Proper 6
Devotional
Streams of Living Water
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle B
1 Samuel 15:34--16:13
Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
-- 1 Samuel 16:7
In this story of the anointing of David, we are confronted with the mysterious nature of God's call. First there is the rejection of Saul, which given the later sins of the never rejected David, seems unexplainable. Then comes the rejection of the first seven sons of Jesse even though, from all appearances, they seem to be very attractive candidates. Then, just as we are ready to accept that physical appearances should not be considered, David appears and the scriptures emphasize that "he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome" (v. 12). When it comes to the call of God in a person's life, we are never going to be able to define ahead of time what the criteria are that God uses. God insists on the absolute freedom to choose whomever God desires to fulfill God's call. Some will be violent, as both Moses and Paul turned out to be. Some will be immoral as David was. Some will appear arrogant as Joseph appeared to his brothers. Still others will be cowardly in times of great stress as were Jesus' disciples.
Finally, we are forced to focus not on our criteria of morality or acceptability but rather on listening for the voice of God. There apparently is no one whose behavior, appearance, or other qualities are so damning that God cannot transform that person into an instrument of God's purpose. It is a humbling exercise for the church to pay attention to God's absolute freedom in choosing people to fulfill God's purpose. In the end, it means that we cannot be assured that anyone can be safely ignored. As a church, when we insist that particular people are unacceptable, we run the danger of being in rebellion against God.
Psalm 20
The Lord answer you [the Christ in me] in the day of trouble!
-- Psalm 20:1
Psalm 20 is a prayer of petition on behalf of the king, God's anointed one. Seen as a prayer for the anointed, for Christians it becomes a prayer for Christ's victory. We pray that God will be responsive to the Christ within us in time of trouble (v. 1). Such a prayer centers in our worship (v. 2). We pray that Christ might triumph in us and his will be fulfilled in us so that we might give witness by our joy and our banners that we erect (vv. 4-5). Verse 6 turns from petition to confidence that God will respond to Christ within us. Such a victory would mean that we can shift our allegiance from trust in the force of arms to trust in God's faithfulness (v. 7).
As Christ did in his earthly life, so we can trust in God and therefore resist the temptation to allow the threats of the world to distort our obedience. Our cry in the face of each new circumstance is "Give victory to the King, O Lord; answer us when we call" (v. 9). For each time, as Christ triumphs in us, we both shout for joy and set up our banners indicating one more area of life conquered for God's purpose.
The full power of this psalm prayer can be felt if in verses 1-5, we substitute "the Christ in me" for "you" and "Christ" for "your." It then becomes a prayer for those who are "in Christ" and seeking to be faithful. Pray it slowly and meditate on what God is saying to you through your prayer.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.
--2 Corinthians 5:16
To regard someone from a human point of view is to focus on the limitations of their time-constrained and physically and psychologically shaped existence. Such a perspective can easily result in a judgment that denies the transforming power of God in a person's life. We may dismiss a person because that person is a psychological misfit or a hopeless case. Paul pointed to the problem that many people had in responding to the physical presence of Jesus. They were so aware of his origin as a carpenter's son that they could not accept that he was from God. For Paul, the resurrection was God's affirmation of Jesus as the Christ, and now one could see the eternal God in him. In the same manner, he believed that we must bring that resurrection perspective to bear on the people around us.
In Christ, the true image of God was restored. We are now to seek that same reflection in others. "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died" (v. 14). The grace of God does not deny the past but recognizes that God's creative power is continually bringing light out of every person's darkness. "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" (v. 17). This is the mind-boggling reality that is proclaimed every Sunday when the assurance of forgiveness is declared. The challenge for Christians is to look for that newness in everyone. The power of the church's witness is that strong affirmation that allows anyone that comes among Christians to be healed so that they can again believe in themselves as a freshly born child of God.
Mark 4:26-34
He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how."
-- Mark 4:26-27
Despite all of the literature on techniques of evangelism, there is a continuing mystery to the development of faith within a person. The kingdom of God, the arena in which God reigns in a person's or a community's life, begins with the planting of seeds. We are not in charge of establishing the kingdom. But we are challenged to plant the seeds that God can cultivate in a manner that evokes a kingdom-like response. The challenge is to plant the seeds and then to let God go to work. We have such an egotistical need to know whether what we are doing is effective. It is worthy to reflect on what type of behavior results in planting seeds in some person's or some community's heart.
Are we truly to be servants of others and demonstrate the grace and love of God to them without asking for any thanks or credit? If so, when we have behaved in a Christlike manner, are we willing to let go and await the work of God? It is only after God has caused the growth of faith that we can enter into the sanctification stage of nurturing them in the faith. The process of sanctification is the harvesting of what God has grown. It need not be dramatic acts on our part. God is capable of taking the smallest of seeds and use it to grow a great shrub that in turn will provide shelter and a resting place for all who come.
Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
-- 1 Samuel 16:7
In this story of the anointing of David, we are confronted with the mysterious nature of God's call. First there is the rejection of Saul, which given the later sins of the never rejected David, seems unexplainable. Then comes the rejection of the first seven sons of Jesse even though, from all appearances, they seem to be very attractive candidates. Then, just as we are ready to accept that physical appearances should not be considered, David appears and the scriptures emphasize that "he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome" (v. 12). When it comes to the call of God in a person's life, we are never going to be able to define ahead of time what the criteria are that God uses. God insists on the absolute freedom to choose whomever God desires to fulfill God's call. Some will be violent, as both Moses and Paul turned out to be. Some will be immoral as David was. Some will appear arrogant as Joseph appeared to his brothers. Still others will be cowardly in times of great stress as were Jesus' disciples.
Finally, we are forced to focus not on our criteria of morality or acceptability but rather on listening for the voice of God. There apparently is no one whose behavior, appearance, or other qualities are so damning that God cannot transform that person into an instrument of God's purpose. It is a humbling exercise for the church to pay attention to God's absolute freedom in choosing people to fulfill God's purpose. In the end, it means that we cannot be assured that anyone can be safely ignored. As a church, when we insist that particular people are unacceptable, we run the danger of being in rebellion against God.
Psalm 20
The Lord answer you [the Christ in me] in the day of trouble!
-- Psalm 20:1
Psalm 20 is a prayer of petition on behalf of the king, God's anointed one. Seen as a prayer for the anointed, for Christians it becomes a prayer for Christ's victory. We pray that God will be responsive to the Christ within us in time of trouble (v. 1). Such a prayer centers in our worship (v. 2). We pray that Christ might triumph in us and his will be fulfilled in us so that we might give witness by our joy and our banners that we erect (vv. 4-5). Verse 6 turns from petition to confidence that God will respond to Christ within us. Such a victory would mean that we can shift our allegiance from trust in the force of arms to trust in God's faithfulness (v. 7).
As Christ did in his earthly life, so we can trust in God and therefore resist the temptation to allow the threats of the world to distort our obedience. Our cry in the face of each new circumstance is "Give victory to the King, O Lord; answer us when we call" (v. 9). For each time, as Christ triumphs in us, we both shout for joy and set up our banners indicating one more area of life conquered for God's purpose.
The full power of this psalm prayer can be felt if in verses 1-5, we substitute "the Christ in me" for "you" and "Christ" for "your." It then becomes a prayer for those who are "in Christ" and seeking to be faithful. Pray it slowly and meditate on what God is saying to you through your prayer.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13) 14-17
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.
--2 Corinthians 5:16
To regard someone from a human point of view is to focus on the limitations of their time-constrained and physically and psychologically shaped existence. Such a perspective can easily result in a judgment that denies the transforming power of God in a person's life. We may dismiss a person because that person is a psychological misfit or a hopeless case. Paul pointed to the problem that many people had in responding to the physical presence of Jesus. They were so aware of his origin as a carpenter's son that they could not accept that he was from God. For Paul, the resurrection was God's affirmation of Jesus as the Christ, and now one could see the eternal God in him. In the same manner, he believed that we must bring that resurrection perspective to bear on the people around us.
In Christ, the true image of God was restored. We are now to seek that same reflection in others. "For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died" (v. 14). The grace of God does not deny the past but recognizes that God's creative power is continually bringing light out of every person's darkness. "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" (v. 17). This is the mind-boggling reality that is proclaimed every Sunday when the assurance of forgiveness is declared. The challenge for Christians is to look for that newness in everyone. The power of the church's witness is that strong affirmation that allows anyone that comes among Christians to be healed so that they can again believe in themselves as a freshly born child of God.
Mark 4:26-34
He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how."
-- Mark 4:26-27
Despite all of the literature on techniques of evangelism, there is a continuing mystery to the development of faith within a person. The kingdom of God, the arena in which God reigns in a person's or a community's life, begins with the planting of seeds. We are not in charge of establishing the kingdom. But we are challenged to plant the seeds that God can cultivate in a manner that evokes a kingdom-like response. The challenge is to plant the seeds and then to let God go to work. We have such an egotistical need to know whether what we are doing is effective. It is worthy to reflect on what type of behavior results in planting seeds in some person's or some community's heart.
Are we truly to be servants of others and demonstrate the grace and love of God to them without asking for any thanks or credit? If so, when we have behaved in a Christlike manner, are we willing to let go and await the work of God? It is only after God has caused the growth of faith that we can enter into the sanctification stage of nurturing them in the faith. The process of sanctification is the harvesting of what God has grown. It need not be dramatic acts on our part. God is capable of taking the smallest of seeds and use it to grow a great shrub that in turn will provide shelter and a resting place for all who come.
