Tuesday June 18 Pentecost 4
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Psalm 78 Part 2
When they were in the desert escaping from Egypt, the people ignored God in spite of God’s immense commitment to them in utterly defeating the Egyptians with plagues. When they finally arrived in the land God had promised, they did the same thing, ignoring God again. That’s why God allowed the foreigners to capture the ark which contained the original stone ten commandments and to kill the priests. But in spite of that, like a warrior waking up refreshed, God routed their enemies and established a temple in Jerusalem and gathered the people together like a skillful shepherd under the leadership of King David.
The poet expresses his interpretation that behind the chaos of history in victories and defeats lies God whose commitment to the people is permanent despite their lack of commitment to God. Nor does the overwhelming military power of their enemies count for anything. This is a good challenge to us as we wonder about the chaos of our time and in what way God is being faithful to humanity now.
Numbers 11.1-23 What’s Numbers about?
These stories of the Israelites complaining during their journey to the promised land seem convoluted and bizarre, but they are a series of stories in which the people, and even Moses, lose trust in God’s commitment to them, and ask to return to the easy life they had as slaves in Egypt. This is a continuing theme of this book—there are consequences for not embracing the new life that God provides, yet in the end God always provides a way forward to new life.
Matthew 17.22-27 What’s Matthew about?
Jesus again announces his coming execution. He is then challenged about paying the hated tax for the temple. This tax was collected by the temple priests but enforced by the Roman empire which then took most of it back to wealthy people in Rome. Jesus points out to his disciples that rulers do not extort tax from their own families, so therefore God does not tax the people. His critique of the temple officials and of the Roman empire was dangerous, and explains why he has just spoken about his own execution.
This week’s collect:
Almighty God, without you we are not able to please you.
Mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.