The Daily Lectionary
with Commentary
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Hope and Redemption
in Times of Distress
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Micah 2:1-13; Matthew 24:15-31
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Advent 1)
Introduction
with Commentary
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Hope and Redemption
in Times of Distress
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Micah 2:1-13; Matthew 24:15-31
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Advent 1)
Introduction
In times of distress and turmoil, humanity often turns to a higher power for guidance and salvation. Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Micah 2:1-13; and Matthew 24:15-31 are three distinct passages from the Bible that illustrate the theme of seeking divine intervention during times of difficulty. These passages collectively portray a desperate plea for salvation, an exposure of wickedness, and a prophecy of redemption. In Psalm 80, we see the Israelites crying out to God for restoration and salvation. Similarly, in Micah 2, the prophet condemns the injustice and oppression perpetrated by the rich and powerful, while also offering a promise of restoration for the oppressed. Lastly, in Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of the tribulations that will precede His second coming, and the ultimate redemption that will follow for those who remain faithful. Together, these passages highlight the importance of hope, faith, and the pursuit of justice in the face of adversity.
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
We shall be saved
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
We shall be saved
Psalm 80 is a heartfelt plea to God for restoration and salvation, portraying a vivid image of God as the shepherd of Israel who has led His flock to trouble and now is beseeched to bring them back to safety. The psalmist employs the metaphor of a vineyard to illustrate Israel's plight, a once flourishing vine now ravaged and in need of the gardener's care. In this passage, the psalmist implores God to look down from heaven, behold the distress of His people, and come to their aid.1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock. *
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might; *
come and save us.
3 Restore us, O God; *
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
4 How long, Lord God Almighty, *
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6 You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors, *
and our enemies mock us.
7 Restore us, God Almighty; *
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, *
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you; *
revive us, and we will call on your name.
19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty; *
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.
Heavenly Shepherd of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth in our lives. You who lead Joseph like a flock, guide us in Your paths and watch over us like a shepherd watching over his sheep. Illuminate our darkness with Your radiant presence, and awaken us to the hope that is in You.
O Lord, we call upon You: Restore us! Make Your face shine upon us, and we will be saved. We acknowledge our transgressions and the moments when we have turned away from You. We cry out for Your mercy, for we have felt the weight of Your displeasure, the sting of Your anger.
We hunger for Your salvation and restoration. Be the strength of the one You have chosen, the one whom You have set apart for Yourself. Let Your hand be upon us. Let us not be abandoned or left to our own devices. With You as our shield and protector, what do we have to fear?
May we always be nourished by Your love, sustained by Your grace, and driven by Your purpose. We ask not only for our sake but for the sake of Your great name and Your promise to Your people.
Revive us, O Lord God Almighty. Let Your face shine upon us once more, and we will be saved.
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.”
Micah 2:1-13 is a profound passage that speaks directly to issues of social justice, oppression, and the consequences of turning away from God’s will. The prophet Micah addresses the sins of those in power who plot and carry out evil against the vulnerable in society, highlighting the deep connection between social justice and spiritual faithfulness.2 1 Woe to those who plan iniquity,
to those who plot evil on their beds!
At morning’s light they carry it out
because it is in their power to do it.
2 They covet fields and seize them,
and houses, and take them.
They defraud people of their homes,
they rob them of their inheritance.
3 Therefore, the Lord says:
“I am planning disaster against this people,
from which you cannot save yourselves.
You will no longer walk proudly,
for it will be a time of calamity.
4 In that day people will ridicule you;
they will taunt you with this mournful song:
‘We are utterly ruined;
my people’s possession is divided up.
He takes it from me!
He assigns our fields to traitors.’”
5 Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the Lord
to divide the land by lot.
6 “Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.
“Do not prophesy about these things;
disgrace will not overtake us.”
7 You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,
“Does the Lord become impatient?
Does he do such things?”
“Do not my words do good
to the one whose ways are upright?
8 Lately my people have risen up
like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
from those who pass by without a care,
like men returning from battle.
9 You drive the women of my people
from their pleasant homes.
You take away my blessing
from their children forever.
10 Get up, go away!
For this is not your resting place,
because it is defiled,
it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
11 If a liar and deceiver comes and says,
‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’
that would be just the prophet for this people!
12 “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;
I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
like a flock in its pasture;
the place will throng with people.
