Monthly Archives: November 2019

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posted 11.27.19

Readings

Isaiah 2:1-5  •  Psalm 122  •  Romans 13:11-14  •  Matthew 24:36-44

Backstory

Isaiah 2:1-5

In the first and second chapter of Isaiah, the prophet ‘sees’ God’s word concerning Judah and Jerusalem.  In chapter one, what Isaiah ‘sees’ is the wickedness of Judah, and in Jerusalem, he ‘sees’ the degenerate nature of the city and the inhabitants.  Statements such as ‘Your country lies desolate, your cities are burned with fire’, [you are a] ’sinful nation’, [you are a] ‘people laden with iniquity’ and [have] ‘offspring who do evil’, on top of this, the city of Jerusalem is called a ‘whore’ who was once ‘filled with justice.’  God’s response  is to hide his eyes and cover his ears.  The call is for the people is to ‘cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.’  Then, in chapter two following our focus passage, Isaiah ‘sees’ a condemnation on the arrogance of those who reject God’s truth yet maintain an image of religiousity.  Squeezed in between these two messages of warning and condemnation God tells, and shows, the prophet what Jerusalem will be.  The prophesy of a city where truth will be learned and go out to other cities and nations.  A place where ‘peoples’ of all nations and backgrounds will gather and a time where peace will be sought and taught.  Isaiah is planting the seeds of a personal relationship with God, a non-geographical personal faith founded on God’s work and grace that will spring forth from within each follower, regardless of location, heritage or background.

Psalm 122 (Responsive Reading)

Psalm 122, said to be written by King David, is one of fifteen Psalms called the Songs of Ascent.  The songs are thought to have been sung by the worshippers or or priestly singers on their way up to Jerusalem.  Psalms such as this were a special treat centuries later to the Israelites who were in exile in Bablylon as they remembered the city of Jerusalem and the constant hope for joy and peace.

Romans 13:11-14

Romans is Paul’s instruction to the church teaching faith and, therefore, how to live life as faithful followers of Christ.  In this passage, Paul is urging the followers to ‘get to it,’ to jump with both feet in and start living what they believe.  The telling factor in the passage is not so much what is in it but, instead, what precedes it.  After you read verses 11-14 go back and read verses 6-10 to see what Paul is telling the followers of Christ to start doing in their lives.  Paul is telling the Christians to start loving each other which is the sum of all he has taught – ‘Love,’ Paul says, ‘is the fulfillment of the law.’

Matthew 24:36-44

The gospel of Matthew, which gives the most extensive account of Jesus’ life and teachings, was written around eighty years after the birth of Jesus.  Matthew was written about a decade after the gospel of Mark. As the two books were being written every aspect of life, religion, and faith was in different stages of turmoil.  When the gospel of Mark was shared the Jews were in a brutal revolt against the Romans; Matthew was written after the revolt had been defeated by the Romans and the temple had been destroyed.  Mark was written to Christ followers who were living with an earthly hope for change while still having the intuition of their Jewish existence still a reality; Matthew was written to Christ followers who had seen much of the foundational Jewish religious practices, and leaders, gone and now the hopes for a return of Christ seemed a futile fantasy.  God’s leading in the writing of Matthew was to give a broader big picture look which included the Old Testament, a larger look at the life and teachings of Jesus, the return of Christ, and eternity all tied together.  Our passage for this week is preceded by an emphasis on the return of Jesus – in their current state of increased oppression by the Romans, the followers of Christ are becoming increasingly skeptical of such a victorious event as Jesus’ return.  While our small passage has an undeniable eschatological (end times, Jesus’ return, ‘Parousia’) emphasis, there is much more applicable truth to this teaching from Christ than the mere message of rapture theology (the interpretation that followers of Christ will be mysteriously taken to heaven prior to the difficult events of Jesus’ return). This passage is a strong encouragement to believers to live now and to not stop living their lives in the midst of their faith.

