Reflection on the readings for November 10

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples,
and I will sing praises to you, among the nations.
For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the clouds.
(Psalm 108:3-4)

Ezekiel 21:1-22:31
Ezekiel speaks the word of the Lord: You deserve the punishment that you are getting. You have treated the elderly with contempt; you have oppressed immigrants; you have not protected children or widows. You have been violent. You have taken bribes. You have neglected worship. Now, you will be held accountable.

Hebrews 10:1-17
Worship doesn't make us perfect. That's why we need to keep doing it.

The words spoken by Christ in the verses from Hebrews refer to Psalm 40:6-8. What God desires is not empty worship, but true worship filled with following the will of God. And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (10).

And through this sanctification, we too can respond to God's desire to offering our total lives. Showing up at church once or twice a month and putting something in the offering plate that won't affect any fun we're planning to have is not the lesson that the epistle to the Hebrews is teaching.

Christ's death made his life understandable to us. A life of love and sacrifice. Let us too be able to say, as Christ said, "See, I have come to do your will (9)."

In 10:12-13, by quoting Psalm 110:1, the assurance of the victory of King David, the author of Hebrews is telling us something about David's descendent, our King the Christ.

When comparing the daily sacrifice of priests with the one-time sacrifice of Christ, he writes that after offering "for all time a single sacrifice for sins, 'he sat down at the right hand of God,' and since then has been waiting 'until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.'"

Further, in 10:16-17, he quotes from Jeremiah 31:31-34, as he did in 8:8-12. When Jeremiah spoke, he was talking to Israel and Judah.

The message in Hebrews is intended for a broader audience. What God had promised for them then is now true for all of us:

"I have forgiven you."

Psalm 108:1-13
Thanks for past help and pleas for more help.

Proverbs 27:12
The clever see danger and hide;
but the simple go on, and suffer for it.

Prayer for Today: When you are in a place where you can recognize your gratitude, pray the first four verses of Psalm 108. In times when you are in despair, pray the last three verses.

Reflection on the readings for November 9

O give thanks to the Lord.
You are good.
Your steadfast love endures forever.
(adapted from Psalm 107:1)

Ezekiel 20:1-49
The Lord instructs Ezekiel to remind the people of the pattern of their history: The Lord God gave them gifts and instructed them how to live; they took the gifts but didn't follow the rules; they suffered as a result; the Lord forgave them, rescued them again, and they responded badly again. And again. Yet, God is prepared to forgive, "I will deal with them for the sake of my name not according to what they deserve."

Hebrews 9:11-28
The writer of this epistle is again comparing the sacrifice made by Christ with that of the high priests. They made offerings over and over. He made one offering--himself.

And that one offering is enough to cover for sins of all people.

We Christians can read this as reassuring.

We should be grateful but not triumphalistic.

Further, we should be careful not to misinterpret the phrase, "dead works."

According to Allen & Williamson's Preaching the Letters without Dismissing the Law

The "dead works" should not be confused with the mitzvoth of torah. "Dead works" are not "deeds of loving kindness"; they are sins that pollute the conscience.

Christ will return, we are told, but not to deal with sin. That's been dealt with. He will appear to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Is that good news, or not?

What does "eagerly waiting" mean"?

If you do read ahead, you'll find some rather scary judgment talk (see 10:26-27).

Psalm 107:1-43
Sometimes we are praying because ritual requires it--a kids' baseball game is about to start, a meeting is ready to begin, we're all sitting around the table to eat. And those prayers though routine can be heartfelt.

But, sometimes we pray because we really, really need God's help, and we really, really know it.

Psalm 107 is a reminder of how God has cared for a wayward people before--and often. The beginning of this psalm  is a prayer that we can continue to use as a model for our own gratitude to gifts and lessons from God.

Give thanks to the Lord.
God is good.
God's steadfast love endures forever.

When our ancestors were wandering, literally wandering, lost and hungry, God showed them the way to go. When they were in trouble, God rescued them. In our own wildernesses--actual and metaphoric, we can continue to ask God for comfort and direction, when  we need to be shown the straight path throughout the journey we are on.

