANIST IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND
THE FEAST OF HARRIET KING OSGOOD MUNGER, U.S. CONGREGATIONALISTS HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF NEHEMIAH GOREH, INDIAN ANGLICAN PRIEST AND THEOLOGIAN
THE FEAST OF SAINT VINCENZINA CUSMANO, SUPERIOR OF THE SISTERS SERVANTS OF THE POOR; AND HER BROTHER, SAINT GIACOMO CUSMANO, FOUNDER OF THE SISTERS SERVANTS OF THE POOR AND THE MISSIONARY SERVANTS OF THE POOR
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM LEDDRA, BRITISH QUAKER MARTYR IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY, 1661
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Adapted from this post
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I covered 150 psalms in 82 posts.
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Posted February 25, 2023 by neatnik2009 in Psalm 1, Psalm 10, Psalm 100, Psalm 101, Psalm 102, Psalm 103, Psalm 104, Psalm 105, Psalm 106, Psalm 107, Psalm 108, Psalm 109, Psalm 11, Psalm 110, Psalm 111, Psalm 112, Psalm 113, Psalm 114, Psalm 115, Psalm 116, Psalm 117, Psalm 118, Psalm 119, Psalm 12, Psalm 120, Psalm 121, Psalm 122, Psalm 123, Psalm 124, Psalm 125, Psalm 126, Psalm 127, Psalm 128, Psalm 129, Psalm 13, Psalm 130, Psalm 131, Psalm 132, Psalm 133, Psalm 134, Psalm 135, Psalm 136, Psalm 137, Psalm 138, Psalm 139, Psalm 14, Psalm 140, Psalm 141, Psalm 142, Psalm 143, Psalm 144, Psalm 145, Psalm 146, Psalm 147, Psalm 148, Psalm 149, Psalm 15, Psalm 150, Psalm 16, Psalm 17, Psalm 18, Psalm 19, Psalm 2, Psalm 20, Psalm 21, Psalm 22, Psalm 23, Psalm 24, Psalm 25, Psalm 26, Psalm 27, Psalm 28, Psalm 29, Psalm 3, Psalm 30, Psalm 31, Psalm 32, Psalm 33, Psalm 34, Psalm 35, Psalm 36, Psalm 37, Psalm 38, Psalm 39, Psalm 4, Psalm 40, Psalm 41, Psalm 42, Psalm 43, Psalm 44, Psalm 45, Psalm 46, Psalm 47, Psalm 48, Psalm 49, Psalm 5, Psalm 50, Psalm 51, Psalm 52, Psalm 53, Psalm 54, Psalm 55, Psalm 56, Psalm 57, Psalm 58, Psalm 59, Psalm 6, Psalm 60, Psalm 61, Psalm 62, Psalm 63, Psalm 64, Psalm 65, Psalm 66, Psalm 67, Psalm 68, Psalm 69, Psalm 7, Psalm 70, Psalm 71, Psalm 72, Psalm 73, Psalm 74, Psalm 75, Psalm 76, Psalm 77, Psalm 78, Psalm 79, Psalm 8, Psalm 80, Psalm 81, Psalm 82, Psalm 83, Psalm 84, Psalm 85, Psalm 86, Psalm 87, Psalm 88, Psalm 89, Psalm 9, Psalm 90, Psalm 91, Psalm 92, Psalm 93, Psalm 94, Psalm 95, Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, Psalm 99
READING THE BOOK OF PSALMS
PART XXIX
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Psalms 39 and 41
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Psalms 39 and 41 are similar to each other, hence their grouping together in this post. These texts share the context of prayers for deliverance from enemies. Psalm 39 reminds me of Ecclesiastes, with talk of vanity and futility. “Hustle and bustle” are futile, and life is brief. The author of Psalm 41 has death on the mind, too. His prayer for healing includes a reference to the way he will recognize divine pleasure with him:
But you, O LORD, have mercy on me;
let me rise again and repay them.
