Archive for the ‘Psalm 70’ Category
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 LI
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Psalms 70 and 71
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Psalms 70 and 71 were originally one text.
The psalmist, advanced in years (by the standards of his time, at least), felt besieged by enemies. God seemed distant, and the attackers did not. The psalmist prayed for divine deliverance, for his own sake and that of the glory of God. He vowed to praise God in public after God rescued him, so that others would trust in God.
The Book of Psalms is repetitive both thematically and literally. Most of the themes in Psalm 70 and 71 have become repetitive already. Also, depending on the Biblical scholar one believes, Psalm 70 replicates Psalm 40:14-18 (Jewish versification) or Psalm 40:14-18 replicates Psalm 70, with minor variations. Furthermore, Psalm 71 resembles Psalms 22 and 31.
Rather than repeat what I wrote about Psalms 22, 31, and 40, I focus on another topic. An aging, mature faith can help one navigate the difficulties of life. I am old enough to have some grasp of this point. I expect that, if I live long enough, I will understand this point much better. Faith grows on a person and settles into one’s essence. Then a person can use the gift of hindsight to recognize that God did this, that, and the other thing. So, one can more easily trust God to act faithfully again. This human faith need not necessarily be extroverted; faithful introversion is acceptable. My faith is quiet and introverted; I like saints who were holy hermits.
When a relationship is what it should be, it improves with the passage of time. That relationship also changes those involved in it for the better. When a relationship is not what it should be, these statements do not apply.
As my spirituality ages and matures, it remains as intellectual and academic as ever. However, mysticism and asceticism are becoming more prominent. Life changes a person. And, as I reflect on my life having collapsed twice, I recognize that God has always been present.
I anticipate the rest of my walk with God.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JANUARY 25, 2023 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE
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Above: Judas Iscariot, by James Tissot
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 50:4-9a
Psalm 70:1-2 4-6 (LBW) or Psalm 18:21-30 (LW)
Romans 5:6-11
Matthew 26:14-25
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Almighty God, your Son our Savior suffered at the hands of men
and endured the shame of the cross.
Grant that we may walk in the way of his cross
and find it the way of life and peace;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Lutheran Book of Worship (1978), 20
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Merciful and everlasting God the Father,
who did not spare your only Son
but delivered him up for us all that he might bear our sins on the cross;
grant that our hearts may be so fixed with steadfast faith in our Savior
that we may not fear the power of any adversaries;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
—Lutheran Worship (1982), 43
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In context, Isaiah 50:4-9a is an odd lection to read on this Sunday. The speaker–the prophet/servant (Second Isaiah)–is pious yet merely human, therefore, sinful. He believes that the suffering of the exiles during the Babylonian Exile has been justified. Yet he also anticipates the divine vindication of that exiled population, for the glory of God. Applying this reading to sinless Jesus (who suffered an unjust execution as an innocent man) requires astounding theological gymnastics.
Judas Iscariot played an essential role in a divine plan. The writers of the four canonical Gospels portrayed him negatively, for one major obvious reason. The Gospel of John added that Judas was an embezzler (John 12:6). Despite all this, Judas was not outside the mercy of God. And he had not committed the unpardonable sin–blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:32; Mark 3:28; Luke 12:10). Judas may have thought that he knew what he was doing, but he did not. Recall Luke 23:24, O reader:
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
—The New American Bible–Revised Edition (2011)
I do not pretend to know the ultimate fate of Judas Iscariot. I am not God. I do, however, repeat my position that the only people in Hell are those who have condemned themselves. God sends nobody to Hell. Divine mercy and judgment exist in a balance I cannot grasp, for I am not God.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
APRIL 12, 2022 COMMON ERA
HOLY TUESDAY
THE FEAST OF HENRY SLOANE COFFIN, U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER, THEOLOGIAN, AND HYMN TRANSLATOR; AND HIS NEPHEW, WILLIAM SLOANE COFFIN, JR., U.S. PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER AND SOCIAL ACTIVIST
THE FEAST OF SAINT DAVID URIBE-VELASCO, MEXICAN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND MARTYR, 1927
THE FEAST OF SAINT JULIUS I, BISHOP OF ROME
THE FEAST OF SAINT ZENO OF VERONA, BISHOP
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Adapted from this post
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Above: Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, by Heinrich Hofmann
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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Numbers 11:4-29 or 2 Kings 4:8-37
Psalm 70
Hebrews 10:16-25
Mark 10:17-31
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Grace, who is good, works in a variety of ways to meet human needs, tangible and intangible. Gratitude is always an appropriate response. Gratitude assumes a range of expressions. One may choose the form of gratitude that best suits any given circumstance, but gratitude is not optional; it is far more than a merely good idea.