Let those who are wise give heed to these things,
and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Psalm 107 gives thanks for deliverance from many troubles: refugees (4-9); prisoners (10-16); people suffering from illness (17-22); sailors and travelers on ships (23-32). As I read verses 33-37, I am struck that although they can be read quite literally, they don't have to be. That is, God is the creator of our earth, the source of the rain necessary for life to continue. But, God is the source of what Jesus called living water. God works through us turning our parched lives into fruitful ones.

Sometimes, it is appropriate to look for fault and assess blame, but, it is always appropriate to seek the help of the Lord--directly and also through the work of scientists, economists, and politicians.

And, it is appropriate to give thanks.

Proverbs 27:11
Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad,
so that I may answer whoever reproaches me.

Prayer for Today: O Lord our God, as we travel difficult paths through our lives, show us the way. Forgive us for those times we have turned in the wrong direction. Show us the way. Amen.

Reflection on the readings for November 8

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
And let all the people say, "Amen."
Praise the Lord.
(Psalm 106:48)

Ezekiel 18:1-19:4
A father's righteousness will not prevent his son from being punished for his sins; nor will a righteous son be punished for his father's sins. Note what were considered punishable sins: adultery, robbery, and oppression of the poor and needy.

However, even the sinful can be forgiven and the righteous punished for turning to sin.

Hebrews 9:1-10

Psalm 106:32-48
God forgave them over and over.

Proverbs 27:10
Do not forsake a friend or the friend of your parent;
do not go into the house of your kindred in the day of your calamity.
Better is a neighbor who is near than a kindred who is far away.

Prayer for Today:  Pray Psalm 106:47-48.

Reflection on the readings for November 7

Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord?
Who can declare all your praise?
(adapted from Psalm 106:2)

Ezekiel 16:42-17:24
Jerusalem has been an adulterous wife, as had her sister Samaria and Sodom. [Tangent: Note the sins that Sodom committed: not the ones we usually think of; Ezekiel refers to their failure to share with the poor and needy.] They will be subjected to a penalty, but the Lord will forgive all that they have done.

 Jacqueline E. Lapsley, in the Women's Bible Commentary, discusses the feminization of Judah/Israel, a metaphor that would be shaming to the readers (presumed to be male), but would have resonated with their situation as "emasculated warriors."

[T]his offensive language was meant to be offensive...for a reason: to shock them into realizing the gravity of their own situation; to convince them that they had hit rock bottom, and that only YHWH could save them.

We continue in our own time although in less dire situations to see this metaphor used to shock and stir; e.g., athletic coaches addressing their teams as "ladies" or "girls."

Chapter 17 has a more favorable metaphor for Israel, a vine. The Lord will plant a vine that will produce boughs that will bear fruit and shelter nests. The Lord can knock down high trees and make low trees high, can dry up green trees and make dry trees flourish.

Hebrews 8:1-13
Note the quotes from the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

Psalm 106:13-31
Verses 19-23 recount a specific sin. During that forty-year exodus, they made a graven image to substitute for God, whom they had forgotten. God said he would destroy them, but Moses intervened.

How do we forget God? What do we substitute for God in our attention, our loyalty, our trust? What do we expect God to do when we turn to other sources of protection and guidance? Who intervenes for us?

Then, turn all those questions to be about people around you who have not been showing that much loyalty to God? Does it occur to us to intervene on their behalf by asking God's forgiveness for them?

Proverbs 27:7-9
The sated appetite spurns honey,
but to a ravenous appetite even the bitter is sweet.
Like a bird that strays from its nest
is one who strays from home.
Perfume and incense make the heart glad,
but the soul is torn by trouble.

Prayer for Today: O Lord our God, we acknowledge that we have not always carried out your will. Forgive us now. Turn our attention, our loyalty, our trust away from false substitutes. Encourage our growth. Amen.

Reflection on the readings for November 6

Praise the Lord!
We give thanks to you, Lord,
for you are good;
your steadfast love endures forever.
(adapted from Psalm 106:1)

Ezekiel 14:12-16:41
Destruction is inevitable and necessary.