Then shall I know that You are pleased with me:
when my enemy cannot shout in triumph over me.
You will support me because of my integrity,
and let me abide in Your presence forever.
–Psalm 41:11-13, TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures (1985, 1999)
The author of Psalm 41, suffering from a serious illness, seeks to repay those who regard his plight with malicious delight. William R. Taylor writes that this is
something less than a Christian petition.
—The Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 4 (1955), 218
Yet J. Clinton McCann, Jr., offers a different analysis:
The psalmist’s expressed intent to repay them is not simply an expression of personal revenge. Rather, it may be interpreted as a matter of justice (see Ps 31:23). Liberation for the oppressed means judgment upon oppressors. As v. 11 demonstrates, the failure of the enemies is not just the psalmist’s will, but God’s will as well….Integrity is not a matter of the psalmist’s merit (as the NRSV) seems to suggest) but indicates the psalmist’s dependence upon God for life and future….”
—The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 4 (1996), 848
I acknowledge–as I have many times in blog posts–that divine rescue of the oppressed may be catastrophic for the oppressors. Yet I side with William R. Taylor (no relation to me) over McCann; this is “something less than a Christian petition.” A gaping chasm separates the psalmist–predictably resentful–from Jesus praying,
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,
on his cross.
I understand resentment and fantasies of revenge. I also grasp that they hurt me, not their intended targets. Oppressors and others who deride malignantly may juge and condemn themselves by their actions, but I have much power over what kind of person I will be. The better angels of my nature tell me to eschew vengeance.
Why not? Life is short. Yes, our “hustle and bustle” is futile. So, may we focus on that which does not crumble and fall into ruin. May we love one another, revere God, and protect creation. May we build up the common good and maintain it. May live, not resentment and revenge–define our collective and individual character.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JANUARY 3, 2022 COMMON ERA
THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS
THE FEAST OF EDWARD CASWALL, ENGLISH ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF EDWARD PERRONET, BRITISH METHODIST PREACHER
THE FEAST OF ELMER G. HOMRIGHAUSEN, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER, BIBLICAL SCHOLAR, AND PROFESSOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
THE FEAST OF GLADYS AYLWARD, MISSIONARY IN CHINA AND TAIWAN
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM ALFRED PASSAVANT, SR., U.S. LUTHERAN MINISTER, HUMANITARIAN, AND EVANGELIST
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Above: Job and His Alleged Friends, a Fresco
Image in the Public Domain
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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Job 5:6-23 or Deuteronomy 5:6-21
Psalm 41
James 2:1-17
Mark 1:29-45
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The Law of Moses, unlike the older Code of Hammurabi, to which it bears some similarity, does not bring social class into consideration. No, the Law of Moses is impartial regarding the socio-economic status of both the victim and the perpetrator. In the Code of Hammurabi, for example, the same crime (theft or assault, for example) leads to a harsher penalty when the victim belongs to a higher social class. In the Law of Moses, however, the penalty is the same, regardless of anyone’s socio-economic status. That ethic of socio-economic impartiality carries over into James 2:1-7.
The Hillelian distillation of the Law of Moss comes from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (the Shema). How we love God, assuming that we do, manifests in how we treat each other. Hypocrisy is as old as human nature. Pious fronts belie both evil intentions and lesser disregard and carelessness. Often those who violate the Golden Rule do so while imagining that they are honoring God. Eliphaz the Temanite and the other so-called friends of Job (who remind me of, “with friends like these, who needs enemies?”) sound like the Book of Psalms much of the time. That fact complicates the interpretation of much of the Book of Job. The best answer I can offer is that what they said applied in certain circumstances, but not that one.
