Daily Scripture Readings |
||
Saturday (November 19, 2005) |
||
Daily Office Lectionary, The Book of Common Prayer, the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. |
Daily Lectionary, The Book of Worship, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. |
Daily Lectionary, Book of Worship Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship, c. 1978 (2002 printing) |
http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi |
||
Unless otherwise indicated, the scripture texts quoted are from The New Revised Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers), 1989. |
||
According to Proper28* |
According to Proper 28* |
According to Proper 27* |
Saturday: AM Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13) PM Psalm 33 Isa. 65:17-25 Rev. 22:14-21 Matt. 18:21-35 Elizabeth of Hungary: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Elizabeth_Hungary.htm Psalm 146:4-9 or 112:1-9 Tobit 12:6b-9; Matthew 25:31-40 or Luke 12:32-34 |
Morning: Psalm 122:1-9 Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3, 5-18 Revelation 22:14-21 Matthew 18:21-35 Evening: Psalm 100:1-5 |
Saturday Morning Pss.: 122, 149 Evening Pss.: 100, 63 |
NOTE: Comments on passages from Isaiah, Revelation, and Matthew below are adapted from an email message sent November 21, 2003, for the weekend.
Isaiah 65:17-25
17 For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
and their descendants as well.
24 Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord. (Isaiah 65:17-25, NRSV)
A Look Ahead
Saturday's reading from Isaiah promises God's creation of "new heavens/and a new earth" (Isa. 65:17) at a time when, for him, many things seemed wrong `with the present earth. In recent readings, John too sees "a new heaven and a new earth" (Rev. 21:1), which includes a magnificent vision of "the holy city, the new Jerusalem" (v. 2). John continues Isaiah's hope and vision, but again in a time of trouble, oppression and personal exile (Rev. 1:9). Sunday's reading turns to an earlier vision of Isaiah, when he sees Israel, Egypt and Assyria, traditional enemies worshiping the LORD together (Isa. 19:19-25). But in Monday's reading, the prophet Joel sees judgment on the nations in "the valley of Jehoshaphat" (Joel 3:2, 12), especially "the nations who were cruel toward Israel" (R.A. Henshaw, HarperCollins Study Bible). We don't know the location of the valley of Jehoshaphat, but `Jehoshaphat means "The Lord judges." This valley "was undoubtedly chosen in this prophecy for its symbolic meaning" (Henshaw).
Isaiah envisions “new heavens and a new earth” which God will create (Isa. 65:17; cf. Rev. 21:1). He will create “Jerusalem as a joy,/and its people as a delight” (Isa. 65:18; cf. Rev. 21:1-22:5). “No more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,/or the cry of distress” (Isa. 65:19; cf. Rom. 21:4). There will be no break-down in communication or fellowship between God and his people, for “Before they call I will answer,/while they are yet speaking I will hear” (Isa. 65:24). The reading from Isaiah concludes by repeating in 65:25 an abridged version of 11:6-9 “to complete the picture of the new Jerusalem: a return to the first creation, a peaceful kingdom in which no creatures, human or animal, kill for food (Gen. 1:29-30; cf. 9:1-7)” (Joseph Blenkinsopp, NOAB, 3rd ed., on Isa. 65:25).
The following text and comments on Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3, 5-18 are repeated here from Wednesday, November 9, 2005.
Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3, 5-18
The People Gathered to Hear the Law of Moses Read
When the seventh month came--the people of Israel being settled in their towns--8 1 all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
[4 The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.]
