It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Reflection on readings for May 14

The Lord says to my lord,
"Sit at my right hand"
(Psalm 110:1a)

1 Samuel 15:1-16:23
The Lord regrets the choice of Saul as king and informs Samuel it's time to anoint a new king. Samuel is afraid but does what God wants anyway.  Samuel misunderstands at first what is important in a leader. He thinks the one with he best appearance will do the best job. But, God tells him not to judge by outward appearance. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon David at the point of being anointed by Samuel.

Questions that arose in my mind as I thought about Samuel and David:
Who takes the role of prophet in our contemporary congregations?

Considering how many evil acts have taken place by someone using the name of the Lord, do we want to retire permanently the role of prophet?

Are our modern-day ordinations in any way similar to the anointing of a human being by a prophet?

John 8:1-20
In those days some very religious people were blind to the light Jesus was conveying. They just couldn't see the validity of his teaching. In those days ....

Psalm 110:1-7

Proverbs 15:8-10
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.
There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way,
but the one who hates a rebuke will die.

Prayer for Today: God, when we read these stories of how our ancestors behaved and thought and judged, we may look at our own behavior and thoughts and judgements. Turn the light on for us. Amen.

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