The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Monday, December 18, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
with Commentary
Monday, December 18, 2023

Unshakable Faith in Divine Providence

Psalm 125; 1 Kings 18:1-18; Ephesians 6:10-17
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Advent 3)

Introduction

Psalm 125 stands as a resolute declaration of the steadfastness of those who trust in the Lord, likening them to Mount Zion, which cannot be moved. Moving through the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:1-18, we witness the powerful assertion of God's supremacy and the vindication of unwavering faith against idolatry. Ephesians 6:10-17 then arms us with the metaphorical armor of God, fortifying believers for the spiritual battles ahead. Together, these passages weave a narrative of unshakable faith, encouraging believers to stand firm in the face of adversity, confident in the divine providence that guards and guides their path.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 125
The Assurance of God’s Protection

Psalm 125 is a song of ascent, sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem, reflecting on the enduring security of those who trust in the Lord. This psalm draws a vivid analogy between the steadfast mountains surrounding Jerusalem and the Lord's unshakeable protection of His people. It is a powerful reminder that, just as the mountains encircle the city, God encompasses His people, both now and forevermore.

1    Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, *
        which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

2    As the mountains surround Jerusalem, *
        so the Lord surrounds his people
            both now and forevermore.

3    The scepter of the wicked will not remain
        over the land allotted to the righteous, *
    for then the righteous might use
        their hands to do evil.

4    Lord, do good to those who are good, *
        to those who are upright in heart.

5    But those who turn to crooked ways *
        the Lord will banish with the evildoers.

Heavenly Father, like the mountains that cradle Jerusalem, Your protection surrounds us. Instill in our hearts the unshakeable trust that comes from Your promises. As we reflect on Psalm 125, may we be reminded of Your enduring faithfulness and the peace that comes from being anchored in Your presence. Strengthen us in faith, that we might stand firm against the trials and tribulations of this world, secure in the knowledge that Your love for us is as constant as the earth beneath our feet.

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.”

1 Kings 18:1-18
Confrontation on Mount Carmel

The passage from 1 Kings 18:1-18 depicts a dramatic scene from the Old Testament, where the prophet Elijah emerges from seclusion to challenge Ahab, the king of Israel, and the prophets of Baal. The nation of Israel is in the midst of a severe famine, seen as a consequence of their worship of false gods. Elijah, the lone prophet of the Lord, confronts Ahab and orchestrates a showdown to prove whose deity is genuinely in control—the Lord or Baal. This passage sets the stage for one of the most powerful demonstrations of God's power and sovereignty in the Bible.

18 1 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

Now the famine was severe in Samaria, 3 and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. 4 While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) 5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.” 6 So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another.

7 As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”

8 “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”

9 “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? 10 As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. 11 But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ 12 I don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth. 13 Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. 14 And now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ He will kill me!”

15 Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”

18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.

Commentary

1 Kings 18:1-18 is a significant passage in the Old Testament, presenting a dramatic encounter between the prophet Elijah and the representatives of King Ahab, including Obadiah, the palace administrator. This passage is rich in themes and narrative elements, and its commentary can be broken down as follows:

Verses 1-2 (Context and Setting): The passage begins with God telling Elijah to present himself to Ahab after a long period of drought in Israel. The drought was a consequence of Israel's idolatry, particularly the worship of Baal, a Canaanite deity associated with rain and fertility. Elijah's re-emergence is significant as he was a staunch opponent of Baal worship and had been in hiding due to King Ahab's persecution of the prophets of God.

Verses 3-6 (Obadiah’s Role): Obadiah, a devout believer in Yahweh, had risked his life to protect God's prophets from Ahab's wife, Jezebel, who was executing them. Despite his high position, Obadiah's allegiance to God over the royal authority is noteworthy. His actions to preserve the prophets symbolize the remnant of true believers in a largely apostate Israel.