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posted 11.20.19

Readings

Jeremiah 23:1-6 •  Psalm 46  •  Colossians 1:11-20  •  Luke 23:33-43

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Jeremiah 23:1-6

Jeremiah had spent the entirety of his life as a prophet calling the people back to God.  His passion was not only rooted in his understanding of the consequences of their actions (defeat and exile) but also in his own recognition of God existing in every facet of his life.  Jeremiah, a man who had given up every earthly standard of life and success, desired that the people would know a life that transcended the expectations of the low bar set by his fellow human beings.  In this passage, Jeremiah is pronouncing the guilt of the political and religious leaders.  Although he does not remove the blame on the people for their coming misery, he is also proclaiming that the leaders share equal responsibility.  The leaders’ refusal to turn back to God and, instead, pursuit of please the earthly leaders over them, has led to their abandonment of their obligations to shepherd their people.

Psalm 46 (responsive reading)

The Israelites were facing an unkind and possibly unfamiliar situation in the developments of natural upheavals (earthquakes, storms, etc.) along with political surprises (invasions, attacks, etc.).  This Psalm addresses both of these new realities in the lives of the people and recognizes this new normal. The people are called back to a focus and hope on God, along with a recognition of God as their leader and King.  The Psalmist brings this calling to an undeniable close with the words, “Be still, and know that I am God!” and “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”

Colossians 1:11-20

The group of Christian believers at Colossae, much like others churches we have seen addressed in the letters of Paul, were highly susceptible to false teachings.  Problematic elements of their faith included Jewish legalism, Greek philosophies, mysticism, the worship of angels, and deep an extreme belief that their bodies were evil (meaning that their focus was to conquer and discipline their own bodies).  Paul’s call to the Colossians was to understand the divine and human reality of Jesus along with his exalted status.  To see the amazing fact that Jesus was, and is, God and that he also lived as a human accomplishing, for us, what we could not, and cannot, do for ourselves.

Luke 23:33-43

We end our journey to Jerusalem with Jesus at the cross just a week before we begin Advent and the time of expectation of the newborn Christ (we will see the resurrection following lent and before Pentecost in a couple of months).  This is where Jesus has been headed and we see what is a true King is as Jesus accepts and hangs on the cross.  There is no pride, no pleas for rescue, no venomous spewing of hostilities and hatred, there is no attempt to secure a favorable heritage in the eyes of those watching him die in agony and pain – we only see forgiveness and, oddly, peace.  Jesus death gives us life.

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11.17.19

Readings

Psalm 98  •  Isaiah 65:17-25  •  Malachi 4:1-2a5  •  2 Thessalonians 3:6-13  •  Luke 21:5-19

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Psalm 98 (Responsive Reading)

Once again we are reminded that only God is truly God.  Last week we saw King David himself proclaim that an earthly King is not, and never will be, God. Psalm 98 takes that acknowledgement a bit further by proclaiming the fact that God is God is enough to call us to a joyful praise in the midst of every circumstance and situation.  Not only does our recognition of God bring us to praise but it also brings us to a joy filled trust in God as the one that judges each of us. A true knowledge of God brings us to a expectation of the new and renewed he brings to us.

Isaiah 65:17-25

In this third part of the book of Isaiah, the prophet begins to tell the people what God will do after the exile.  During the time in Babylon, the exiled Jews had been slaves, building houses for others to live in and basically never seeing the fruits of their labors.  In this look at the future, Isaiah tells the people that God is creating something new where they will see the fruits, experience health, and know freedom.  More importantly, the people will not remember the pain of their path and will experience forgiveness of their sin.  While this prophesy is often used by Christian eschatologist, it is directly written to the exiled Israelites to grab hold and prepare to be a part of this new work that God is doing.  It is a call to watch and work, mostly, however, it is a call to trust God.

Malachi 4:1-2a5

Malachi is the final book of the Old Testament addressing the people after the exile and after temple is rebuilt.  While being a prophesy of certain hope, Malachi is primarily pronouncing the sinful nature of the priests and people.  In the short time since the exiles have returned, rebuilt the temple and restored Jerusalem and Judah, they have also turned their backs on God once again. This short passage from Malachi confronts the sin of the people while reminding them, once again, of the healing and restoration that awaits at their return to God.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

The church at Thessalonica was a community of believers that truly needed each other.  They were considered an enigmatic group to the non-believers of the city and a threat to the political and religious leaders.  Most in the church at Thessalonica did not have a Jewish past and were susceptible to the false teachers traveling through the area.  They also were faced actual persecution and, sometimes, were not allowed the basic freedoms of purchasing food and needed goods for their own survival.  They needed each other to help navigate life and faith.  There were those in their midst who had a very questionable faith combined with a draining one sided manner of relating.  They were not really functioning members of the Christian community but rather were selfishly using the other believers.  Paul tells the church to treat these questionable believers with the love of a brother while, at the same time, not permitting them to cause an undue burden on, or a distraction to, the church.

