Archive for the ‘Psalm 99’ 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 XXXV
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Psalms 47, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99
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Psalms 47, 93, and 95-99 are kingship psalms, for they refer to God as king.
God is sovereign over the created order, time, and all nations. God is the God of the covenant. YHWH is the sole deity; the false gods are “ungods.” The Jews are the Chosen People, yet YHWH is no mere tribal or national deity. Gentiles come into the fold, too.
The eschatological vision and high poetry of these psalms may prompt the same sigh of disappointment as do promises that the Kingdom of God is at hand in the New Testament. One may recall the lament of Alfred Loisy (1857-1940), from 1902:
Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom, and what arrived was the Church.
Yet Psalms 47, 93, and 95-99 hold up hope:
And the hope of these psalms is important, for without this powerful transformative symbol, the pitiful regimes of the present age claim to be, and seem, absolute and eternal. Thus, without this disruptive metaphor, oppressive regimes seem to be eternally guaranteed. It is not different on the American scene with our absolutizing of military capitalism. But we live in hope, because this metaphor keeps all present power arrangements provisional. They are all kept under scrutiny and judgment by this one who will finally govern.
–Walter Brueggemann, The Message of the Psalms: A Theological Commentary (1984), 151-152
One function of eschatological vision is to provide a standard against which to measure the current world disorder. The eschatological standard reveals how far regimes, institutions, and societies fall short of the divine ideal. Therefore, one has a solid basis on which to confront these subpar regimes, institutions, and societies. One can say conclusively that we all answer to God, sovereign in everything and everyone.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JANUARY 9, 2023 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF JULIA CHESTER EMERY, UPHOLDER OF MISSIONS
THE FEAST OF EMILY GREENE BALCH, U.S. QUAKER SOCIOLOGIST, ECONOMIST, AND PEACE ACTIVIST
THE FEAST OF GENE M. TUCKER, UNITED METHODIST MINISTER AND BIBLICAL SCHOLAR
THE FEAST OF JOHANN JOSEF IGNAZ VON DÖLLINGER, DISSIDENT AND EXCOMMUNICATED GERMAN ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST, THEOLOGIAN, AND HISTORIAN
THE FEAST OF SAINT PHILIP II OF MOSCOW, METROPOLITAN OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA, AND MARTYR, 1569
THE FEAST OF THOMAS CURTIS CLARK, U.S. DISCIPLES OF CHRIST EVANGELIST, POET, AND HYMN WRITER
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Above: Icon of the Holy Trinity, by Andrei Rublev
Image in the Public Domain
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For Trinity Sunday, Year 2
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Lectionary from A Book of Worship for Free Churches (The General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches in the United States, 1948)
Collect from The Book of Worship (Evangelical and Reformed Church, 1947)
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Almighty and Everlasting God, who hast given to us, thy servants, grace,
by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity,
and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity;
we beseech thee, that thou wouldst keep us steadfast in this faith,
and evermore defend us from all adversities;
who livest and reignest, One God, world without end. Amen.
—The Book of Worship (1947), 182
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Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 99
Romans 11:33-36
John 3:1-15
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As I have aged, I have changed in many ways. I have recovered more slowly after moving from one dwelling into another one. (Fortunately, I move only when necessary, and years apart.) White hairs have sprouted from my chin and temples. The rest of the hair on the top of my head has taken on a salt-and-pepper coloration. I have recognized how much my parents knew when I was a child and an adolescent. And I have become somewhat mystical.
I have written so many lectionary-based devotions for Trinity Sunday that I can no longer write one without repeating myself. Consult my other devotions for Trinity Sunday at this weblog for than I offer in this post, O reader. For now, I encourage you, O reader, to romp in the mystery of divine being. Do not try to explain much of it. No, revel in the mystery and unconditional love of God. Then respond to God accordingly.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JANUARY 12, 2021 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT BENEDICT BISCOP, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT OF WEARMOUTH
THE FEAST OF SAINT AELRED OF HEXHAM, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT OF RIEVAULX
THE FEAST OF SAINT ANTHONY MARY PUCCI, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST
THE FEAST OF HENRY ALFORD, ANGLICAN PRIEST, BIBLICAL SCHOLAR, LITERARY TRANSLATOR, HYMN WRITER, HYMN TRANSLATOR, AND BIBLE TRANSLATOR
THE FEAST OF SAINT MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS, FOUNDRESS OF THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME
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Above: The Transfiguration
Image in the Public Domain
Judgment and Mercy
FEBRUARY 14, 2021
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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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Malachi 3:19-24/4:1-6
Psalm 99
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:18-36
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How well can we understand the judgment and mercy of God? Christianity dwells on divine mercy yet the New Testament contains plenty of judgment. Need I remind anyone of Revelation? Furthermore, anger and fantasies of violence recur throughout the Psalms. We read of the Day of the LORD in Malachi. In that passage we read, according to TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures (1985), that the faithful will
trample the wicked to a pulp.
