The Daily Lectionary with Commentary
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45; Exodus 16:22-30; Matthew 19:23-30
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
Remembering the wilderness
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45; Exodus 16:22-30; Matthew 19:23-30
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
Remembering the wilderness
The verses from Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 are a call to worship and remember the Lord’s wondrous deeds and faithfulness towards the people of Israel, from the covenant with Abraham to the exodus from Egypt and provision in the wilderness. The verses highlight God's power, justice, and compassion, and invite people to seek His presence continuously.Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; *
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
and speak of all his marvelous works.
Glory in his holy Name; *
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Search for the LORD and his strength; *
continually seek his face.
Remember the marvels he has done, *
his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
O offspring of Abraham his servant, *
O children of Jacob his chosen.
He led out his people with silver and gold; *
in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
Egypt was glad of their going, *
because they were afraid of them.
He spread out a cloud for a covering *
and a fire to give light in the night season.
They asked, and quails appeared, *
and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.
He opened the rock, and water flowed, *
so the river ran in the dry places.
For God remembered his holy word *
and Abraham his servant.
So he led forth his people with gladness, *
his chosen with shouts of joy.
He gave his people the lands of the nations, *
and they took the fruit of others’ toil,
That they might keep his statutes *
and observe his laws.
Hallelujah!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, with joy and gratitude, we come before You today, remembering Your deeds, proclaiming Your love, and singing praises to Your holy name. You are the God of our ancestors, the Lord who has shown us marvelous works and guided us throughout our lives.
Lord, we give thanks to You and call upon Your name. May we make known Your deeds among the peoples, for You alone are worthy of all praise and honor. We sing to You, Lord, we sing praises to You; we recount all of Your wonderful works and acts of kindness. You have filled our lives with testimonies of Your grace, and today we stand as witnesses to Your goodness.
Help us, Father, to seek You with all our hearts and to never forget Your wondrous deeds. We are the descendants of Abraham, Your servant, the children of Jacob, Your chosen one, and we desire to keep Your commandments and to walk in Your ways.
We remember, Lord, how You led Your people out of Egypt, a nation laden with silver and gold, where none among them stumbled. You led them through the wilderness, sustained them, and brought them to a land of abundance. You have given us spiritual freedom through Your Son, Jesus Christ, and we are forever grateful.
You have blessed us, O Lord, that we may keep Your statutes and observe Your laws. Your favor rests upon us, and Your grace sustains us. As we go about our day, let our lives be a reflection of Your love and kindness, may our actions bring glory to Your name, and may our words be a testament to Your faithfulness.
We thank You, O God, for Your enduring love and unchanging character. May we, too, be steadfast in our devotion to You, that we may live lives pleasing in Your sight and worthy of Your calling.
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.”
The passage Exodus 16:22-30 is situated within a broader context that discusses the Israelites' experience in the wilderness after their Exodus from Egypt. This particular text zeroes in on the concept of "Sabbath" and the manna that God provided for the Israelites.On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”
So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”
Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” So the people rested on the seventh day.
Commentary
Obedience and Testing
This passage is not just about the Sabbath or even primarily about the manna; it's about obedience to God's commandments. God had already performed miracles for the Israelites—delivering them from Egypt, parting the Red Sea, and providing them with food. Now He was testing their willingness to trust and obey Him. By gathering double the manna on the sixth day and abstaining from gathering on the seventh, the Israelites had to show their faith that God would provide.
Sabbath as a Divine Gift
Sabbath is described here as a "holy day to the Lord." It serves multiple functions: a day of rest, a day to honor God, and a day that separates the Israelites from their former lives in Egypt where they likely did not have the luxury to cease from labor. The Sabbath is not just a command but a gift, offering a rhythm of work and rest that reflects divine order.
Preservation and Dependence
Interestingly, any manna saved on regular days would spoil, but the extra manna gathered for the Sabbath day miraculously did not. This serves as a reminder that human effort is futile without God’s blessing. The manna was not just physical sustenance; it was a daily reminder of their dependence on God for all things.
