Sermon Illustrations for Proper 12 | OT 17 (2021)
Illustration
2 Samuel 11:1-15
It’s hard to deal with the fact, for some of us, that we can’t do everything we used to do. The young David slayed Goliath. The people sang how Saul killed his thousands and David his tens of thousands. The future king, anointed by Samuel, engages in one military adventure after another. When he finally enters Jerusalem, the new capital of a united kingdom, he unapologetically dances so vigorously ahead of the Ark of the Covenant that he earns the disdain of his wife Michal.
But in this passage, when spring rolls around between the winter rains and harvesttime, David does not put on his gear and go to war, as we might expect. There’s a subtle play on words in this first verse that may be intentional. Hebrew words are built around three consonant roots. In this case the three letters, MLK, that serve as the root for kings malakim, are also the root for messengers (and angels, by the way), mal’akim. There are textual variants in the manuscripts so that sometimes it seems that the word ‘kings’ appears here, and sometimes ‘messengers.’ But the king does not go out. Perhaps it’s not as easy for him to do so. Perhaps he’s frustrated. Instead, a messenger, Joab with his personal guard and all of Israel, head out to take care of business.
When people deal with advancing years and limitations, we often have different strategies. We might take up an exercise program, put time into our gardens, buy a new car, or plan a trip. We might sit down to write that novel we’ve always talked about. David? Hmm….
Frank R.
* * *
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Dwight L. Moody shared a parable that Charles Spurgeon had written. Spurgeon told about a tyrant who summoned one of his subjects into his presence and ordered him to make a chain. The poor blacksmith — that was his occupation — had to go to work and forge the chain. When it was done, he brought it to the king and was ordered to take it away and make it twice the length. He brought it to the tyrant and was ordered again to double it. He worked and brought it back. The king looked at it and then commanded his servants to bind the man hand and foot with the chain he had made and cast him into prison.
“That is what the devil does with men,” Spurgeon wrote. “He makes them forge their own chain, and then binds them hand and foot with it, and casts them into outer darkness.”
“Bound with one’s own chain” is a powerful image, and a good depiction of what King David does in 2 Samuel 11. David sees Bathsheba and lusts for her. His lust gives way to sin. His sin leads to more sin and ultimately, it leads to death. What James wrote years later is realized here. “But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires, he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” David is bound with his own chain of lust, sin, and corruption.
Bill T.
* * *
Ephesians 3:14-21
In the most recent poll on the subject (2019) by Barna research, it was found that eighteen to twenty million Americans feel their spirituality is unhealthy or are dissatisfied with their spirituality. There is no reason to think things have gotten much better. (Note instances in the congregation served where people express concern about not being a “good enough Christian.”) In one of his sermons, Martin Luther addresses this concern. He proclaimed:
Accordingly, here again the heart shall grow and become strong against all sorrow, because such wealth of unfathomable divine love is set before us, flowing from a fatherly heart and having its source in the highest virtue which is the fountain of all good, and which therefore makes the gift valuable and precious... (Complete Sermons, Vol. 2/1 , p.354)
And in a sermon on this very text, the first reformer made clear why we need not be so tough on ourselves and our spirituality:
The Holy Spirit brings Christ into the heart and teaches it to know him. He imparts warmth and courage through faith in Christ... Now, if Christ dwells on my heart and regulates my entire life, it matters not though my faith be weak. (Complete Sermons, Vol. 3/2, p.354)
Mark E.
* * *
Ephesians 3:14-21
Paul seeks to remind us that his prayer for us is to know the fulfillment of the love of Christ that exceeds all human understanding. As a wife, mother, grandmother, and pastor, I try to anchor my life in that love and to share it with others — all the others I encounter in my personal and professional life. How deeply do you feel the love of God? How deeply do you share the love of God? With whom do you share God’s love? Paul reminds us that we can accomplish more with the love and support, the grace of God, than we could accomplish alone. So, when I am having trouble being loving, when my human anger or anguish gets in the way, I remember to pray and to seek God’s strength in being all I am called to be. Would that we all do the same.
Bonnie B.
* * *
John 6:1-21
Philip Yancey wrote, “Though they did not solve all problems on earth, Jesus’ miracles were a sign of how the world should be, and someday will be.” I like that quote. It is from a blog post that Yancey wrote to discuss miracles.
I considered that quote as I looked again at a familiar story, the feeding of the 5,000. That story, as you already know, reflects problems that could happen today. There were too many people and not enough food. The disciples had no answer for what to do. Eight months wages wouldn’t buy enough for everyone to even have a bite. All the resources they could muster was the equivalent of a first century lunchable, five loaves and two fish. In Jesus’ hands, though, it was more than enough.