If we were less concerned about who is wright and about insisting that we are right, and if we were more concerned about being good friends to one another, we could fulfill the spirit of most of the assigned texts for today.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JUNE 14, 2019 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF CHARLES AUGUSTUS BRIGGS, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER, EPISCOPAL PRIEST, BIBLICAL SCHOLAR, AND ALLEGED HERETIC; AND HIS DAUGHTER, EMILIE GRACE BRIGGS, BIBLICAL SCHOLAR AND “HERETIC’S DAUGHTER”
THE FEAST OF SAINT METHODIUS I OF CONSTANTINOPLE, DEFENDER OF ICONS AND ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE; AND SAINT JOSEPH THE HYMNOGRAPHER, DEFENDER OF ICONS AND “SWEET-VOICED NIGHTINGALE OF THE CHURCH”
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM HIRAM FOULKES, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
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Adapted from this post:
https://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2019/06/14/devotion-for-the-fourth-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-b-humes/
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Above: Crutch
Image in the Public Domain
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FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT, ACCORDING TO A LECTIONARY FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP IN THE BOOK OF WORSHIP FOR CHURCH AND HOME (1965)
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O God, who by your word works out marvelously the reconciliation of mankind:
Grant, we ask you, that following the example of our blessed Lord,
and walking in such a way as you choose,
we may be subject to you with all our hearts, and be united to each other in holy love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
–Modernized from The Book of Worship for Church and Home (1965), page 96
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Amos 7:7-10, 14-16a
Psalm 41
Romans 6:15-23
Mark 10:17-27
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The reading from Mark 10 is about recognition of complete dependence on God, not about material wealth. I argue that if the man had been poor, he would still have had a spiritual crutch Jesus would have told him to throw away. Material wealth is inherently spiritually neutral. Spiritual attachment to it is negative, however. If we do not have that crutch, we have another one, to which we enslave ourselves. If we insist on remaining so negatively attached, we pronounce judgment on ourselves.
Integrity (Psalm 41:12) is indeed laudable, but it does not always save us from troubles. In fact, it gets us into difficulties sometimes. That unfortunate reality informs the Book of Tobit. Although our integrity cannot save us from our sins, we should never abandon ourselves to the base elements of our nature. To be a good person is positive; it leads to much that is praiseworthy in the world and improves many lives. What is not to like about that? It can constitute faithful response to God, something lacking in much of the reading from Amos.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 17, 2017 COMMON ERA
THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF ADVENT: THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, ABOLITIONIST AND FEMINIST; AND MARIA STEWART, ABOLITIONIST, FEMINIST, AND EDUCATOR
THE FEAST OF EGLANTYNE JEBB AND DOROTHY BUXTON, FOUNDERS OF SAVE THE CHILDREN
THE FEAST OF FRANK MASON NORTH, U.S. METHODIST MINISTER
THE FEAST OF MARY CORNELIA BISHOP GATES, U.S. DUTCH REFORMED HYMN WRITER
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Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor
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The psalter of the Septuagint contains 151 psalms.
I have written based on all of them, in numerical order. I have retained the Hebrew numbering system, not that of the Septuagint.
Although I have no theological reticence to venture into textual territory that, according the United Methodism of my youth, is apocryphal, I do have limits. They reside in the realm of Orthodoxy, with its range of scriptural canons. Beyond that one finds the Pseudipigrapha. Psalm 151 concludes the Book of Psalms in The Orthodox Study Bible (2008); so be it.