Consequences of Disobedience
Despite the clear instructions, some people still went out on the Sabbath to look for manna. This disobedience leads to a reprimand from God, asking, "How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?" This rhetorical question underscores that obeying God's commandments isn't just a matter of religious observance but of faith and trust in God’s wisdom and provision.
Community and Individual Responsibility
The manna experience was communal. Everyone gathered what they needed. The leaders played a role in conveying God's commands. Yet, the responsibility to obey was also individual. This highlights the interplay between community and individual in religious and ethical responsibilities.
Reiteration of Rest
The passage ends by confirming that "the people rested on the seventh day." This closing affirmation validates the collective act of obedience and highlights the reward of rest, not just as a physical cessation of work but as an emotional and spiritual state of peace that comes from obedience and trust in God.
Through this narrative, Exodus 16:22-30 invites us to contemplate the role of divine instruction in human lives, the purpose behind religious observances, and the delicate balance of obedience, faith, and community.
The passage Matthew 19:23-30 falls within the Gospel of Matthew and presents some of Jesus' teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven, wealth, sacrifice, and divine reward. The context is immediately after Jesus' encounter with the rich young man, who chose not to follow Jesus because he couldn't part with his possessions.Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Commentary
The Difficulty for the Rich
Jesus starts by emphasizing the difficulty for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. The metaphor of a camel passing through the eye of a needle hyperbolically underscores how counterintuitive this is to worldly wisdom. In a society where wealth is often equated with God's blessing or favor, Jesus subverts this notion dramatically.
Astonishment and the Question of Salvation
The disciples are astonished, asking, "Who then can be saved?" Their question reflects a wider cultural assumption that wealth indicated God's favor and, by extension, a greater likelihood of salvation. If the rich, who are seen as favored, struggle to enter the kingdom, what chance do the poor or average have?
Divine Possibility
Jesus clarifies that salvation is not something one can achieve through human means—it is only possible through God. This is a fundamental theological point underscoring the grace-based nature of Christian salvation. No one, rich or poor, can "earn" the kingdom; it is God who makes it possible.
The Cost and Reward of Discipleship
Peter's question expresses the disciples' shared concern: they have left everything to follow Jesus, so what is their reward? Jesus assures them that their sacrifices will not be in vain. Not only will they have roles in the coming kingdom, but the sacrifices made for the sake of following Jesus will be returned "a hundred times as much" along with eternal life.
The First Will Be Last
Jesus closes with a paradox: "many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." This statement works on multiple levels. It challenges social and religious hierarchies, suggesting that earthly status is not an indicator of heavenly worth. It also serves as a caution against complacency for those who might feel secure in their spiritual or social standing.
In summary, this passage poses challenging questions about wealth, sacrifice, and the nature of God's kingdom. It confronts cultural assumptions about the relationship between earthly success and divine favor, emphasizing that salvation is solely the work of God and not a human achievement. It assures those willing to make sacrifices for the sake of God's kingdom that their efforts will not go unrewarded, while reminding all that the last shall be first, flipping worldly values on their head.
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 Saturday, September 23, 2023
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45; Exodus 16:22-30; Matthew 19:23-30
The verses from the Psalms are a call to worship and remember the Lord’s wondrous deeds and faithfulness towards the people of Israel, from the covenant with Abraham to the exodus from Egypt and provision in the wilderness. The verses highlight God's power, justice, and compassion, and invite people to seek His presence continuously.
The passage from Exodus is situated within a broader context that discusses the Israelites' experience in the wilderness after their Exodus from Egypt. This particular text zeroes in on the concept of "Sabbath" and the manna that God provided for the Israelites.
The passage from Matthew presents some of Jesus' teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven, wealth, sacrifice, and divine reward. The context is immediately after Jesus' encounter with the rich young man, who chose not to follow Jesus because he couldn't part with his possessions.