Hebrews 7:18-28
Because God is compassionate and forgiving, the faithful have sought ways to have their sins forgiven. The letter to the Hebrews explains Christ's role as one like that of the high priest that the first hearers would have been familiar with.

But, our high priest is unique. He lives forever and saves forever. Unlike earlier high priests, he doesn't have to offer sacrifices daily; he offered himself once, and once was enough.

Psalm 106:1-12
The psalm begins with a call to praise and a list of reasons why praise is appropriate. The Lord is good. The Lord continues to love us. This thankfulness is followed by the reminder that we are supposed to be good and loving also--and that our doing so will make us happy. Yet, we have not always done what we should have done; we have sinned.

They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. What do we exchange the glory of God for?

Proverbs 27:4-6
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
but who is able to stand before jealousy?
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts,
but profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Prayer for Today: O Lord our God, we come before you today to ask that you again show us compassion and forgiveness. Help us now to change our lives so that we won't have to keep coming back to you to ask to be forgiven. Amen.

Reflection on the readings for November 5

O give thanks to the Lord.
We call on your name....
We seek you and your strength;
we seek your presence continually.
(adapted from Psalm 105:1, 4)

Ezekiel 12:1-14:11
The Lord tells Ezekiel to preach to the people, "Tell them not to listen to false prophets." How do we apply this command to our present time?

Hebrews 7:1-17
"When the order of the priest changes, there has to be a change in the Law as well." How do we apply this assessment to our present time?

Psalm 105:37-45
These verses 3 remind those ancient people of particular acts for which they should be grateful. The Lord had delivered them from captivity in Egypt, led them through the wilderness, provided for them food and drink. We who have come later can fill in our own reasons for gratitude, the gifts provided to us, the direction shown to us. And we can, like them, remember to live the way that the Lord intended.

Proverbs 27:3
A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.

Prayer for Today: O Lord, help us to heed Ezekiel's warning not to listen to false prophets. And, when we are able to discern the true from the false, prod us into sharing your word. Amen.

Reflection on the readings for November 4

You are the Lord our God;
your judgments are in all the earth.
You are mindful of your covenant forever;
of the word that you have commanded,
for a thousand generations.
(adapted from Psalm 105:7-8)

Ezekiel 10:1-11:25
Judgment is coming, but so will restoration.

Hebrews 6:1-20
Difficult verses--consequences of not accepting God's gifts and using them appropriately. Positive verses--Our hope is a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul that will bring us into the presence of the Lord.

Psalm 105:16-36
The psalm begins with the reminder to praise the Lord, both by singing to the Lord and by telling others, continuing to ask the Lord for what we need and continuing to remember what the Lord has already done for us.

The verses for today's reading recount the story of Joseph and then Moses in Egypt. Although Joseph had come as a captive, he rose to the role of the king's helper. He was able to protect Egypt from famine. The brothers, because they were jealous, had wanted to get rid of him. He became a slave in a foreign country. Yet, God was able to use Joseph to help that country and, eventually, to help those same brothers that had tried to get rid of him.  When things went bad for the Israelites, God performed many signs and called Moses to explain them to the pharaoh.

Proverbs 27:1-2
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
Let another person praise you, and not your own mouth--
a stranger, and not your own lips.

Prayer for Today: O Lord, guide us into the proper use of the gifts that you have provided us. Wake us up in our times of forgetfulness. Keep us mindful that you are with us always. Amen.

Reflection on the readings for November 3

Give thanks to the Lord.
We call upon your name.
We will make your deeds known to all people!
(adapted form Psalm 105:1, Common English Bible)

Ezekiel 7:1-9:11
Ezekiel relays what the Lord has told him, that their country is to be overtaken by their powerful enemy. Disaster is coming, and there's no place to hide from it. He then quotes this chilling assessment by the Lord, "When I do to them what they have done and judge them by their own justice, they will know that I am the Lord." In another vision, the Lord tells him that they are very, very guilty, that their land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. No one will be spared. All will be held accountable for their ways.

Hebrews 5:1-14
The first recipients of this letter would have been familiar with the office of high priest--that person chosen to be an intermediary between the people and God. To represent them adequately, the high priest would have to understand their condition--and to help them modify that condition where necessary.

