Thursday August 19 Pentecost 12
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Psalm 134
A very brief two-verse psalm of praise for God, and of blessing from God.
Psalm 135
Praise to God who brings fertility and defeats foreign kings, and who defeated the Egyptians so Israel could go free, and who upholds justice. This God is so much greater than the pointless non-gods that other nations worship.
Thank goodness we know the God of justice is real, and the competing destructive public policies in our day are ultimately powerless.
2 Samuel 19: 1-23 What’s Samuel about?
David continues to mourn for Absalom, and Joab accuses him of caring more for his son than for the people. His kingship is only about himself. Joab outlines the consequences: David will lose his kingship. David secures the loyalty of all who had previously followed Absalom and forgives the man who had cursed him. He is now acting like a responsible king.
Mark 12: 28-34 What’s Mark about?
A religious leader poses a final and highly controversial question about which of the six hundred Old Testament commandments is the most important. He agrees with Jesus that being just, which is to love God completely, is more important than purely religious observances. Jesus praises his insight even though he had asked the question to lure Jesus into controversy. The confrontation is escalating and from now on Jesus takes the initiative in confronting his attackers by posing questions to them.
This week’s collect:
Almighty God,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and sent into our hearts the Spirit of your Son.
Give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that all people may know the glorious liberty
of the children of God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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