The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Thursday, November 23, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary

with Commentary
Thursday, November 23, 2023

A Tapestry of Praise:

From Creation to Covenant to Consummation

Psalm 100; Genesis 48:15-22; Revelation 14:1-11
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Introduction

The tapestry of God's story weaves through time and space, from the creation of the world to the establishment of the covenant with His chosen people, and ultimately to the consummation of all things in the new heaven and new earth. In Psalm 100, we are called to worship the Lord with joy and gladness, acknowledging Him as our Creator. In Genesis 48:15-22, we see God's covenant promises passed down from Jacob to his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as a testament of His faithfulness to His people. And in Revelation 14:1-11, we glimpse the culmination of God's redemptive plan, as the 144,000 redeemed from the earth sing a new song before the throne of God. These passages together remind us of the grand narrative of Scripture, calling us to join in the chorus of praise to our God who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 100
We are the people of God’s pasture

Psalm 100 is one of the most cherished and recognized psalms in the entire Psalter. Often referred to as a "Psalm of Praise," it invites all of the Earth to come before the Lord with joy and thanksgiving. With its short span of only five verses, it is concise, yet its message resonates deeply with profound simplicity. Echoing the thematic essence of worship, the psalm serves as a universal call for all peoples to recognize the sovereignty of God, and to approach Him with a heart full of gladness.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2      Worship the Lord with gladness; *
    come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the Lord is God.
        It is he who made us, and we are his; *
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
        and his courts with praise; *
    give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; *
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Gracious and Almighty God, as we come before You today, we do so with joy in our hearts and songs of praise on our lips. We stand in awe of Your magnificent creation and recognize that You are the Sovereign Lord of all the earth.

Thank you for making us, for we are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. You know each one of us intimately, and You guide us with Your loving hand. We are grateful for Your protection and care, and we acknowledge that we are completely dependent on You.

Help us to enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise. May our hearts always be filled with gratitude for Your countless blessings and Your benevolence. We recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from You.

Lord, we are grateful for Your steadfast love that endures forever and Your faithfulness that spans generations. Your goodness knows no bounds, and Your mercy is unending. We thank You for the promises You have made and for Your constant presence in our lives.

May we always shout for joy to You, worship You with gladness, and come before You with joyful songs. You are our God, and we are Your people.

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.”

Genesis 48:15-22
God has been Jacob’s shepherd

Genesis 48:15-22 is a pivotal passage in the story of the patriarchs, as it encapsulates the theme of blessing that runs throughout the book of Genesis. In this passage, the dying Jacob, also known as Israel, imparts his final blessings to Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Through the symbolic act of crossing his arms, Jacob breaks with tradition by giving the younger Ephraim the greater blessing, signifying the unexpected ways in which God's blessings and promises are fulfilled.

48 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said,

    “May the God before whom my fathers
        Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,
    the God who has been my shepherd
        all my life to this day,
16     the Angel who has delivered me from all harm
        —may he bless these boys.
    May they be called by my name
        and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,
    and may they increase greatly
        on the earth.”

17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.” 20 He blessed them that day and said,

    “In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing:
        ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. 22 And to you I give one more ridge of land than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”

Commentary

Verses 15-16: Jacob invokes the names of his ancestors, Abraham and Isaac, placing Joseph's sons in the line of the covenant blessings. Jacob's reference to God as his shepherd echoes Psalm 23, highlighting God's constant care and guidance throughout his life. The mention of the angel who redeemed him may refer to the mysterious being with whom Jacob wrestled in Genesis 32.

Verses 17-18: Joseph attempts to correct what he perceives as a mistake, as it was customary for the right hand to confer the greater blessing, and it should have been placed on the firstborn, Manasseh.

Verses 19-20: Depicts Jacob's insistence on giving the greater blessing to Ephraim. This reversal of expectations reflects a recurring theme in Genesis, where the younger son receives the primary blessing, as seen in the cases of Isaac and Jacob himself. The phrase May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh becomes a proverbial blessing in Israel, symbolizing prosperity and fruitfulness.

Verses 21-22: Jacob reassures Joseph of God's faithfulness in fulfilling the covenant promises. The ridge of land mentioned in verse 22 is traditionally identified with Shechem, which has significant historical and religious connotations in the story of Israel. This extra portion is symbolic of Joseph's favored status among his brothers.

Conclusion: Genesis 48:15-22 encapsulates the themes of covenant, blessing, and the unexpected ways in which God's promises are fulfilled. The crossing of Jacob's arms to bless Ephraim over Manasseh is a poignant symbol of God's sovereign choice and the surprising ways in which His blessings are often bestowed.

Revelation 14:1-11
Fear God and give God glory

Revelation, the final book of the New Testament, is a highly symbolic and visionary work penned by the Apostle John during his exile on the island of Patmos. Chapter 14 offers a glimpse into a series of contrasting visions. The chapter paints vivid imagery of the 144,000 with the Lamb on Mount Zion and introduces three angels proclaiming God's judgment. The passage contains both reassurance for the faithful and warnings of impending doom for the wicked, encapsulating the larger themes of Revelation that oscillate between hope and judgment.

14 1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

8 A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”

9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

Commentary

Verses 1-5: This section introduces the 144,000 standing with the Lamb (Jesus Christ) on Mount Zion. The 144,000 are described as redeemed from the earth, which has led to various interpretations. Some believe they represent a literal number of Jewish believers sealed for protection, while others view it as a symbolic number representing the entirety of God's people. Their purity, loyalty, and dedicated service to God set them apart. They sing a new song, indicating a new revelation or experience in the presence of God. Their character stands in stark contrast to the worldly influences and deceptions, and they are examples of untainted faithfulness.

Verses 6-7: An angel is seen flying in mid-air, proclaiming an eternal gospel to those living on earth. This represents a universal call to humanity. The language of fear God and give him glory is a clear summons to worship and acknowledge God as the Creator and Judge. This proclamation indicates that, even in the end times, God's message of salvation and call to repentance continues to go out to all.

Verse 8: A second angel announces the fall of Babylon. Babylon is frequently symbolic in Scripture for world systems that are opposed to God. The announcement of its fall underscores the transient nature of worldly empires and systems when juxtaposed against God's eternal kingdom.

Verses 9-11: A third angel warns of the dire consequences for those who worship the beast and receive its mark. The wine of God’s fury indicates God's righteous anger and judgment. Those who align with the beast will experience torment with no rest. The language here is strong and graphic, underscoring the severity and finality of God's judgment on unrepentant sinners.

In summary, Revelation 14:1-11 juxtaposes the faithfulness and reward of God's servants with the imminent judgment awaiting those who reject Him. It serves as both an encouragement for believers to remain steadfast and a sobering call to repentance for those yet to acknowledge the sovereignty and grace of God.

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. Commentaries are by 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 Thursday, November 23, 2023
A Tapestry of Praise: From Creation to Covenant to Consummation
Psalm 100; Genesis 48:15-22; Revelation 14:1-11
The tapestry of God's story weaves through time and space, from the creation of the world to the establishment of the covenant with His chosen people, and ultimately to the consummation of all things in the new heaven and new earth. In Psalm 100, we are called to worship the Lord with joy and gladness, acknowledging Him as our Creator. In Genesis 48:15-22, we see God's covenant promises passed down from Jacob to his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as a testament of His faithfulness to His people. And in Revelation 14:1-11, we glimpse the culmination of God's redemptive plan, as the 144,000 redeemed from the earth sing a new song before the throne of God. These passages together remind us of the grand narrative of Scripture, calling us to join in the chorus of praise to our God who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.