One form of gratitude is keeping commandments. If we love God, we will keep divine commandments. If we love Jesus, we will keep his commandments. Depending entirely on God is one of those commandments. Practicing humility is another one.
These are extremely difficult commandments to keep. They are impossible to keep if one relies on human agency. We do not have to do that, fortunately. We cannot do that under any set of circumstances, anyway. We can, however, succeed by relying on grace. Will we accept it and the responsibilities that accompany it?
I used to have a shirt that read,
GRACE HAPPENS.
(The garment wore out after too many washings, as garments do.)
Terrible and other unfortunate events happen, of course, but so does grace. We can never escape grace, happily. If we accept it, we also accept certain obligations to extend it to others. Therefore, it alters people around us. So be it.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JULY 26, 2019 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINTS ANNE AND JOACHIM, PARENTS OF SAINT MARY OF NAZARETH
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Adapted from this post:
https://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2019/07/26/devotion-for-proper-25-year-b-humes/
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This is post #2100 of BLOGA THEOLOGICA.
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I composed this prayer and selected the passages of scripture today because, while writing a post at SUNDRY THOUGHTS, not one of the available propers for martyrs seemed adequate, given the topic and my mood.
KRT
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Loving God, why do the just and innocent suffer?
We read and hear ancient theological answers to that question.
Regardless of the truth of any of those answers, they fail to satisfy.
Hasten the age of your justice, we pray, so that
the meek will inherit the earth,
we will beat our swords into plowshares and learn war no more,
artificial scarcity will cease, and
nobody else will have to suffer or die for the love of one’s neighbors.
In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Joel 3:9-16
Psalm 70
Revelation 7:13-17
Luke 6:20-26
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MARCH 15, 2019 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT ZACHARY OF ROME, BISHOP OF ROME
THE FEAST OF SAINTS JAN ADALBERT BALICKI AND LADISLAUS FINDYSZ, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN POLAND
THE FEAST OF OZORA STEARNS DAVIS, U.S. CONGREGATIONALIST MINISTER, THEOLOGIAN, AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF VETHAPPAN SOLOMON, APOSTLE TO THE NICOBAR ISLANDS
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https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/proper-for-christian-martyrs/
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Above: Ministry of the Apostles
Image in the Public Domain
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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:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 70
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 13:21-32
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As I read Isaiah 50:4-9a, I realized that I had, very recently, written about that passage in the post for Palm/Passion Sunday. I have decided not to duplicate the essence of that analysis here, but rather to provide a link.
Likewise, a portion of Psalm 70 reminded me of Psalm 71:13, about which I wrote in the post for Tuesday of Holy Week. I have therefore provided a link to that post also.
Now for Hebrews 12:1-3 and John 13:21-32….
The audience for the poorly named Letter to the Hebrews (actually a treatise) was Gentile Christians. The author encouraged them to derive courage from the example of Jesus. Those who crucified Christ intended his execution as a method of disgrace and extermination, but it became, as the Gospel of John stated so well, his glorification (12:23). Jesus gave the commandment, first to his Apostles (minus Judas Iscariot), to love one another as he loved them. That commandment has come to apply to Christians.
Jesus loved sacrificially and unconditionally. He loved all the way to his death.