13 The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;
they will break through the gate and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,
the Lord at their head.”
Commentary
Verses 1-2 condemns those who plan and execute evil, particularly those who exploit the vulnerable for their own gain. This is a clear denunciation of injustice and oppression, emphasizing the need for societal structures that protect and uplift the downtrodden.
Verses 3-5 warn of the consequences that will befall those who perpetrate injustice, with God himself acting as the judge and avenger of the oppressed. This serves as a reminder that God is deeply concerned with issues of justice and that ultimately, evil will not go unpunished.
In verses 6-11, Micah addresses false prophets and those who lead the people astray with their lies. This is a caution against the dangers of false teachings and the importance of remaining faithful to the true word of God.
Verses 12-13 provide a message of hope and restoration, with God promising to gather his scattered people and lead them to a place of safety and abundance. This is a powerful reminder that even in the midst of hardship and oppression, God remains with his people and is working towards their ultimate redemption.
Overall, Micah 2:1-13 serves as a powerful call to justice, a warning against false teachings, and a reminder of God’s enduring love and faithfulness. It challenges us to reflect on our own actions and attitudes, and to strive towards creating a society that reflects God’s values of justice, compassion, and righteousness.
Matthew 24 is commonly referred to as the "Olivet Discourse" because it records a conversation between Jesus and His disciples on the Mount of Olives. This chapter serves as one of the central eschatological passages in the New Testament, addressing both the coming destruction of the Temple in AD 70 and the end-times preceding Christ's return. The verses from Matthew 24:15-31 focus on key prophetic signs, their implications for God's people, and the culminating event of Christ's second coming. As we delve into this passage, it's essential to approach it with an understanding of the dual layers of prophetic fulfillment, which means that some aspects were relevant to the immediate audience in the first century, while others pertain to events yet to transpire in the future.24 15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Commentary
Verse 15: This verse alludes to a prophecy from the book of Daniel (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). Historically, this abomination of desolation can refer to the desecration of the Temple by Antiochus Epiphanes in the second century BC. However, in this context, Jesus seems to be pointing towards a future event, possibly the Roman destruction of the Temple in AD 70, or even a further eschatological desecration yet to come.
Verses 16-20: These verses stress the urgency for those in Judea to flee to the mountains when they witness the prophesied abomination. This urgency underlines the imminent and intense nature of the impending tribulation.
Verses 21-22: Jesus predicts a period of unparalleled tribulation. The reference to those days being cut short for the sake of the elect underscores God's mercy even amidst judgment.
Verses 23-28: Jesus warns against being deceived by false messiahs and false prophets in the last days. The repeated emphasis on deception suggests that discernment is critical in these times. The vivid imagery of vultures gathering around a corpse paints a grim picture of the devastation to come but also signifies the inevitability of judgment and its visible signs.
Verses 29-31: This section details cosmic disturbances, followed by the visible return of Christ. The sun, moon, and stars, which are typically symbols of stability, will be shaken, pointing to a significant, transformative event. The sign of the Son of Man appearing in the sky and the gathering of the elect emphasize God's sovereignty and the hope that believers have in Christ's triumphant return.
In conclusion, Matthew 24:15-31 serves as a solemn reminder of the reality of eschatological events, both in the past and those yet to come. For believers, this passage should not incite fear but rather foster a spirit of vigilance, discernment, and hope in the Lord's promises. As we study this text, let us be reminded of the transient nature of this world and the eternal reign of Christ that awaits.
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 B. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2024, we will be in Year C. The year which ended at Advent 2023 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 Saturday, December 2, 2023
Hope and Redemption in Times of Distress
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Zechariah 14:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18
In times of distress and turmoil, humanity often turns to a higher power for guidance and salvation. Today's lectionary readings are three distinct passages from the Bible that illustrate the theme of seeking divine intervention during times of difficulty. These passages collectively portray a desperate plea for salvation, an exposure of wickedness, and a prophecy of redemption. In Psalm 80, we see the Israelites crying out to God for restoration and salvation. Similarly, in Micah 2, the prophet condemns the injustice and oppression perpetrated by the rich and powerful, while also offering a promise of restoration for the oppressed. Lastly, in Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of the tribulations that will precede His second coming, and the ultimate redemption that will follow for those who remain faithful. Together, these passages highlight the importance of hope, faith, and the pursuit of justice in the face of adversity.
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