Verses 7-16 (Elijah and Obadiah’s Encounter): Elijah's meeting with Obadiah is marked by tension. Obadiah recognizes Elijah immediately, demonstrating Elijah's reputation and the fear he instilled in Ahab's court. Elijah's instruction to Obadiah to announce his presence to Ahab is met with fear, as Obadiah worries about the consequences if Elijah were to disappear again. This reflects the precarious nature of being a follower of God in a hostile environment.

Verses 17-18 (Elijah’s Confrontation with Ahab): The climax of the passage is the confrontation between Ahab and Elijah. Ahab's accusation of Elijah as the "troubler of Israel" is met with a bold retort from Elijah, who flips the accusation back on Ahab, blaming his and Israel's troubles on their abandonment of God's commands and their embrace of Baal worship.

In summary, this passage highlights the themes of divine judgment, faithfulness in adversity, the conflict between true and false worship, and the courage of God's prophets. Elijah's role as a prophet is characterized by his unwavering commitment to God, even in the face of a hostile royal power. The narrative sets the stage for the subsequent dramatic showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, emphasizing the power and sovereignty of God in the face of idolatry and apostasy.

Ephesians 6:10-17
Armor of God: The Spiritual Defense

In Ephesians 6:10-17, the Apostle Paul presents a powerful metaphor that has resonated through the ages: the Armor of God. This passage is a call to spiritual readiness, urging believers to stand firm against the forces of evil with divine strength and protection. Paul’s vivid imagery equips us with the understanding that the Christian life involves spiritual warfare, and to navigate it, one must don the full armor provided by God.

6 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Commentary

The Apostle Paul concludes his letter to the Ephesians with a compelling directive: to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. He is not calling for physical strength but for spiritual fortitude that comes from God's might. In this passage, Paul uses the analogy of a Roman soldier's armor to describe the spiritual armor that Christians must wear to withstand the trials and tribulations of life.

Verse 14a (The Belt of Truth): Just as a belt secures the garments of a soldier and provides freedom of movement, truth provides stability and readiness. It represents the sincerity of faith and integrity that holds the believer's life together.

Verse 14b (The Breastplate of Righteousness): The breastplate protects a soldier’s vital organs. For the believer, righteousness guards the heart against the assaults of Satan, particularly those that attack purity and the moral essence of one's character.

Verse 15 (Feet Fitted with the Readiness of the Gospel of Peace): Soldiers wore shoes that would help them to move quickly and with agility. Similarly, Christians are to be ready to move swiftly to spread the 'Good News' and to stand firm in the peace that comes from knowing Christ.

Verse 16 (The Shield of Faith): The Roman shield was large enough to cover the entire body; faith acts as such a shield, offering comprehensive protection. It can extinguish the fiery arrows of doubt, temptation, and fear launched by the adversary.

Verse 17a (The Helmet of Salvation): A soldier's helmet protects the head, the command center of the body. The helmet of salvation protects the mind from doubting the security and surety of the believer's salvation in Christ.

Verse 17b (The Sword of the Spirit): Unlike the other pieces of armor, which are primarily defensive, the sword is an offensive weapon. It represents the Word of God, which is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. It is both a tool for defense and a weapon against the spiritual deceits and doctrines of the world.

Paul emphasizes the necessity of prayer and vigilance in the life of a believer. The passage serves as a timeless reminder that the battles Christians face are not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. Therefore, wearing the full armor of God is essential for victory in the Christian life.

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 Monday, December 18, 2023
Unshakable Faith in Divine Providence
Psalm 125; 1 Kings 18:1-18; Ephesians 6:10-17
In today's readings, Psalm 125 stands as a resolute declaration of the steadfastness of those who trust in the Lord, likening them to Mount Zion, which cannot be moved. Moving through the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18, we witness the powerful assertion of God's supremacy and the vindication of unwavering faith against idolatry. Ephesians 6 then arms us with the metaphorical armor of God, fortifying believers for the spiritual battles ahead. Together, these passages weave a narrative of unshakable faith, encouraging believers to stand firm in the face of adversity, confident in the divine providence that guards and guides their path.