This miracle of Jesus was not done to win the crowds over or give him power. When they wanted to make him king, he fled from them. It wasn’t done to curry favor with anyone in authority. This miracle was performed because people were hungry and needed food. That’s the Jesus we see in the gospels. That’s the Jesus we need.
Bill T.
* * *
John 6:1-21
This is the beginning of five weeks of sermons built around the sixth chapter of John. That’s pretty daunting. And boring, maybe. Granted, John’s gospel is multi-layered. John’s Greek is simple but always subtle. There’s stuff there that’s worth digging out. If only Jesus wouldn’t keep talking and talking.
On the other hand, this is Jesus that is talking. That’s got to be important. But how can we listen, on and on, for five weeks?
It begins with first things first. Nobody can listen to the words of life on an empty stomach. The basic needs of security — housing, clothing, eating — have to be fulfilled before a person can truly listen to the good news. At least that seems to be what Jesus is emphasizing.
There are some key words early on in this passage. The crowd is following Jesus because they saw the signs. John’s gospel is big on signs. The miracles are signs. And signs point to something. They are directions to our destination. In the very next verse, John reminds us that the Passover is near. John weaves three years’ worth of festivals throughout his gospel. Indeed, if it weren’t for John, we would all assume the ministry of Jesus was a headlong rush from baptism to burial to resurrection in less than a year. Passover is a meal eaten in haste on the edge of death and freedom. This meal, too, institutes the new life of freedom from sin (singular in John, signifying more the net of the fallen world that traps us than individual peccadillos) and, more than the miraculous meal, the presence of the living bread, the Bread of Life, in whose life we partake, is the true meaning of the Passover, and is perhaps the reason we will kneel for the footwashing, but not witness the blessing of the bread and cup. Here’s the bread!
This takes us from one story (the feeding of the multitudes) that John shares with the other three gospels, to another such story, where Jesus walks on water. This is what the sign is pointing toward — God with us. Now when Jesus approaches the boat and the disciples are terrified, he seems to say, “It is I, do not be afraid.” Ha! Jesus says “I AM.” This is the gospel where the I AM statements make it clear who is with us — the Great I AM, YHWH, the God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush.
And that’s why we’re going to need four more weeks to unpack all this baggage!
Frank R.
It’s hard to deal with the fact, for some of us, that we can’t do everything we used to do. The young David slayed Goliath. The people sang how Saul killed his thousands and David his tens of thousands. The future king, anointed by Samuel, engages in one military adventure after another. When he finally enters Jerusalem, the new capital of a united kingdom, he unapologetically dances so vigorously ahead of the Ark of the Covenant that he earns the disdain of his wife Michal.
But in this passage, when spring rolls around between the winter rains and harvesttime, David does not put on his gear and go to war, as we might expect. There’s a subtle play on words in this first verse that may be intentional. Hebrew words are built around three consonant roots. In this case the three letters, MLK, that serve as the root for kings malakim, are also the root for messengers (and angels, by the way), mal’akim. There are textual variants in the manuscripts so that sometimes it seems that the word ‘kings’ appears here, and sometimes ‘messengers.’ But the king does not go out. Perhaps it’s not as easy for him to do so. Perhaps he’s frustrated. Instead, a messenger, Joab with his personal guard and all of Israel, head out to take care of business.
When people deal with advancing years and limitations, we often have different strategies. We might take up an exercise program, put time into our gardens, buy a new car, or plan a trip. We might sit down to write that novel we’ve always talked about. David? Hmm….
Frank R.
* * *
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Dwight L. Moody shared a parable that Charles Spurgeon had written. Spurgeon told about a tyrant who summoned one of his subjects into his presence and ordered him to make a chain. The poor blacksmith — that was his occupation — had to go to work and forge the chain. When it was done, he brought it to the king and was ordered to take it away and make it twice the length. He brought it to the tyrant and was ordered again to double it. He worked and brought it back. The king looked at it and then commanded his servants to bind the man hand and foot with the chain he had made and cast him into prison.
“That is what the devil does with men,” Spurgeon wrote. “He makes them forge their own chain, and then binds them hand and foot with it, and casts them into outer darkness.”
“Bound with one’s own chain” is a powerful image, and a good depiction of what King David does in 2 Samuel 11. David sees Bathsheba and lusts for her. His lust gives way to sin. His sin leads to more sin and ultimately, it leads to death. What James wrote years later is realized here. “But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires, he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” David is bound with his own chain of lust, sin, and corruption.
