The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Thursday, November 9, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary with Commentary
Thursday, November 9, 2023

Legacy, Remembrance, and Judgment

Psalm 78:1-7; Joshua 5:10-12; Revelation 8:6—9:12
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Introduction

Across the tapestry of biblical narratives and exhortations, the call to remember God’s deeds and prepare for His judgment resounds. In Psalm 78, the psalmist beckons the people to remember the wonders God performed for their ancestors, aiming to pass this knowledge to the next generations. This sense of remembrance and gratitude is mirrored in Joshua 5, where the Israelites, having crossed into the Promised Land, observe the Passover. Their sustenance transitions from the miraculous manna to the produce of Canaan, symbolizing God's continued faithfulness in new chapters of their journey. Yet, as we venture into Revelation 8 and 9, the narrative becomes more ominous. Here, the theme is not merely remembrance, but impending judgment. The seven trumpets serve as harbingers of a divine reckoning, challenging humanity to remember, repent, and realign with God's purposes. Collectively, these passages underscore the importance of recalling God's past faithfulness while vigilantly preparing for the future He has foretold.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 78:1-7
The power of God

Psalm 78 is a Maschil, or a contemplative song, of Asaph. This particular section, verses 1-7, sets the tone for the entire psalm, which recounts the acts of God for His people and their responses in turn. This passage emphasizes the importance of remembering God's deeds and passing those memories on to future generations. It serves as a reminder that the stories of faith are not merely for personal edification but are to be shared with children and grandchildren. This sharing ensures that the coming generations might continue in faithfulness, hope, and praise of God. As you read these verses, reflect on your own life: the lessons learned, the grace received, and how you can share those stories with the next generation.

1 My people, hear my teaching; *
        listen to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth with a parable; *
        I will utter hidden things, things from of old—

3 Things we have heard and known, *
        things our ancestors have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their descendants;
        we will tell the next generation *
    the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
        his power, and the wonders he has done.

5 He decreed statutes for Jacob
        and established the law in Israel, *
    which he commanded our ancestors
        to teach their children,

6 So the next generation would know them,
        even the children yet to be born, *
    and they in turn would tell their children.

7 Then they would put their trust in God
        and would not forget his deeds *
    but would keep his commands.

Eternal and Gracious God, we come before You with hearts open to receive Your Word. As we reflect on Psalm 78, remind us of the importance of remembering and recounting Your wondrous deeds. Just as the psalmist called the people to lend their ears to the lessons of old, let our hearts be ever attentive to Your teachings and wonders.

Lord, help us not to be mere hearers of Your deeds but diligent stewards of Your stories, ensuring that they are passed down to our children and their children. Strengthen our resolve to teach the next generation about Your power, grace, and unending love, so that they might set their hope in You and not forget Your works but keep Your commandments.

Thank you for the rich heritage of faith you've given us and for the stories of old that continue to inspire and guide us today. Let us be ever mindful of Your faithfulness throughout the ages, and may we be diligent in sharing it with the generations to come.

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.”

Joshua 5:10-12
Passover in the promised land

The Book of Joshua, named after its central character Joshua, Moses' successor, tells the story of the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land. The narrative underscores God's promise to the Israelites, and how under Joshua's leadership, they begin to witness the fulfillment of these promises. Chapter 5 of Joshua is particularly poignant because it marks the transition from the wilderness wanderings to the beginnings of a settled life in Canaan. This portion of the text touches upon the revival of covenant practices that had been neglected during their journey, specifically the circumcision of the new generation and the observance of the Passover feast.

5 10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

Commentary

This passage recounts two significant events: the Israelites' observance of the Passover and their first consumption of the produce of Canaan, marking an end to the divine provision of manna.

1. Celebration of the Passover (v. 10): The Passover, a fundamental feast in the Jewish tradition, commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. Its observance in the plains of Jericho carries profound significance, signifying a renewed commitment to God's covenant as they stand on the cusp of inheriting the Promised Land.

2. Eating the Produce of Canaan (v. 11): This marks a shift from reliance on miraculous sustenance to drawing nourishment from the land God promised them. Eating the produce of Canaan symbolizes God's faithfulness and the beginning of a new phase in Israelite history.

3. Cessation of Manna (v. 12): For forty years, manna was a daily reminder of God's provision and care for the Israelites during their wilderness journey. Its cessation is not an end to God's provision but a transition. In the Promised Land, God's blessings would manifest in the fruits of the land rather than the daily appearance of manna.