Luke 21:5-19

Jesus is now in the temple at Jerusalem with his disciples during the week leading up to his crucifixion.  As they stand in the temple an elderly widow give all that she has in the offering but the followers of Christ only seem to notice the man-made beauty of the building and ornaments. Jesus confronts their inability to see the sacrifice of the widow and instead focusing on things that will soon be torn down and destroyed.  As Christ points out their failure to see God’s work he addresses their priorities and faith knowing that they are soon to face a loss that will challenge everything they see as valuable.

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Sunday, November 10, 2019

Lectionary Readings

Haggai 1:14-2:9  •  Psalm 145  •  Job 19:23-27a  •  2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17  •  Luke 20:27-38

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Haggai 1:14-2:9 (it may help to also read Ezra 3:8-13)

The exiled Israelites are now back in Jerusalem, and Judah, after seventy plus years in exile and slavery.  They are rebuilding from the damage created by their own disobedience before the exile as well as the destruction of the invading Babylonian forces.  There is a great deal of vision, excitement, and exhaustion but also, among the elder returnees,  there is much disappointment.  The older generation, while excited to be home, remembers the beauty and grandeur of the past.  They watch the foundation laid for the new temple and see that it is smaller and in no way compares to the past glory of their memories.  While others cheer, this generation weeps.  The prophets remind them of God’s outpouring in their release from captivity and that he has much more to bless and give – but also caution that God’s new work may not look the same or live up to what they think was superiority of the past.

Psalm 145 (responsive reading)

The Psalm, written by King David, is a personal, and national, recognition that God is God and a King is not God.  Following slavery, the people who are still discovering themselves as well as well as grasping who God is, are now free but under the thumb of the Persian Empire who conquered the Babylonians.  They have demanded of God, and received, their own King, but now are having to learn that a King is not God – and, it is their own King who is making this proclamation.  This moment is emphasized through a recognition of who God is and all that he has done.

Job 19:23-27a

Job is struggling.  His life has been turn upside down and now he is thought to hold the blame for his own suffering.  A great deal of the book of Job is an account of his quest, and demand, for vindication of this perceived guilt.  In chapter 19 he is now vacillating between receiving this vindication post mortem via a relative who can attest to his innocence or, his true desire, to hear and see God proclaim Job’s innocence.  His desire for an earthly, and eternal, vindication comes at the end of the book of Job as God meets him – then, Job is satisfied.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

Someone, or some group, has stirred up the church at Thessalonia teaching that the end days, the time of judgement (the Day of the Lord), are upon them. While many, even today, mistake this passage as being fully apocalyptic (end times teaching), it is actually a message of comfort and peace.  Paul reminds the church of what God has done while encouraging them to keep holding tight to God and what they have already been doing.  Paul tells the church to not be deceived by these false teachers of division and fear and, instead, to let the God of love and grace comfort and strengthen their hearts so they can do the same in the midst of their community.

Luke 20:27-38

The Sadducees were a community of priests who did not believe in the afterlife or resurrection.  They were, as a rule, more legalistic than the other primary priests community, the Pharisees.  In Luke 20 we see Jesus, now in Jerusalem and in the temple, facing an onslaught of religiously motivated intellectual attacks by the different religious leaders.  Our focus passage involves a group of Sadducees who attempt to engage Jesus in a debate about the reality of resurrection and life after death. They do this through a less than subtle legalistic approach revealing their attitudes towards women.  As the Sadducees think they have a fool proof plan to ‘win’ intellectually against Jesus, they instead, have many of their own faulty beliefs destroyed. Jesus not only presents proof of the resurrection, from the sadducees’ own accepted source, he also discredits their non-belief about angels. In the end, all the different religious leaders give up their effort to defeat Jesus on an intellectual and religious front choosing to walk away for the moment.