Ezra Reads with Interpretation
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved." 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
The Festival of Booths Celebrated (Cp Lev 23.33-43)
13 On the second day the heads of ancestral houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to the scribe Ezra in order to study the words of the law. 14 And they found it written in the law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the people of Israel should live in booths during the festival of the seventh month, 15 and that they should publish and proclaim in all their towns and in Jerusalem as follows, "Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written." 16 So the people went out and brought them, and made booths for themselves, each on the roofs of their houses, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them; for from the days of Jeshua son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. They kept the festival seven days; and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance. (Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3, 5-18, NRSV)
In the seventh month, “all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate” (Neh. 8:1a), to hear the scribe Ezra read from “the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel” (v. 1b). Some listened attentively “who could hear with understanding,” presumably to the Hebrew text (v. 2), but others required interpretation (v. 8), which was provided by thirteen named persons and “the Levites” (v. 7). The translation would have been into Aramaic, which suggests a beginning for the Jewish practice of reading the scripture in Hebrew and providing a translation (targum, cf. Ezra 4:7, where certain people “write to King Artaxerxes of Persia; the letter was written in Aramaic and translated (meturgām) into Aramaic” (NRSV, with text note a),
Ezra and Nehemiah tell the people not to weep. “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep” (Neh. 8:9). Instead they are to eat and share their food, “for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (v. 10). Perhaps they had wept because of failure to keep the law, but “Ezra and Nehemiah emphasize that the Torah is ultimately a source of joy” (Tamara Cohn Eskenazi, NOAB, 3rd ed., on Neh. 8:9).
This study of the Torah leads the priests and Levites to realize “that the people of Israel should live in booths during the festival of the seventh month” (Neh. 8:14; cf. Lev. 23:42-43), and plans are made to observe the festival of booths. Eskenazi notes that “the fast of the Day of Atonement (set for the tenth of the month in Lev. 23:26-32) is not mentioned” (NOAB, 3rd ed., on Neh. 9:14).
Revelation 22:14-21
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book; 19 if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen. (Revelation 22:14-21, NRSV)
Saturday's reading concludes selections from Revelation. Those who are faithful, “who wash their robes . . . will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates” (Rev. 22:14), whereas “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (v. 15). There is a clear and distinct separation–based on God’s judgment, and made by God–a final separation of the sheep from the goats (Mt. 25:33, cf. vv. 31-46). C. S. Lewis puts it well in an often quoted statement from The Screwtape Letters, “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right, then, have it your way’.” Imbedded within this passage is an invitation extended to any who will respond:
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. (Rev. 22:17, NRSV)
Compare Jesus’ invitation as he spoke to those in the temple for the Feast of Tabernacles:
Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” (Jn. 6:37b-38, NRSV)
I cannot overlook the word “anyone” in these invitations (which I have put in bold face print above).
Matthew 18:21-35
Forgiveness
21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:12-22, NRSV)
Compare Luke 17:4:
And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.
The Unforgiving Servant
23 “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25 and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31 When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18:23-35, NRSV)
When Peter asks how often to forgive “another member of the church” (Mt. 18:21), the Lord’s answer is short and to the point: “Seventy-seven times” (v. 22), a multiple (11 x 7) of Peter’s suggested “seven times” (v. 21). The emphasis is placed on forgiveness as “the guiding principle in church relations and resolving conflict” (J. Andrew Overman, NOAB, 3rd ed., on Mt. 18:21). Similar numbers appear in Genesis 4:24 (Overman), but in that context vengeance, not forgiveness, is the subject.
Whereas God avenged the death of Abel, Lamech takes vengeance into his own hands; he exacts death only for an injury; he appropriates God’s own measures and intensifies the level of retribution, so much so that only a blood feud could ensue (see Matt. 18:21-22 for Jesus’ reversal of Lamech’s boast). The song shows how Cain’s violence had been intensified through the generations. Progress in sin and its effects matches the progress in civilization. (Terence E. Fretheim, on Gen. 4:17-26 in The New Interpreter’s Bible, vol. 1, 1994, p. 375).
Luke works the saying about forgiveness into a context on the peril of causing “one of these little ones to stumble” (Lk. 17:2, cf. vv. 1-4). In its own way, Luke’s “multiple” of seven, “seven times a day” (v. 4) also intensifies the emphasis on forgiveness. In Matthew, Jesus illustrates his teaching about forgiveness (Mt. 18:21-22) with the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (not reported in the other Gospels), which comes to a point in the king's rebuke: "You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt [10,000 talents, v. 24] because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?" (vv. 32-33). "A talent was worth more than fifteen years' wages of a laborer" (NRSV note r), so "Ten thousand talents is an unimaginable amount" (D. C. Duling, HarperCollins Study Bible).
Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.
rdworden@hgst.edu
rworden@houston.rr.com