The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Wednesday, October 25, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary with Commentary
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

The Quest for Divine Assurance and Faith in Uncertain Times

Psalm 63:1-8; Numbers 13:1-2, 17—14:9; Matthew 17:22-27
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
  (Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Introduction

In a world where we often grapple with uncertainty, the interconnected themes within Psalm 63:1-8, Numbers 13:1-2, 17—14:9, and Matthew 17:22-27 resonate profoundly. These passages, spanning different books of the Bible and historical contexts, invite us to explore our innate desire for spiritual sustenance, the importance of unwavering faith, and the necessity of maintaining trust in God when faced with daunting challenges.

Psalm 63:1-8 offers an intimate glimpse into David’s yearning for God during a time of exile and desperation. He expresses a thirst for the divine, a hunger for a relationship with God that is as essential as food and water. David's confidence in God's steadfast love becomes his bedrock, empowering him through life’s uncertainties.

In Numbers 13:1-2, 17—14:9, we witness the Israelites at a pivotal moment as they stand on the cusp of the Promised Land. While this should be a time for faith and courage, the lack of trust displayed by some of the scouts and the people manifests in fear and rebellion. Caleb and Joshua stand apart as exemplars of faith, urging the community to trust in God's promise, but to no avail.

Matthew 17:22-27 brings us to a New Testament context, where Jesus foretells his death and resurrection. His disciples are stricken with grief, and yet in the midst of this looming crisis, Jesus still takes time to address a seemingly trivial matter concerning temple tax. Here, Jesus demonstrates that God’s provision is sufficient, even in times of imminent challenge, pointing us toward the necessity of trust in divine authority.

As you delve into these scriptures, may you find comfort and direction in their timeless lessons. Whether you are wandering in your own desert, standing on the edge of a new opportunity, or facing a daunting challenge, these passages offer essential guidance. They remind us to yearn for a closer relationship with God, to have faith against all odds, and to find assurance in God’s unwavering promises.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 63:1-8
I rejoice in the shadow of your wings

Psalm 63 is often attributed to King David and is thought to have been written during his time in the wilderness, a period of great suffering and isolation, yet also a time of deep reliance on God. The Psalm resonates with those who find themselves in "deserts" of various kinds: emotional, spiritual, or physical. David's intense longing for God—depicted through vivid imagery of thirst and hunger—is met with an even greater realization of God's steadfast love and provision.

As we read this Psalm, we're invited to examine our own lives, asking ourselves how much we really thirst for God, and how we experience His sustaining love even in times of difficulty. David's words are not merely an expression of personal longing but also serve as a profound encouragement for us to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with God, one that goes beyond the superficialities of ritual or religion.

1 O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; *
    my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
      as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.

2 Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, *
    that I might behold your power and your glory.

3 For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; *
    my lips shall give you praise.

4 So will I bless you as long as I live *
    and lift up my hands in your Name.

5 My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, *
    and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,

6 When I remember you upon my bed, *
    and meditate on you in the night watches.

7 For you have been my helper, *
    and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.

8 My soul clings to you; *
    your right hand holds me fast.

Heavenly Father, the Creator of heaven and earth, my soul thirsts for You as David's did so long ago. In the barren landscapes of my life, in times when I feel dry and parched, it is You I seek. In the quiet of the night, when sleep eludes me, my thoughts turn to You, and I'm reminded of Your steadfast love, which is better than life itself.

I lift up my hands in Your name, for You alone are worthy of my praise. My soul clings to You, knowing that Your right hand upholds me. In the wilderness of life, You are the water that quenches my deepest thirst, the food that satisfies my soul. With You, I lack nothing.

Fill me with a joy that transcends my circumstances, a peace that calms my anxious heart. Teach me to meditate on Your love, to find rest in Your presence, to trust in Your provision. When the world around me crumbles, when I walk through valleys of darkness, may I remember Your faithfulness, and sing songs of praise, for You have been my help.

Guide me by Your wisdom, shelter me under the shadow of Your wings, and draw me closer to You each day. May my soul follow hard after You, and find its ultimate satisfaction in Your love.

Be with us today and every day in Jesus Christ, Who taught us to pray:

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”

Numbers 13:1-2, 17—14:9
Scouting the land of Canaan

The passages Numbers 13:1-2, 17—14:9 are pivotal episodes in the book of Numbers, which is part of the Torah in the Hebrew Bible and also included in the Christian Old Testament. These texts narrate the story of the Israelite scouts sent to explore the Promised Land of Canaan. The sequence reflects on themes such as trust in God, the consequences of disobedience, and the challenge of facing adversity with faith.

13 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”

17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.

26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”

30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Commentary

Setting the Scene (Numbers 13:1-2)
The passage begins with God commanding Moses to send leaders from each of Israel's twelve tribes to explore the land of Canaan. This land had been promised to the Israelites, and the recon mission is both practical and symbolic. It's practical because they need to know what they're up against; it's symbolic because the act of scouting the land prefigures taking possession of it. In theory, God's promise should be enough, but the Israelites—still learning to trust God—are given this tangible step to prepare for the future.