That is a daunting challenge. Being a Christian is about serving people, not lording over them. Many Christians are fortunate; they will never be in a position to face the possibility or reality of martyrdom. Others are less fortunate, though. The annals of Christian history are replete with the sacrifices of martyrs. But all of us must, if we are to follow Christ, love one another as he loved his Apostles–sacrificially and unconditionally. This, possible via grace, is a mandate, not a recommendation.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MAY 27, 2018 COMMON ERA
THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR B: TRINITY SUNDAY
THE FEAST OF PAUL GERHARDT, GERMAN LUTHERAN MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF ALFRED ROOKER, ENGLISH CONGREGATIONALIST PHILANTHROPIST AND HYMN WRITER; AND HIS SISTER, ELIZABETH ROOKER PARSON, ENGLISH CONGREGATIONALIST HYMN WRITER
THE FEAST OF AMELIA BLOOMER, U.S. SUFFRAGETTE
THE FEAST OF SAINT LOJZE GROZDE, SLOVENIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC MARTYR
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Adapted from this post:
https://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2018/05/27/devotion-for-wednesday-of-holy-week-years-a-b-c-and-d-humes/
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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
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POST XXVI 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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In Psalm 70, nearly identical to the end of Psalm 40, the Psalmist asks God for deliverance from and revenge upon foes who threaten his life.
The theme of lament also exists in Psalm 69, apparently by a faithful Jew living in exile after the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem. The exile has many enemies–strangers, relatives, and former friends. He is figuratively drowning in their scorn. He also seeks deliverance from and vengeance upon his enemies.
As I reread Psalm 69 again the first time in preparation for this post, I focused on the timeless sense of enduring rejection (for the sake of righteousness) from those one knows best. I have read and heard many accounts of people over time who, upon leaving one religion, sect, or denomination for another, have had to cope with rejection by their relatives and former friends who have not converted. Frequently the alienation from one’s former circle has been permanent.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there.
–Joseph M. Screven, circa 1855
My only disagreement with that fragment of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is that a friend does not despise and forsake another friend. No, friends take care of and look out for each other; one does not reject and become an enemy of another while remaining a friend. In Judaism God is like what God does. Likewise, we are like what we do.
May we never forget that, when we experience trauma and cry out to God in that context, we might feel alone yet are not, if we walk with God. May we also know that, although the desire for revenge is natural, it is unhealthy. It is, actually, self-destructive and spiritually poisonous. I do take comfort, however, that one can express even the most unpleasant feelings to God safely.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 12, 2017 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF THADDEUS STEVENS, U.S. ABOLITIONIST, CONGRESSMAN, AND WITNESS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
THE FEAST OF SARAH FLOWER ADAMS, ENGLISH UNITARIAN HYMN WRITER; AND HER SISTER, ELIZA FLOWER, ENGLISH UNITARIAN COMPOSER
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Above: The Four Riders of the Apocalypse, by Albrecht Durer
Image in the Public Domain
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The Collect:
O God of justice and love,
you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son.
Give us the light we need, and awaken us to the needs of others,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 52
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The Assigned Readings:
Amos 1:1-2:5 (Thursday)
Amos 3:1-12 (Friday)
Amos 4:6-13 (Saturday)
Psalm 70 (All Days)
Revelation 8:6-9:12 (Thursday)
Revelation 9:13-21 (Friday)
Matthew 24:1-14 (Saturday)
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Be pleased, God, to rescue me,
Yahweh, come quickly and help me:
Shame and dismay to those who seek my life!
Back with them! Let them be humiliated
who delight in my misfortunes!
Let them shrink away covered with shame,
those who say, “Aha, aha!”
But joy and happiness in you to all who seek you.
Let them ceaselessly cry, “God is great,”
who love your saving power.
Poor and needy as I am,
God, come quickly to me!
Yahweh, my helper, my Saviour, do not delay!
–Psalm 70, The New Jerusalem Bible (1985)
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As I read the lessons I wondered what I could write that I have not covered many times already. The tone of the assigned passages fits the them of the church year well, for lectionaries tend to take an apocalyptic turn the last three or four weeks before Advent. The theme of God destroying the sinful old order before replacing it with the Kingdom of God fully realized is quite old, as is the call to repent. But how many times can one repeat the theology of repenting–turning around or changing one’s mind–without sounding like the most scratched of records and tiring of saying the same old thing again and again?
Here is something to consider: we Christians need to accept the reality that Jesus was not always nice. He seems so nice in illustrations from Bibles for children, but the canonical Gospels attribute many harsh words to him. And judgment is as much a part of spiritual reality as is forgiveness. Most of the readings for these days focus on judgment, but the possibility of forgiveness is present in some of them. A plea for divine judgment against one’s adversaries, such as we find in Psalm 70 and many other psalms, is an understandable and familiar prayer. I have uttered something like it many times. Yet such attitudes will not aid or abet the arrival of the fully realized Kingdom of God or the partially realized one.
