Wednesday July 14 Pentecost 7
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Psalm 119 Part 2
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 D, H and W (in Hebrew alphabetical order). As you read them, imagine the effect of each line in today’s first section beginning with “D” and so on.
1 Samuel 20: 1-23 What’s Samuel about?
David makes a solemn oath with Jonathan that Jonathan will tell him when King Saul is planning to kill him. In return, David swears to always protect Jonathan’s family. Jonathan arranges to communicate with David through a coded message disguised as archery practice.
While these stories were intended to illustrate the fate that would befall kings such as Jonathan’s father who were not committed to justice for the common people, we can also see the literary skill of the ancient authors who knew their readers would be fascinated with stories of intricate palace intrigue just as journalists today are fascinated by the inner workings of staff at, for example, the White House.
Mark 2: 13-22 What’s Mark about?
Jesus calls a traitor who is extracting cash at sword-point to enrich himself and the hated Romans who protect him. This hated traitor is to be a disciple! The kingdom even includes people who are hated, for good reason. No wonder Jesus is criticized for socializing with such people and for not requiring his disciples to fast. Jesus responds to the criticism by saying that his disciples can’t fast because they are so overjoyed at being accepted. Jesus challenges his critics to change their attitude and to become part of the new kingdom rather than having half their loyalty linked to the old ways of oppressive power that are incompatible with God’s new life.
This week’s collect:
Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless
until they find their rest in you.
May we find peace in your service,
and in the world to come, see you face to face;
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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