Who do we say God is? Who do we say Jesus is? We cannot escape all spiritual veils, for we know in part and carry cultural blinders. Yet we can, by grace, recognize Jesus sufficiently to follow him to Jerusalem, so to speak.
God will tend to judgment and mercy.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
MARCH 22, 2020 COMMON ERA
THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT, YEAR A
THE FEAST OF SAINT DEOGRATIAS, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF CARTHAGE
THE FEAST OF EMMANUEL MOURNIER, PERSONALIST PHILOSOPHER
THE FEAST OF JAMES DE KOVEN, EPISCOPAL PRIEST
THE FEAST OF THOMAS HUGHES, BRITISH SOCIAL REFORMER AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
THE FEAST OF WILLIAM EDWARD HICKSON, ENGLISH MUSIC EDUCATOR AND SOCIAL REFORMER
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Adapted from this post:
https://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2020/03/22/devotion-for-transfiguration-sunday-year-c-humes/
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Above: Icon of the Transfiguration
Image in the Public Domain
FOR THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION (AUGUST 6)
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Appearances can deceive. That statement is true in many contexts. Consider the historical figure we call Jesus (or Jeshua or Joshua) of Nazareth, O reader. I am Christologically orthodox, so I affirm the Incarnation, but I also make a distinction between the Second Person of the Trinity prior to the Incarnation and the person we call Jesus. The distinction I make is a purely historical one; I refer to Jesus as the incarnated Second Person. Perhaps I am splitting a hair. If so, so be it.
As I was writing, appearances can deceive. We do not know what Jesus looked like, but we can be certain that he did not look like a northern European. Reconstructions I have seen plausibly depict Jesus as someone with dark skin, short hair, and brown eyes. One may realistically state that his appearance most days was dramatically different from that on the day of the Transfiguration. One may also ask how the Apostles knew the other two figures were Moses and Elijah, who were not wearing name tags.
The Gospels are more works of theology than history, as I, trained in historical methodology, practice my craft. One should never underestimate the four canonical Gospels as works of finely-honed theology, complete with literary structure. I know this, so I choose not to let the absence of name tags bother me. I accept the theological point that Jesus was and remains consistent with the Law and the Prophets. I also accept the theological point that the Transfiguration revealed the divine glory present in Jesus, en route to die in Jerusalem. The prose poetry, with echoes of Moses encountering God on a mountain, accomplishes its purpose.
What are we supposed to do with this story of Jesus? 2 Peter 1:19 points to the answer:
…the message of the prophets] will go on shining like a lamp in a murky place, until day breaks and the morning star rises to illumine your minds.
—The Revised English Bible (1989)
May the light of Christ illumine our minds and shape our lives. (As we think, we are.) May that light direct our private and public morality, so that we (both individually and collectively) will not betray Jesus in either our deeds or our words. May we take that light with us as we travel with Jesus, and not attempt to box it up, even out of reverence. May the light of Christ shine in us, both individually and collectively, as we, in the words of Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church,
love like Jesus.
