Psalm: 21 Meditation John: There are at least two confessions of faith in this reading: Philip and Nathanael. Philip says something curious as he speaks with Nathanael: “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the law and about whom the prophets also wrote…” (v. 45) Nathanael’s response to Jesus (and thus to himself): …
Author: Elisabeth
Saturday, August 1
Psalms: 41 Meditation 2 Samuel: I think Shakespeare pilfered a thought which he employs in Macbeth Act IV scene I. When the LORD encourages David against the Philistines the strategy includes listening to “the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out …
Friday, July 31
Psalms: 51:1-17 Meditation Acts: Paul was a troublemaker. When in Thessalonica he had challenged the Jews therewith the gospel explaining that Jesus was the Christ and then backed it up with the Scripture (only the Old Testament). The Jews then formed a mob and started a riot. The Romans were skittish about riots for they …
Thursday, July 30
Psalm: 72 Meditation Mark: What is clean and what is unclean? We tend to be no better than the Pharisees – actors all of us. The debate here is what does “clean” mean? Jesus is rather clear the “nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him.” (v. 15) We see the …
Wednesday, July 29
Psalms: 119:73-96 Meditation 2 Samuel: Joab vs. Abner. In chapter 2 of 2 Samuel, Abner, Ish-Bosheth’s (son of Saul) chief general found it necessary, though reluctantly, to kill Asahel (Joab’s brother). The flame of revenge burns hot. Abner had fashioned a reconciliation between David and Ish-Bosheth to end the civil war. David grants Abner safe …
Tuesday, July 28
Psalm: 107 Meditation Acts: Paul, Silas and their companions roamed (aimlessly, as I see it) throughout the region (Asia Minor) but the Lord and the Holy Spirit prevented them from going deeper into Asia and Bithynia (the northern region of Asia Minor). We have come to term Paul’s shift to Macedonia as the “big left …
Monday, July 27
Psalm: 148 Meditation Mark: This rather grizzly account of the death of John the Baptist typifies how prophets were treated. John the Baptist “spoke truth to power” reminding Herod (Antipas) that it was unlawful for him to take and marry is brother Philip’s wife Herodias. There is no record of divorce between Philip and Herodias. …
Sunday, July 26
Psalm: 105 Meditation 2 Samuel: King Saul is now dead and although David is King in Judah, he has yet to consolidate his power to include the Northern Tribes. Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, is slated to become king in the north. The funeral elegy cited here is written by David in honor or King Saul …
Saturday, July 25
Psalms: 54, 56 Meditation Acts: Antioch (Syria), at least this time the writer (Luke) was clearer. The context tells us that Judaizes (those who require circumcision among other things (had infiltrated the church in Antioch causing great stress among the congregants. The Apostles and elders wrote a letter to the Antiochian church to assure these …
Friday, July 24
Psalms: 40 Meditation Mark: The obvious good things in this scripture are the healing of the woman with the bleeding issue and Jairus’ daughter being raised from the dead. What may get lost are a few details. The woman with the bleeding was considered “unclean” all the time of her affliction (12 years) It is …