Together, these verses underscore a significant transition in the journey of the Israelites. As they cross over into Canaan, they move from a nomadic existence to a settled life, and from divine dependence to a co-laboring with God in the land. The themes of memory, gratitude, and divine provision run deep in these verses, reminding us of God's faithfulness across different seasons of life.

Revelation 8:6—9:12
The trumpet of God’s judgment

The book of Revelation, penned by the Apostle John during his exile on the Isle of Patmos, provides a vivid and often enigmatic portrayal of the end times. In chapters 8 and 9, the narrative reaches a climactic turning point with the sounding of the seven trumpets by seven angels. These trumpets signal the outpouring of God's judgment upon a rebellious world. While the text is steeped in rich symbolism, it primarily underscores the gravity and inevitability of God's wrath against unrighteousness, while also highlighting His mercy and the opportunity for repentance.

8 6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.

13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

9 1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. 6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).

12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.

Commentary

This passage is a central portion of the broader vision of the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls which depict escalating judgements upon the earth. Let’s break down the events that unfold:

• The First Trumpet (8:7): With the sounding of the first trumpet, hail and fire mixed with blood are thrown down to the earth. As a result, a third of the earth is burned up, a third of the trees are burned up, and all the green grass is burned up. This echoes some of the plagues of Egypt and signifies widespread ecological disaster.

• The Second Trumpet (8:8-9): The second trumpet introduces an object like a huge mountain, all ablaze, thrown into the sea. Consequently, a third of the sea turns into blood, a third of the sea creatures die, and a third of the ships are destroyed. This judgment affects both marine life and human commerce, reminding readers of the interconnectedness of all creation and the vast reach of divine judgment.

• The Third Trumpet (8:10-11): Upon the sounding of the third trumpet, a blazing star named Wormwood falls on a third of the rivers and springs, turning them bitter and deadly. The very sources of freshwater, vital for life, become a means of death.

• The Fourth Trumpet (8:12): With this trumpet, a third of the sun, moon, and stars are struck, leading to a third of the day and night becoming dark. This celestial disturbance hints at a disarray in the natural order of things and possibly symbolizes spiritual darkness.

• The Announcement of Three Woes (8:13): An eagle (or angel, in some translations) warns of the last three trumpet judgments, calling them woes. This intensification signals that the forthcoming judgments are even more severe.

• The Fifth Trumpet (First Woe) (9:1-12): A star, possibly an angel or demonic being, is given the key to the Abyss. When opened, smoke pours out, and out of this smoke come locusts with a sting like scorpions. Their appearance is described in terrifying detail, blending images of horses prepared for battle, human faces, and other characteristics. Importantly, they are given authority to harm only those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads, emphasizing God's protection over His faithful. Their torment lasts five months, and the pain is so intense that people will seek death but won't find it.

The apocalyptic imagery throughout these verses can be both bewildering and unsettling. The blending of natural disasters, celestial disturbances, and monstrous creatures underscores the cosmic scale and gravity of God's judgments. These visions serve as stern warnings about the consequences of human rebellion against God, while also assuring believers of God's ultimate control over all events and His protective hand over His own.

While the symbolism may not always be straightforward, the message is clear: God's judgments are both just and inevitable, yet His mercy remains, calling people to repentance and faith.

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 9, 2023
Legacy, Remembrance, and Judgment
Psalm 78:1-7; Joshua 5:10-12; Revelation 8:6—9:12
Across the tapestry of biblical narratives and exhortations, the call to remember God’s deeds and prepare for His judgment resounds. In Psalm 78, the psalmist beckons the people to remember the wonders God performed for their ancestors, aiming to pass this knowledge to the next generations. This sense of remembrance and gratitude is mirrored in Joshua 5, where the Israelites, having crossed into the Promised Land, observe the Passover. Their sustenance transitions from the miraculous manna to the produce of Canaan, symbolizing God's continued faithfulness in new chapters of their journey. Yet, as we venture into Revelation 8 and 9, the narrative becomes more ominous. Here, the theme is not merely remembrance, but impending judgment. The seven trumpets serve as harbingers of a divine reckoning, challenging humanity to remember, repent, and realign with God's purposes. Collectively, these passages underscore the importance of recalling God's past faithfulness while vigilantly preparing for the future He has foretold.