Bill T.
* * *
Ephesians 3:14-21
In the most recent poll on the subject (2019) by Barna research, it was found that eighteen to twenty million Americans feel their spirituality is unhealthy or are dissatisfied with their spirituality. There is no reason to think things have gotten much better. (Note instances in the congregation served where people express concern about not being a “good enough Christian.”) In one of his sermons, Martin Luther addresses this concern. He proclaimed:
Accordingly, here again the heart shall grow and become strong against all sorrow, because such wealth of unfathomable divine love is set before us, flowing from a fatherly heart and having its source in the highest virtue which is the fountain of all good, and which therefore makes the gift valuable and precious... (Complete Sermons, Vol. 2/1 , p.354)
And in a sermon on this very text, the first reformer made clear why we need not be so tough on ourselves and our spirituality:
The Holy Spirit brings Christ into the heart and teaches it to know him. He imparts warmth and courage through faith in Christ... Now, if Christ dwells on my heart and regulates my entire life, it matters not though my faith be weak. (Complete Sermons, Vol. 3/2, p.354)
Mark E.
* * *
Ephesians 3:14-21
Paul seeks to remind us that his prayer for us is to know the fulfillment of the love of Christ that exceeds all human understanding. As a wife, mother, grandmother, and pastor, I try to anchor my life in that love and to share it with others — all the others I encounter in my personal and professional life. How deeply do you feel the love of God? How deeply do you share the love of God? With whom do you share God’s love? Paul reminds us that we can accomplish more with the love and support, the grace of God, than we could accomplish alone. So, when I am having trouble being loving, when my human anger or anguish gets in the way, I remember to pray and to seek God’s strength in being all I am called to be. Would that we all do the same.
Bonnie B.
* * *
John 6:1-21
Philip Yancey wrote, “Though they did not solve all problems on earth, Jesus’ miracles were a sign of how the world should be, and someday will be.” I like that quote. It is from a blog post that Yancey wrote to discuss miracles.
I considered that quote as I looked again at a familiar story, the feeding of the 5,000. That story, as you already know, reflects problems that could happen today. There were too many people and not enough food. The disciples had no answer for what to do. Eight months wages wouldn’t buy enough for everyone to even have a bite. All the resources they could muster was the equivalent of a first century lunchable, five loaves and two fish. In Jesus’ hands, though, it was more than enough.
This miracle of Jesus was not done to win the crowds over or give him power. When they wanted to make him king, he fled from them. It wasn’t done to curry favor with anyone in authority. This miracle was performed because people were hungry and needed food. That’s the Jesus we see in the gospels. That’s the Jesus we need.
Bill T.
* * *
John 6:1-21
This is the beginning of five weeks of sermons built around the sixth chapter of John. That’s pretty daunting. And boring, maybe. Granted, John’s gospel is multi-layered. John’s Greek is simple but always subtle. There’s stuff there that’s worth digging out. If only Jesus wouldn’t keep talking and talking.
On the other hand, this is Jesus that is talking. That’s got to be important. But how can we listen, on and on, for five weeks?
It begins with first things first. Nobody can listen to the words of life on an empty stomach. The basic needs of security — housing, clothing, eating — have to be fulfilled before a person can truly listen to the good news. At least that seems to be what Jesus is emphasizing.
There are some key words early on in this passage. The crowd is following Jesus because they saw the signs. John’s gospel is big on signs. The miracles are signs. And signs point to something. They are directions to our destination. In the very next verse, John reminds us that the Passover is near. John weaves three years’ worth of festivals throughout his gospel. Indeed, if it weren’t for John, we would all assume the ministry of Jesus was a headlong rush from baptism to burial to resurrection in less than a year. Passover is a meal eaten in haste on the edge of death and freedom. This meal, too, institutes the new life of freedom from sin (singular in John, signifying more the net of the fallen world that traps us than individual peccadillos) and, more than the miraculous meal, the presence of the living bread, the Bread of Life, in whose life we partake, is the true meaning of the Passover, and is perhaps the reason we will kneel for the footwashing, but not witness the blessing of the bread and cup. Here’s the bread!
This takes us from one story (the feeding of the multitudes) that John shares with the other three gospels, to another such story, where Jesus walks on water. This is what the sign is pointing toward — God with us. Now when Jesus approaches the boat and the disciples are terrified, he seems to say, “It is I, do not be afraid.” Ha! Jesus says “I AM.” This is the gospel where the I AM statements make it clear who is with us — the Great I AM, YHWH, the God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush.
And that’s why we’re going to need four more weeks to unpack all this baggage!
Frank R.