The Mission and Report (Numbers 13:17-33)
Moses sends the twelve scouts with specific questions to answer: What is the land like? Is it good or bad? Are the people strong or weak? The scouts find a land flowing with "milk and honey," but they also see fortified cities and powerful people. Two of the scouts, Joshua and Caleb, focus on the land's abundance and God's promise. The other ten, however, are intimidated by the obstacles and bring back a discouraging report.

Reaction and Repercussion (Numbers 14:1-9)
The Israelite community reacts with fear and despair, showing how contagious doubt can be. They even go so far as to propose returning to Egypt, romanticizing a past of slavery over an uncertain but divinely promised future. Joshua and Caleb stand firm in their faith and try to encourage the people, but they are almost stoned for their efforts.

Here we see a struggle between faith and fear, and it's a defining moment for the Israelite community. The ten scouts' lack of faith has a cascading effect that leads the whole community into rebellion against Moses and, by extension, against God. This episode foreshadows later events in the Hebrew Bible where the Israelites will face similar tests of faith, sometimes failing and sometimes succeeding.

In this complex narrative, we are confronted with questions about our own lives. How often do we let fear cloud our judgment, even when we have evidence of goodness and abundance? Do we focus on the challenges or the opportunities? Most crucially, how strong is our trust in divine or higher guidance when the stakes are high?

This story serves as a sobering reminder that even when blessed with strong leadership and direct divine guidance, human beings can still succumb to doubt and fear. It also serves to emphasize the eternal struggle between faith and fear, a struggle that defines not just the Israelites in the wilderness but all of humanity in our various 'wilderness' experiences.

Matthew 17:22-27
Jesus pays the temple tax

The passage from Matthew 17:22-27 is a fascinating portion of the New Testament, situated in the context of Jesus' public ministry and shortly after the Transfiguration. The passage covers two key episodes: Jesus' prediction of His own betrayal and crucifixion, and the miracle of the coin in the fish's mouth to pay the temple tax. This section reflects on the themes of divine prophecy, obedience, and the Kingdom of God, providing a complex layer of insights into Jesus' teachings and the expectations placed upon Him and His followers.

22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

26 “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Commentary

The Prophecy of Betrayal and Resurrection
Verses 22 and 23 deal with Jesus' prophecy about his forthcoming betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection. This serves as a sobering reminder of the impending climax of His earthly ministry. The disciples' grief suggests that they are still coming to terms with the grim reality that Jesus is going to suffer. This section sets the stage for understanding the significance of His sacrifice for humanity, as it puts His teachings and actions into the context of a larger divine plan.

The Temple Tax
The temple tax episode that follows is, at first glance, almost jarring in its mundanity, especially after the dire prophecy. However, it addresses a critical point: Jesus' relationship with existing religious laws and norms. When questioned about paying the temple tax, Jesus opens up a discourse about who is truly obligated to pay taxes and duties. His rhetorical question to Peter underscores the idea that the "children" (or citizens of the Kingdom of God) are, in theory, exempt from such obligations.

The Miracle and the Message
Jesus performs a miracle to find a coin in the mouth of a fish to pay the temple tax. This act serves multiple purposes. First, it confirms Jesus' divine authority over nature. Second, it shows Jesus' wisdom in "rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's," thus avoiding unnecessary conflict without compromising His teachings. This makes a statement about His intention not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, adhering to social responsibilities while pointing toward a higher spiritual reality.

Overall Reflection
The passage serves as a rich tapestry of themes, linking the imminence of Jesus' sacrifice for mankind with the nuances of daily life and spiritual duties. It reminds us that, while Jesus came to establish a new covenant and a heavenly kingdom, He was fully engaged in the earthly realities, fulfilling social and religious responsibilities. Both episodes underline Jesus' role as the divine mediator, embodying the heavenly and the earthly, the eternal and the temporal.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Responsive Readings from the Common Book of Prayer (1789). Commentaries are by Rev. Kenny Sallee, ThM.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Wednesday, October 25, 2023
The Quest for Divine Assurance and Faith in Uncertain Times
Psalm 63:1-8; Numbers 13:1-2, 17—14:9; Matthew 17:22-27
In a world where we often grapple with uncertainty, the interconnected themes within today's lectionary readings resonate profoundly. These passages, spanning different books of the Bible and historical contexts, invite us to explore our innate desire for spiritual sustenance, the importance of unwavering faith, and the necessity of maintaining trust in God when faced with daunting challenges. As you delve into these scriptures, may you find comfort and direction in their timeless lessons. Whether you are wandering in your own desert, standing on the edge of a new opportunity, or facing a daunting challenge, these passages offer essential guidance. They remind us to yearn for a closer relationship with God, to have faith against all odds, and to find assurance in God’s unwavering promises.