The Daily Lectionary with Commentary
Saturday, October 14, 2023
The Faithfulness of God Amid Human
Saturday, October 14, 2023
The Faithfulness of God Amid Human
Unfaithfulness: Lessons from Past and Present
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Exodus 24:12-18; Mark 2:18-22
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)
Introduction
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Exodus 24:12-18; Mark 2:18-22
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)
Introduction
The Scriptures are rich with lessons on the unchanging nature of God's faithfulness in contrast to human inconsistency and failure. As we explore Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Exodus 24:12-18, and Mark 2:18-22, we are presented with a tapestry of stories and teachings that demonstrate how God remains steadfast even when humanity falters. These passages serve as mirrors reflecting our own frailties, yet also windows revealing the grace and commitment of God to His creation.
As we delve into these interconnected passages, we find recurring themes of human unfaithfulness, divine faithfulness, the need for transformation, and the limitations of religious structures. Together, they challenge us to examine our own lives in the light of God's enduring faithfulness and transformative power.
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23
God’s favor for the people
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23
God’s favor for the people
Psalm 106 is a hymn of praise and remembrance, highlighting God's steadfast love and mercy alongside the failings and sins of His people. This particular selection—verses 1-6 and 19-23—captures the essence of God's graciousness and human shortcomings. The first few verses serve as a call to give thanks to the Lord for His enduring love and wondrous deeds. Yet, the Psalm is also candid about human imperfection, recalling moments when the Israelites turned away from God, even to the point of idol worship. This juxtaposition provides a humbling reminder: despite our failings, God's love remains constant, and His readiness to intervene for our salvation is everlasting.1 Hallelujah!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
2 Who can declare the mighty acts of the LORD *
or show forth all his praise?
3 Happy are those who act with justice *
and always do what is right!
4 Remember me, O LORD, with the favor you have
for your people, *
and visit me with your saving help;
5 That I may see the prosperity of your elect
and be glad with the gladness of your people, *
that I may glory with your inheritance.
6 We have sinned as our forebears did; *
we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.
19 Israel made a bull-calf at Horeb *
and worshiped a molten image;
20 And so they exchanged their Glory *
for the image of an ox that feeds on grass.
21 They forgot God their Savior, *
who had done great things in Egypt,
22 Wonderful deeds in the land of Ham, *
and fearful things at the Red Sea.
23 So he would have destroyed them,
had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, *
to turn away his wrath from consuming them.
Heavenly Father, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude, acknowledging the truth proclaimed in Psalm 106: "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." Your enduring love and faithfulness are the anchors of our souls, especially when we recognize our own failings.
Lord, we resonate with the Psalmist who admits the sins of his ancestors and his own transgressions. Like the Israelites, we too have often acted wickedly and rebelled against Your holy commands. We confess our shortcomings, our impatience, and our propensity to turn to idols of our own making—whether they be material possessions, relationships, or ambitions that take Your place in our hearts.
We recall how the Israelites created a golden calf in the wilderness, forsaking Your glory for a creation of their own hands. Father, we ask for Your forgiveness for the times we have done the same, replacing Your eternal majesty with fleeting pleasures and worldly priorities.
Yet, the Psalm also reminds us of Your incredible mercy. Even when Moses stood before You, interceding for the people who had forgotten Your wonders, You relented from Your righteous wrath. Your love and mercy are astonishing, and we thank You for Your willingness to forgive and restore.
Today, we pray that You would fill us anew with a deep awareness of Your presence and a steadfast spirit to follow Your ways. Let our lives be an ongoing testimony to Your enduring love and faithfulness. May we not repeat the mistakes of the past but walk in obedience and gratitude, ever mindful of Your grace that covers our multitude of sins.
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.”
Exodus 24:12-18 serves as a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Israelites' journey from slavery to a covenantal relationship with God. This passage follows shortly after the giving of the Ten Commandments and marks the formal sealing of the covenant between God and His people. In these verses, Moses is called up to Mount Sinai to receive the tablets of stone, inscribed with laws and commandments that would form the bedrock of Israelite society and their relationship with the Divine. This moment encapsulates themes of divine revelation, human obedience, and the awe-inspiring majesty of God.12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Commentary
Verse 12: The Call to Ascend
"The Lord said to Moses, 'Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.'"
In this verse, Moses receives a direct invitation from God to ascend Mount Sinai. The purpose is dual: to receive the tablets of stone and to "stay" in God's presence. The tablets represent not just a set of rules, but the essence of a covenantal relationship with God. The term "instruction" here implies more than mere rules; it refers to guidance for living a life that is pleasing to God and beneficial for the community.