We know how Jesus loved, do we not? We know that he loved unconditionally and all the way to the cross. The call of Christian discipleship is the summons to follow Jesus, wherever he leads. Details vary according to where, when, and who one is, but the call,
follow me,
is constant. So is the command to transfigure societies, for the glory of God and for the common good, with the Golden Rule as the gold standard of private and public morals, ethics, and policies.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 7, 2019 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF COLBERT S. CARTWRIGHT, U.S. DISCIPLES OF CHRIST MINISTER, LITURGIST, AND WITNESS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
THE FEAST OF GUGLIELMO MASSAIA, ITALIAN CARDINAL, MISSIONARY, AND CAPUCHIN FRIAR
THE FEAST OF JOHN SCRIMGER, CANADIAN PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER, ECUMENIST, AND LITURGIST
THE FEAST OF SAINT VICTRICIUS OF ROUEN, ROMAN CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR AND ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
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O God, who on your holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son,
wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening:
Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world,
may by faith behold the King in his beauty;
who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit,
lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm 99 or 99:5-9
2 Peter 1:13-21
Luke 9:28-36
—Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints (2010), 509
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Adapted from this post:
https://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/devotion-for-the-feast-of-the-transfiguration-august-6/
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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 XXXVIII 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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Each morning I will destroy
all the wicked of the land,
to rid the city of the LORD
of all evildoers.
–Psalm 101:8, TANAKH: The Holy Scriptures (1985)
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Morning after morning I shall reduce
all the wicked to silence,
ridding the LORD’s city of all evildoers.
–Psalm 101:8, The Revised English Bible (1989)
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Like cattle I destroyed
all the wicked in the land,
Cutting off from the city of Yahweh
the evildoers one and all.
–Psalm 101:8, Mitchell J. Dahood translation
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This post covers four psalms united by the theme of kingship. God is the ideal king, we read; hesed (faithfulness/love/steadfast love/kindness) and justice define His reign. Justice for the oppressed often has detrimental effects on oppressors, predictably. All of us depend completely on God, who has been kind enough to give us law and who has demonstrated judgment and mercy as well as discipline and forgiveness. The ideal human king strives to govern justly and avoid corruption. This is a high standard, one which is impossible to achieve fully. Even the best and most well-intentioned rulers, for example, cannot help but effect some injustice.
The last verse of Psalm 101 interests me. The consensus of the five commentaries I consulted is that the scene is a familiar one in the ancient Near East: a prince sitting at the gate early in the morning and dispensing justice. (See Jeremiah 21:12; Psalm 46:5 or 6, depending on versification; Isaiah 37:36; and Lamentations 3:23.) Mitchell J. Dahood, however, departs from the standard translations (“each morning” and “morning after morning”), noting that they create
the impression that the king was singularly ineffectual; an oriental king who each morning had to rid his land of undesirable citizens was destined for a very short reign.
—Psalms III: 101-150 (1970), page 6
Therefore his rendering of the opening of Psalm 101:8 calls back to Psalm 49:14 or 15 (depending on versification), for that art of the Hebrew text of 101:8 is similar to the Hebrew for “like a calf,” which is parallel to “sheeplike.”
Linguistic nuances are fascinating.
Sin permeates and corrupts our entire being and burdens us more and more with fear, hostility, guilt, and misery. Sin operates not only within individuals but also within society as a deceptive and oppressive power, so that even men of good will are unconsciously and unwillingly involved in the sins of society. Man cannot destroy the tyranny of sin in himself or in his world; his only hope is to be delivered from it by God.
–From A Brief Statement of Belief (1962), Presbyterian Church in the United States
Living up to divine standards is an impossible task for we mere mortals because of the reality of sin, both individual and collective. God knows that, however. May we strive to come as close as possible to that standard, by grace.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
AUGUST 17, 2017 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAMUEL JOHNSON, CONGREGATIONALIST MINISTER, ANGLICAN PRIEST, PRESIDENT OF KING’S COLLEGE, “FATHER OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN CONNECTICUT,” AND “FATHER OF AMERICAN LIBRARY CLASSIFICATION;” TIMOTHY CUTLER, CONGREGATIONALIST MINISTER, ANGLICAN PRIEST, AND RECTOR OF YALE COLLEGE; DANIEL BROWNE, EDUCATOR, CONGREGATIONALIST MINISTER, AND ANGLICAN PRIEST; AND JAMES WETMORE, CONGREGATIONALIST MINISTER AND ANGLICAN PRIEST
THE FEAST OF JONATHAN FRIEDRICH BAHNMAIER, GERMAN LUTHERAN MINISTER AND HYMN WRITER
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Above: The Vision of Cornelius the Centurion, by Gerbrand van den Eeckhout
Image in the Public Domain
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The Collect:
Holy God, mighty and immortal, you are beyond our knowing,
yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
Transform us into the likeness of your Son,
who renewed our humanity so that we may share in his divinity,
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,one God, now and forever. Amen.
—Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 26
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The Assigned Readings:
Deuteronomy 9:1-5 (Thursday)
Deuteronomy 9:6-14 (Friday)
Deuteronomy 9:15-24 (Saturday)
Psalm 99 (All Days)
Acts 3:11-16 (Thursday)
Acts 10:1-8 (Friday)
Luke 10:21-24 (Saturday)
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The LORD is King;
let the people tremble;
he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
let the earth shake.
–Psalm 99:1, The Book of Common Prayer (1979)
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The ways in which God works frequently surprise many people. Declaring the Hebrews, who rebelled against God repeatedly, to be the Chosen People was one example. Working through St. Simon Peter, an impetuous man, and St. Cornelius the Centurion, a Roman soldier, were two more examples. The Incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity as Jesus of Nazareth was unique. And what about hiding wonders
from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children?
–Luke 10:21b, The New Jerusalem Bible (1985)
God chooses to work in ways, many of which surprise or scandalize many mere mortals. Certain heroic figures in the Hebrew Bible were also scoundrels. Oblivious Apostles in the Gospels became great leaders of nascent Christianity. The circumstances of our Lord and Savior’s conception and birth led to decades of whispering behind his back and to his face. Some Gentiles were closer to God than certain prominent Jews. Standard labels might not apply when God is acting. If we have spiritual and/or emotional difficulty with that reality, we need to confess that sin to God, to apologize, and to repent, by grace.
Simply put, if one is St. Simon Peter in an analogy, who is the St. Cornelius whose invitation will lead to an epiphany. And is one willing to have an epiphany?
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
OCTOBER 28, 2015 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES AND MARTYRS
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Adapted from this post:
https://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/devotion-for-thursday-friday-and-saturday-before-the-last-sunday-after-the-epiphany-year-c-elca-daily-lectionary/
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Above: Thanksgiving Meal at Malachi’s Store House, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dunwoody, Georgia, November 19, 2013
Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta
(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5948460403024892561/5948460517178905522?banner=pwa&pid=5948460517178905522&oid=114749828757741527421)
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The Collect:
O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us
and ascended to your right hand.
Unite us with Christ and each other in suffering and joy,
that all the world may be drawn into your bountiful presence,
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 35
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The Assigned Readings:
Leviticus 9:1-11, 22-24 (44th Day)
Numbers 16:41-50 (45th Day)
1 Kings 8:54-65 (46th Day)
Psalm 99 (All Days)
1 Peter 4:1-6 (44th Day)
1 Peter 4:7-11 (45th Day)
John 3:31-36 (46th Day)
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Some Related Posts:
Leviticus 9:
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/devotion-for-the-twenty-third-and-twenty-fourth-days-of-easter-lcms-daily-lectionary/
Numbers 16:
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/devotion-for-the-forty-seventh-day-of-easter-lcms-daily-lectionary/
1 Kings 8:
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2012/12/14/devotion-for-august-25-and-26-lcms-daily-lectionary/
1 Peter 4:
http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2011/07/16/week-of-8-epiphany-friday-year-2/
http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/devotion-for-december-2-in-advent-lcms-daily-lectionary/
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/fortieth-day-of-lent-holy-saturday/
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2011/07/16/week-of-proper-3-friday-year-2/
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2013/06/05/devotion-for-december-2-in-ordinary-time-lcms-daily-lectionary/
John 3:
http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/seventh-day-of-epiphany/
http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/devotion-for-thursday-friday-and-saturday-before-the-fourth-sunday-of-advent-year-a-elca-daily-lectionary/
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/twelfth-day-of-easter/
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The LORD is great in Zion
and is high above all peoples.
Let them confess the name of the LORD,
which is great and awesome;
the LORD is the Holy One.