The Hebrew psalter concludes with Psalm 150. In other psalters, however, the count is higher. In certain editions of the Septuagint, for example, Psalm 151 is an appendix to the Book of Psalms. In other editions of the Septuagint, however, Psalm 151 is an integrated part of the psalter. There is also the matter of the Syraic psalter, which goes as high as Psalm 155. I have no immediate plans to ponder Psalms 152-155, however. Neither do I plan to read and write about Psalms 156-160 any time soon, if ever.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 23, 2017 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINTS MARTIN DE PORRES AND JUAN MACIAS, HUMANITARIANS AND DOMINICAN LAY BROTHERS; SAINT ROSE OF LIMA, HUMANITARIAN AND DOMINICAN SISTER; AND SAINT TURIBIUS OF MOGROVEJO, ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF LIMA
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM JOHN COPELAND, ANGLICAN PRIEST AND HYMN TRANSLATOR
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Book One: Psalms 1-41
Book Two: Psalms 42-72
Book Three: Psalms 73-89
Book Four: Psalms 90-106
Book Five: Psalms 107-150
Also in the Greek: Psalm 151
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Posted August 23, 2017 by neatnik2009 in Psalm 1, Psalm 10, Psalm 100, Psalm 101, Psalm 102, Psalm 103, Psalm 104, Psalm 105, Psalm 106, Psalm 107, Psalm 108, Psalm 109, Psalm 11, Psalm 110, Psalm 111, Psalm 112, Psalm 113, Psalm 114, Psalm 115, Psalm 116, Psalm 117, Psalm 118, Psalm 119, Psalm 12, Psalm 120, Psalm 121, Psalm 122, Psalm 123, Psalm 124, Psalm 125, Psalm 126, Psalm 127, Psalm 128, Psalm 129, Psalm 13, Psalm 130, Psalm 131, Psalm 132, Psalm 133, Psalm 134, Psalm 135, Psalm 136, Psalm 137, Psalm 138, Psalm 139, Psalm 14, Psalm 140, Psalm 141, Psalm 142, Psalm 143, Psalm 144, Psalm 145, Psalm 146, Psalm 147, Psalm 148, Psalm 149, Psalm 15, Psalm 150, Psalm 151, Psalm 16, Psalm 17, Psalm 18, Psalm 19, Psalm 2, Psalm 20, Psalm 21, Psalm 22, Psalm 23, Psalm 24, Psalm 25, Psalm 26, Psalm 27, Psalm 28, Psalm 29, Psalm 3, Psalm 30, Psalm 31, Psalm 32, Psalm 33, Psalm 34, Psalm 35, Psalm 36, Psalm 37, Psalm 38, Psalm 39, Psalm 4, Psalm 40, Psalm 41, Psalm 42, Psalm 43, Psalm 44, Psalm 45, Psalm 46, Psalm 47, Psalm 48, Psalm 49, Psalm 5, Psalm 50, Psalm 51, Psalm 52, Psalm 53, Psalm 54, Psalm 55, Psalm 56, Psalm 57, Psalm 58, Psalm 59, Psalm 6, Psalm 60, Psalm 61, Psalm 62, Psalm 63, Psalm 64, Psalm 65, Psalm 66, Psalm 67, Psalm 68, Psalm 69, Psalm 7, Psalm 70, Psalm 71, Psalm 72, Psalm 73, Psalm 74, Psalm 75, Psalm 76, Psalm 77, Psalm 78, Psalm 79, Psalm 8, Psalm 80, Psalm 81, Psalm 82, Psalm 83, Psalm 84, Psalm 85, Psalm 86, Psalm 87, Psalm 88, Psalm 89, Psalm 9, Psalm 90, Psalm 91, Psalm 92, Psalm 93, Psalm 94, Psalm 95, Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, Psalm 99
Above: Psalm 41
Image in the Public Domain
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POST XVI OF LX
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The Book of Common Prayer (1979) includes a plan for reading the Book of Psalms in morning and evening installments for 30 days. I am therefore blogging through the Psalms in 60 posts.
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 226
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Reading the Book of Psalms from the beginning leads one to notice certain recurring themes. In Psalms 41, 42, and 43, taken together, I notice certain motifs on which I have commented in previous posts. They include the following:
- Being seriously ill and calling out to God for deliverance,
- Being the victim of malicious gossip,
- Seeking divine vindication,
- Wishing the worst for one’s enemies, and
- Trusting in God while wondering why God has permitted one to suffer so badly.
My previous comments on those themes stand.
I prefer instead to focus on the question of the translation of the opening of Psalm 41. The rendering of the opening of that text in The Book of Common Prayer (1979) is typical of most English-language translations:
Happy are they who consider the poor and the needy!
the LORD will deliver them in the time of trouble.
