Friday July 2 Pentecost 5
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Psalm 140
A cry to God for help against enemies who are strong and trust that God will help the poor and needy.
Psalm 142
A cry to God to help when there is no hope. If God acts to save me, I will then be able to praise God again.
1 Samuel 13: 19—14: 15 What’s Samuel about?
The Philistines have prevented the Israelites from gaining access to their military technology of sharpening swords. The Israelites have no way of sharpening swords for battle. However, Saul’s son, Jonathan, trusts totally in God, and makes a secret attack on the Philistines with only one person to assist him. He is victorious beyond all expectation, proving that trusting in God is all that is needed.
This seems to be a precursor of the story of how the next king, David, defeated the Philistine Goliath all by himself with only his armour-bearer for company and without military technology. In contrast, Jonathan’s father King Saul, has not trusted in God and is not accomplishing such feats. We can see how his days as king are numbered.
Luke 23: 26-31 What’s Luke about?
Jesus’ immanent execution is an unmitigated disaster.
Subsequent Christian interpretation has of course understood this as God’s way of bringing victory over evil, but we can too easily forget that to do so God, in Jesus, entered fully into the horror of an ancient execution. Is there nothing God will not do to ensure the victory of justice and inclusion of all?
This week’s collect:
Almighty God,
you have taught us through your Son
that love fulfils the law.
May we love you with all our heart,
all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength,
and may we love our neighbour as ourselves;
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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