–Psalm 99:2-3, Book of Common Worship (1993)
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Atonement liberates those who accept it and functions as an indictment of others. C. H. Dodd explained this well in The Founder of Christianity (1970):
In [Jesus’] words and actions he made men aware of [the kingdom of God] and challenged them to respond. It was “good news” in the sense that it meant opportunity for a new start and an unprecedented enrichment of experience. But when a person (or a society) has been presented with such a challenge and declines it, he is not just where he was before. His position is the worse for the encounter. It is this that gives point to the tremendous warnings that Jesus is reported to have uttered about the consequences of rejection….The coming of the kingdom meant the open possibility of enhancement of life; it also meant the heightening of moral responsibility.
–Page 58 of the 1970 paperback edition
Hence we have another example of the juxtaposition of judgment and mercy.
Atonement, accomplished initially by animal sacrifices and an Aaronic priesthood then by Jesus, liberates people to glorify God and serve the needs of each other–to devote themselves to God and keep divine commandments. There are many needs and therefore a host of specific ways to accomplish this goal. One which a certain person might consider trivial another person might find vital, so may nobody say that he or she has little or nothing to offer. No, grace has a multiplying effect on “minor” gifts and supplies us with “major” ones. Nothing is too mundane for serving each other and glorifying God.
Part of the responsibility which free (yet not cheap) grace imparts to us is to pass grace along. We might not be able to see God, but we can detect each other via senses. Although none of us can solve every problem we detect, each of us can do something to ease some of them. Each of us an do his or her part. May each of us prove faithful in his or her part, responding positively to the call of God.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
DECEMBER 20, 2013 COMMON ERA
THE TWENTIETH DAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A
THE FEAST OF SAINT DOMINIC OF SILOS, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT
THE FEAST OF SAINT PETER CANISIUS, ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST
THE FEAST OF KATHERINA VON BORA LUTHER, WIFE OF MARTIN LUTHER
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Adapted from this post:
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/devotion-for-the-forty-fourth-forty-fifth-and-forty-sixth-days-of-easter-year-a-elca-daily-lectionary/
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Above: The Crucifixion, by Michelangelo
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 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 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Jeremiah 37:1-21 (November 18)
Jeremiah 38:1-28 (November 19)
Psalm 51 (Morning–November 18)
Psalm 54 (Morning–November 19)
Psalms 85 and 47 (Evening–November 18)
Psalms 28 and 99 (Evening–November 19)
Matthew 27:33-56 (November 18)
Matthew 27:57-66 (November 19)
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Some Related Posts:
Matthew 27:
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/sunday-of-the-passion-palm-sunday-year-a/
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/fortieth-day-of-lent-holy-saturday/
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Zedekiah (reigned 597-586 BCE) was not the legitimate King of Judah. That office fell properly upon his nephew, Jehoiachin (reigned 597 BCE), per 2 Kings 24:17. Zedekiah, as the Chaldean-appointed regent, had a title but little power. He could not even protect Jeremiah fully. But Zedekiah, to his credit, did consult the prophet. Nevertheless, the time to save Judah from destruction had passed; the kingdom’s fate was sealed, as was that of Zedekiah, who disregarded much of Jeremiah’s advice.
Our Lord’s fate seemed to be sealed. He was dead–made a great and terrible, very public example of by the forces of the Roman Empire. The charge, as in the case of Jeremiah, was false–treason.
Frequently good people (Jesus being the best person) became caught up in the perfidious schemes of others. But God is with the persecuted righteous people, even when they die, have to go into exile, or must suffer another cruel fate–without resurrection in all but one case. The fact that good people find themselves in these difficult situations reflects badly on those who can prevent or could have prevented such situations. Oppressors cannot oppress by themselves. No, they have the passive aid of those who look the other way, who say or do nothing when they can confront. It is safer (for some) to be or remain passive. But such passivity hurts many more people.
May we confess our sins of omission, trusting God to complete the list with those we have forgotten and those we have never recognized. Then may we change our ways–repent–and perform a greater number of good deeds, thereby preventing even more injustice and reducing the amount thereof already extant.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
JUNE 4, 2013 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT FRANCIS CARACCIOLO, COFOUNDER OF THE MINOR CLERKS REGULAR
THE FEAST OF JOHN XXIII, BISHOP OF ROME
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Adapted from this post:
http://ordinarytimedevotions.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/devotion-for-november-18-and-19-lcms-daily-lectionary/
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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