Reflection on readings for June 27

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
(Psalm 145:1)

2 Kings 10:32-12:21
In 10:29-30, the Lord promises a reward to Jehu because he has done what the Lord considered right, but after he returned to the regular king practices, the Lord starts trimming off parts of Israel.

After, Jehu's successor, Jehoahaz, died, his mother, Athaliah, assumed the reign of Judah. She tried to destroy all the royal relatives, but  one was hidden from her in the house of the Lord. Six years later,  the priest Jehoiada led the army in an attack against Athaliah and crowned the seven-year-old child Jehoash as king.

We are told that he did what was right as he was instructed by the priest. Yet, we are also told that the people continued to use the places and practices of other worship. Moreover, the priests didn't use the offerings of the people in the way that was intended. Eventually the king took the money that had been set aside for repairing the house of the Lord. His servants killed him.

Everybody who affects worship of the Lord is not sincere about it. Everyone who is in a position of trust is not always trustworthy. Despite our failings, the Lord remains Lord.

Acts 18:1-22

Psalm 145:1-21
Notice how this psalm begins with individual praise, "I will extol you....". But, this praise is not between just God and me: "One generation shall laud your work to another." Further, this praise is not just once in a while: "Every day I will bless you."

The next time you have to listen to someone disparage the one he calls "The Old Testament God," you might point out that, despite human intransigence that God kept loving them and caring for them. For example:

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (v.8)
This grace, mercy, and steadfast love is not restricted to just a few:
The Lord is good to all, and is compassion is over all that he has made (v.9).
Good to all--all who are falling, all who are bowed down. God's care includes basic necessities, like food, and also more than necessities.

We can be further reassured or perhaps not when we read that the Lord is just  in all his ways. We do read some qualification of God's qualities in verses 19 and 20.

We are part of a long line of worshippers who have praised God, learned about God's care, and told others:

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless his holy name foever and ever (v21).

It's a reminder, one that we may well need, that we're living in God's kingdom and that we should be living according to God's intentions for us. The Lord's desire is for all to be fed and attended to. Those who care what the Lord wants will work toward these goals.

Proverbs 18:1
The one who lives alone is self-indulgent,
showing contempt for all who
    have sound judgment.

Prayer for Today: Lord, help us to remember the mercy you have already shown us. Help us to remember your gifts. We ask you to continue to pick us up when we fall, to lighten our burdens, to satisfy our needs. Lord, as we remember what you have already done and as we ask for you to do even more, remind us to tell others what you have done and can do. Amen.