God is not always nice. Jesus was not always nice. And we are not always nice. Furthermore, we do not understand God or Jesus much of the time, but doing so is not necessary. We can, however, leave the judging to God and strive, by grace, to live mercifully and compassionately. That proves quite difficult often, does it not?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
SEPTEMBER 7, 2014 COMMON ERA
PROPER 18: THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR A
THE FEAST OF THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS OF THE PACIFIC
THE FEAST OF ELIE NAUD, HUGUENOT WITNESS TO THE FAITH
THE FEAST OF JANE LAURIE BORTHWICK, TRANSLATOR OF HYMNS
THE FEAST OF JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER, POET
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Adapted from this post:
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2014/09/07/devotion-for-thursday-friday-and-saturday-before-proper-27-year-a-elca-daily-lectionary/
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Above: The Dogma of the Redemption, by John Singer Sargent
Image Source = Library of Congress
(http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003689379/)
Reproduction Number = LC-USZ62-133671
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The Collect:
Almighty God, your Son our Savior suffered at human hands
and endured the shame of the cross. Grant that we may walk
in the way of the cross and find it the way of life and peace,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 30
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The Assigned Readings:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 70
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 13:21-32
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Some Related Posts:
Isaiah 50:
http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/devotion-for-december-26-lcms-daily-lectionary/
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/thirty-seventh-day-of-lent-wednesday-in-holy-week/
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/proper-19-year-b/
Hebrews 12:
http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/week-of-4-epiphany-tuesday-year-1/
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/thirty-fifth-day-of-lent-monday-in-holy-week/
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/devotion-for-the-sixth-day-of-easter-friday-in-easter-week-lcms-daily-lectionary/
John 13:
http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/devotion-for-march-8-and-9-in-epiphanyordinary-time-lcms-daily-lectionary/
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/thirty-seventh-day-of-lent-wednesday-in-holy-week/
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/devotion-for-june-9-10-and-11-in-ordinary-time-lcms-daily-lectionary/
A Prayer for Wednesday of Passion Week/Holy Week:
http://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/prayer-for-wednesday-of-passion-weekholy-week/
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O God, make speed to save me;
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Let those who seek my life
be put to shame and confusion;
let them be turned back and disgraced
who wish me evil.
Let those who mock and deride me
turn back because of their shame.
But let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
let those who love your salvation say always, “Great is the Lord!”
As for me, I am poor and needy;
come to me quickly, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not delay.
–Psalm 70, Common Worship (2000)
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Shame and honor are social constructs. One has only as much honor or shame as others agree one does. And people can redefine symbols. This has happened in the case of the cross, originally a symbol of shame and utter annihilation, but now one of victory over evil and death.
May we who claim to follow God really follow God. As part of that discipline may we, in words of Isaiah 50:4,
Console the weary
with a timely word….
–The Revised English Bible (1989)
And, also as part of that discipline, may we not subscribe to false codes of honor and shame, for the glorification of our Lord and Savior in the Johannine Gospel was his crucifixion.
“Shame” is glorification. The first will be last. The last will be first. Some prostitutes and Roman collaborators will enter Heaven before certain respectable religious people will. I detect a good pattern here.
May we notice that pattern and live according to its ethic of radical grace, by the power of grace. And may we, unlike the author of Psalm 70, reject the predictable and understandable tendency to seek the doom and disgrace of our enemies and persecutors. May we follow the example of our Lord and Savior.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
NOVEMBER 28, 2013 COMMON ERA
THANKSGIVING DAY (U.S.A.)
THE FEAST OF SAINT STEPHEN THE YOUNGER, DEFENDER OF ICONS
THE FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH PIGNATELLI, RESTORER OF THE JESUITS
THE FEAST OF KAMAHAMEHA AND EMMA, KING AND QUEEN OF HAWAII
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Adapted from this post:
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2013/11/28/devotion-for-wednesday-in-holy-week-years-a-b-and-c-elca-daily-lectionary/
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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