–Verse 1
In TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures (1985) we read of one who is
thoughtful of the wretched.
The pious person in The Revised English Bible (1989)
has a concern for the helpless.
However, as Mitchell J. Dahood writes, slander, not helping the poor and needy/the wretched/the helpless, is a major concern in Psalm 41. Therefore the Dahood translation of that verse reads
How blest the man prudent in speech,
in time of danger may Yahweh deliver him.
–Verse 2
One can read Dahood’s full case for this translation in Psalms I: 1-50 (1966), page 249.
Prudence in speech and writing is a virtue, is it not? Indeed, one need not apologize for oratorical and written prudence. Furthermore, the lack of prudence leads to troubles one could have avoided easily. Yet a lack of prudence in speech and writing becomes (temporarily, at least) a political asset for some; it is allegedly plain spokenness. The Dahood translation prompts me to think of James 3:1-12, a passage about the power of speech for positive and negative purposes. That text needs no commentary, for it explains itself.
The slanderers of Psalm 41 are of the same ilk as the enemies of Psalm 42, the treacherous men of Psalm 43. One temptation is, to use an old expression, fight fire with fire. Although that strategy is effective in fighting literal fires sometimes, it is probably not the best spiritual practice most of the time. How about trusting in God instead? How about fighting fire with fire extinguisher instead? How about, in the style of Jesus, forgiving one’s enemies?
This is difficult, of course. Yet we need not operate under the delusion that we ought to be able to do it under our own power. No, we rely on grace.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 9, 2017 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT EDITH STEIN, ROMAN CATHOLIC NUN AND PHILOSOPHER
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Above: The First Temple at Jerusalem
Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor
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The Collect:
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
2 Chronicles 7:1-22 or Haggai 1:15b-29
Psalm 41
Matthew 26:20-35 or Mark 14:17-31 or Luke 22:14-38
Colossians 3:18-4:18 or 1 Peter 2:1, 11-18 (19-25); 3:1-12
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The First Temple at Jerusalem–when it was new and after it had become ruins–occupies the focus in the two options for the First Reading. God–in the Ark of the Covenant–was present there, faith affirmed. With that faith came the obligation to, in the words of Psalm 41, consider the poor and the needy. This was part of the covenant most of the population disregarded, to its detriment. Consistent with that ethic of caring for the poor and the needy was the example of Jesus, who modeled the teaching that the way to true greatness is servanthood.
As for the readings from the epistles, I must make some critical (in the highest sense of that word) comments about them. They do contain some sexism, but not as much as some think. The texts do speak of the responsibilities of husbands toward their wives, after all. The overall portrait is one of a high degree of mutuality. Also, the failure to condemn slavery disturbs me. That failure is a recurring theme in Christian history, from the first century to at least the nineteenth century. Christianity need not mean default contrariness, for not everything in society is wrong, but the Christian Gospel ought to lead one to oppose servitude and sexism. The Gospel is, after all, about liberation–freedom to serve God without the societal constraints foreign to God.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 20, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE TWENTY-FOURTH DAY OF ADVENT
THE FEAST OF SAINT DOMINIC OF SILOS, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT
THE FEAST OF ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL TAIT, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
THE FEAST OF SAINT PETER CANISIUS, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM JOHN BLEW, ENGLISH PRIEST AND HYMN WRITER
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Adapted from this post:
https://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2016/12/20/devotion-for-proper-22-year-d/
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Above: King Hezekiah
Image in the Public Domain
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The Collect:
Almighty God, in signs and wonders your Son revealed the greatness of your saving love.
Renew us with your grace, and sustain us by your power,
that we may stand in the glory of your name,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 25
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The Assigned Readings:
Isaiah 38:1-8 (Friday)
Isaiah 39:1-8 (Saturday)
Psalm 41 (Both Days)
Hebrews 12:7-13 (Friday)
Luke 4:38-41 (Saturday)
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By this I know that you are pleased with me;
because my enemy has not triumphed over me.