The office of high priest was one of honor; yet, the high priest, as a human being, was subject to human frailities.

Yet, boldness was required. The high priest was approaching God to ask for mercy and grace for the sinful and suffering.

Not just anybody could be a high priest. Rather, only God could decide who would be appropriate for the role.

The author of this letter is pointing out that Jesus is the high priest for Christians. He, a human, can sympathize with our human condition. And, and Son of God, having been made perfect, he is the source of eternal salvation. He then goes on to point out how childishly we humans often behave.

Psalm 105:1-15
Although Psalm 105 is a litany of praise for God's goodness of Israel, we all can appropriate its words to apply to our situations.

In our daily prayers as we thank God for what we already have and also ask for even more gifts, we may utilize the commands in this psalm as a checklist:

Give thanks to the Lord.
Tell people what God has done for you.
Seek the Lord.
Seek the Lord continually.
Remember what God has done for you.

Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hates those it crushes;
a flattering tongue causes destruction.

Prayer for Today: Use Psalm 105 as a guide to your prayer today. Also, remember to voice repentance for any of those sins that Ezekiel had recounted to the people of his place and time.

Reflection on the readings for November 2

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I'm still alive.
Let my praise be pleasing to the Lord.
I'm rejoicing in the Lord!
(adapted from Psalm 104:33-34, Common English Bible)

Ezekiel 3:16-6:14
The Lord came to Ezekiel and told him, "If righteous people turn away from righteousness, they will be punished, and it will be your fault if you hadn't warned them not to sin." The Lord assesses the behavior of Jerusalem, "You have rejected my laws and regulations more even than any of the nations around you. Now, I will do what I haven't ever done before or won't ever do again. Your whole country will be destroyed. Any survivors will be scattered."

Hebrews 4:1-16
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews reminds them (and us) that the word of God is living and active. It's not just a book that we can close and put on a shelf and then stack some other books on it as we get through with them. No, the word of God is living and active.

And more than that, it judges our hearts. We're going to have to render an account. And more than that, we can't hide. Let us take the word of God seriously.

But not fearfully. We have a sympathetic, effective Jesus to help us. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Psalm 104:24-35
Don't fall into the error of modalism--that at different points of history, God appeared in different forms. That is, God was Father during the Old Testament times, then became the visible Son, then at Pentecost became manifest as the Spirit.

Psalm 104  reminds us that God as Spirit was present at creation. Verses 24 through 28 cite examples of what God as created--the earth, ships, Leviathan.

These created things need the Spirit:

When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground (29-30).

Our response to the work that God's Spirit does in our lives is to acknowledge that Spirit.  In the Scriptures and in our lives, we have seen and will see pain and blessings.

Proverbs 26:27
Those who dig a pit will fall in it;
those who roll a stone will have it turn back on them.

Prayer for Today: Pray the closing verses of Psalm 104:

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord!

Reflection on the readings for November 1

Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honor and majesty.
(Psalm 104:1)

Ezekiel 1:1-3:14 
The Lord appeared to Ezekiel in a dramatic fashion (aside: note similarities to Revelation 4). The Lord needs to get Ezekiel's attention because the task he is being asked to do is difficult. He is to go to a people who have stubbornly refused to do what the Lord wanted them to do. Moreover, they are likely not to listen this time either, but preach to them anyway.

Hebrews 3:1-19
Your sins can bring harm to you.

Psalm 104:1-23
Psalm 104 is an affirmation of God's greatness. As we read it, we can hear echoes of the creation story in Genesis. God is clothed in glory. God is the source and implementor of all. God has established the earth and done it in such a way that it shall never totter. God uses creation--the winds, the waters, the mountains and valleys.

Proverbs 26:24-26
An enemy dissembles in speaking while harboring deceit within;
when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it,
for there are seven abominations concealed within;
though hatred is covered with guile,
the enemy's wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Prayer for Today: O Lord, keep us aware of your presence in our lives. Strengthen our will to carry out those tasks that you have assigned to us. Forgive us for our commissions and our omissions. Amen.