BCP Daily Office Lectionary for Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004
Source: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/index.htm
Morning Psalm(s): AM Psalm 20, 21:1-7(8-14) [PCUSA: 90]
Evening Psalm(s): PM Psalm 110:1-5(6-7), 116, 117 [PCUSA: 80]
Old Testament: Isa. 4:2-6
Epistle: 1 Thess. 4:13-18
Gospel: Luke 21:5-19
John of Damascus -- See the index (link given above) for special readings.
Presbyterian Readings with Biblical Text for the Current Day:
http://www.pcusa.org/cgi-bin/lectiond.cgi
Since more than eighty percent of Isaiah is poetry–count the verses printed in poetry lines and stanzas--4:2-6 stands out as a prose promise of Jerusalem’s restoration sandwiched between poetic stanzas that announce judgment. “The Branch of the LORD” that will “be beautiful and glorious” (Isa. 4:2) is “the righteous remnant (3:10; compare the Messiah as Branch in 11:1; Jer. 23:5)” (Victor R. Gold and William Holladay, NOAB). The passage seems to promise what the following passage regrets losing. “The fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel” (v. 2), not “wild grapes” (5:2). But this happy condition is for the “survivors,” who remain “in Jerusalem” and “will be called holy,” who have “been recorded for life in Jerusalem” (4:3), “once the Lord has washed away the filth . . . and cleansed the bloodstains” (v. 4). “Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its places of assembly a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night” (v. 5), symbols of God’s presence as Moses led the people from Egypt to the Promised Land.
Paul reassures the Thessalonian believers that persons who have died (1 Thess. 4:13) will not miss out on the coming (parousia, v. 15) of the Lord, but “the dead in Christ will rise first” (v. 16). Paul had taught them that “the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven” (v. 16). They must have wondered about those who had died recently, or perhaps would die soon. Some believe that Paul’s early, unplanned departure from Thessalonica (Acts 17:10, cf. vv. 5-9), perhaps left some confusion on the matter. But Paul’s promise is for all of the believers. “The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever” (vv. 16-17).
When Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple (Lk. 21:6, cf. Mk. 13:2; Mt. 24:2), he is asked “When will this be?” (Lk. 21:7; Mk. 13:4; Mt. 24:3), and, according to Matthew, “What will be the sign of your coming (parousia) and of the close of the age?” Jesus’ answer refers to “many who will come in my name” (Lk. 21:8; Mk. 13:6; Mt. 24:5), “wars and tumults” (Lk. 21:9) or “wars and rumors of wars” (Mk. 13:7; Mt. 24:6), conflicts between nations (Lk. 21:10 and parallels), earthquakes, famines, pestilences and terrors (v. 11 and parallels). Jesus predicts persecutions and court trials for Christians (v. 12 and parallels) which become opportunities for Christian witness (v. 13 ). Jesus provides reassurance for the disciples, “for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to understand or contradict” (v. 15). “You will be delivered up . . . and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish” (vv. 16-18). Many of these things have happened repeatedly, but our Christian hope remains. When and how the “end” will come (Mk. 13:13; Mt. 24:13) is something God knows.
Ronald D. Worden, Ph.D.