But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
and set me in your presence forever.
–Psalm 41:11-12, The New Revised Standard Version (1989)
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That text functions as a counterpart to the story of King Hezekiah of Judah, as we read it in Isaiah 38-39 and 2 Kings 20.
In the lectionary we read of two main healings–one of King Hezekiah and the other of St. Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. The former seemed not to have improved spiritually. In fact, he acted recklessly, showing off for a Chaldean/Neo-Babylonian envoy seeking an ally against Assyria. This happened about a century (maybe a little more than, perhaps slightly less than) before that would-be ally ended the existence of the Kingdom of Judah. The monarch took comfort that he would be dead by then. St. Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, however, extended hospitality to her house guests.
As Hebrews 12:7-13 reminds us, God disciplines people for their own good. Healing and holiness follow in that divine plan. Some people are oblivious, however; Hezekiah comes to mind immediately.
Hezekiah answered, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good,” for he was thinking to himself that peace and security would last out his lifetime.
–2 Kings 20:19, The Revised English Bible (1989)
Such self-interest does not indicate proper concern for others, especially those of the future. This kind of short-term thinking is what damages the planet and ravages ecosystems. Future generations and members of other species will pay the high price for a lack of concern and imagination and for the quest for convenience and immediate gratification in the present day. But we, unlike Hezekiah, will pay part of the price for our folly also. Are we not supposed to be stewards of blessings, including the Earth? Should we not extend hospitality to those around us and those not yet born?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 3, 2014 COMMON ERA
THE FOURTH DAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B
THE FEAST OF SAINT MARUTHAS, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF MAYPHERKAT AND MISSIONARY TO PERSIA
THE FEAST OF SAINT BERNARD OF PARMA, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
THE FEAST OF SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER, ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONARY TO ASIA
THE FEAST OF JOHN OWEN SMITH, UNITED METHODIST BISHOP IN GEORGIA
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Adapted from this post:
https://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2014/12/03/devotion-for-friday-and-saturday-before-the-seventh-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-b-elca-daily-lectionary/
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Above: Solomon’s Wealth and Wisdom
Image in the Public Domain
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The Collect:
Almighty God, in signs and wonders your Son revealed the greatness of your saving love.
Renew us with your grace, and sustain us by your power,
that we may stand in the glory of your name,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 25
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The Assigned Readings:
2 Chronicles 7:12-22
Psalm 41
3 John 2-8
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Happy are those who consider the poor….
–Psalm 41:1a, The New Revised Standard Version (1989)
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In the Law of Moses, among purity codes and rules about when to stone people, one finds commandments about caring for people–from strangers to neighbors. That ethic was apparently strong in the Christian community which received 3 John. King Solomon, however, exploited his subjects economically. Thus he violated a divine condition for the perpetuation of the Davidic Dynasty in 2 Chronicles 7:17-22.
Some themes recur in the Bible. Among these are God’s concern for the poor and displeasure at the mistreatment of them. This is a point I can repeat in only a few ways, for it falls under the heading of what I, for the purpose of determining what does and does not constitute plagiarism, call the Green Grass Rule:
There are only a few ways to write that the grass is green.
So, O reader, how do you treat people, ranging from strangers to neighbors?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 2, 2014 COMMON ERA
THE THIRD DAY OF ADVENT, YEAR B
THE FEAST OF SAINT BRIOC, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT; AND SAINT TUDWAL, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT AND BISHOP
THE FEAST OF CHANNING MOORE WILLIAMS, EPISCOPAL BISHOP IN CHINA AND JAPAN
THE FEAST OF JOHN BROWN, ABOLITIONIST
THE FEAST OF SAINT OSMUND OF SALISBURY, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
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Adapted from this post:
https://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2014/12/02/devotion-for-thursday-before-the-seventh-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-b-elca-daily-lectionary/
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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