Wednesday July 28 Pentecost 9
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Psalm 119 Part 4
Psalm 119 is a meditation on responding to God’s call to justice. Every verse contains some synonym for “justice”, such as “word”, “statute”, “commandment” or the like. The psalm is arranged in groups of eight verses. Each verse in the group starts with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet – the first group of eight verses all start with A, the second group all start with B and so on. The first seven verses mirror the seven days of creation, with the eighth sometimes pointing to the next group. This very careful construction mirrors God’s creating the universe by overcoming chaos with order. In the human world, justice, dignity and fulfilment – the outcomes of justice – are the expressions of order in the human world. The human world and the rest of creation are thus united. Today’s three sections begin with the letters Y, K and L (in Hebrew alphabetical order). As you read them, imagine the effect of each line in today’s first section beginning with “Y” and so on.
2 Samuel 3: 22-39 What’s Samuel about?
After Abner leaves, the family whose son he had killed in battle falsely accuses him of betraying David. The family lure Abner back and murder him in revenge. Abner’s death would easily be interpreted as David attempting to wipe out the house of Saul, but David had vowed to Jonathan that he would protect the rest of Saul’s family. So, to demonstrate his innocence, David curses the family who had murdered Abner. David weeps for Abner and everyone understands that it was not David’s fault. It may be that the writer of this part of the saga was aware of accusations that David had broken his vow and was exacting revenge on his enemies, and so tells the story in this way to exonerate David.
Mark 6: 47-56 What’s Mark about?
Jesus walks on the water in a storm. This is another miracle with a meaning. Walking on the water in a storm (not walking across a swimming pool!) means that God is king over all storms. The storms are starting to arise—Herod has started hunting Jesus, and his hometown has turned against him. We have hope when under attack because God in Jesus can walk right through the storms in our lives.
This week’s collect:
O God,
the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy,
increase and multiply upon us your mercy,
that with you as our ruler and guide,
we may so pass through things temporal,
that we lose not the things eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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