Verses 13-14: The Commencement of the Ascent
"So Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. He said to the elders, 'Wait here for us until we come back to you.'"
Moses doesn't ascend the mountain alone; he takes Joshua as his aide. This inclusion of Joshua foreshadows his later role as Moses' successor and a leader of Israel. Meanwhile, the elders are instructed to wait, signifying a period of expectancy and preparation for receiving the divine laws.
Verse 15-16: The Glory of God Appears
"When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai."
As Moses reaches the mountain, a cloud envelops it—representing the divine presence. This cloud signifies both revelation and mystery, making it clear that while God is disclosing Himself, there remains an inscrutable majesty about Him.
Verse 17: God as Consuming Fire
"To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain."
The Israelites perceive God's glory as a "consuming fire," a metaphor that evokes both God's purifying and judgmental attributes. It serves as a vivid reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness of the covenant they are entering into.
Verse 18: The Duration of the Encounter
"Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights."
The number 40 often symbolizes periods of testing, trial, or preparation in the Bible. Moses’ prolonged stay on the mountain for "forty days and forty nights" emphasizes the gravity and significance of what he is to receive, as well as the deep communion with God that he experiences.
In summary, Exodus 24:12-18 encapsulates a transformative moment for the Israelites in their relationship with God. It displays God's willingness to guide and commune with His people, while simultaneously highlighting the awe-inspiring majesty and holiness of God. It serves as a poignant reminder of the gravity of covenantal commitment and the unapproachable holiness of God that, paradoxically, invites us into a deeply personal relationship with Him.
Mark 2:18-22 is a fascinating passage in which Jesus addresses a question about fasting and, in the process, illuminates the revolutionary nature of His ministry. The section serves as a microcosm of the larger tension between the religious establishment and Jesus, and it deals with the question of how the "new" that Jesus brings can coexist with the "old" religious traditions. The imagery of old and new garments and wineskins captures the essence of the transformation Jesus came to initiate, offering insights into the nature of religious tradition, spiritual renewal, and the kingdom of God.18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”
19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
Commentary
Verse 18: Fasting and the Question
"Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, 'How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?'"
The issue of fasting becomes the starting point for a much deeper discussion. Fasting was a common religious practice among Jews, particularly Pharisees and followers of John the Baptist. The people are curious or possibly even critical about why Jesus' disciples do not adhere to the same practice.
Verse 19-20: The Bridegroom Analogy
"Jesus answered, 'How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.'"
Jesus introduces the metaphor of a wedding feast, positioning Himself as the bridegroom. In a wedding celebration, fasting would be inappropriate; it's a time for joy. Jesus is suggesting that His presence ushers in a new era, one characterized by joy and fulfillment. However, He also alludes to His future absence ("taken from them"), possibly foreshadowing His death, when fasting will again be appropriate.
Verse 21: New Cloth on an Old Garment
"'No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.'"
Here, Jesus employs the metaphor of sewing new cloth onto an old garment. The point is that Jesus' teachings and His approach to spirituality cannot be simply added onto the old religious systems without causing problems. They are not compatible because the new has come with transformative power.
Verse 22: New Wine in Old Wineskins
"'And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.'"
Finally, Jesus uses the metaphor of new wine in old wineskins to illustrate the inability of old religious structures to contain the new life and freedom He offers. The new wine is expansive, full of fermenting energy, and if put into old, rigid structures, both would be ruined.
In summary, Mark 2:18-22 serves as a powerful exposition on the revolutionary nature of Jesus' ministry. It’s not merely a modification or an addition to existing religious practices but a transformative force that requires a completely new framework for understanding. It addresses the tension between tradition and innovation, urging the listener to recognize that the advent of Jesus necessitates a reevaluation of existing religious norms. This passage invites us to reconsider our own frameworks and to be open to the transformative power of Christ in our lives.
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, October 14, 2023
The Faithfulness of God Amid Human Unfaithfulness: Lessons from Past and Present
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Exodus 24:12-18; Mark 2:18-22
The Scriptures are rich with lessons on the unchanging nature of God's faithfulness in contrast to human inconsistency and failure. As we explore today's readings, we are presented with a tapestry of stories and teachings that demonstrate how God remains steadfast even when humanity falters. These passages serve as mirrors reflecting our own frailties, yet also windows revealing the grace and commitment of God to His creation. As we delve into these interconnected passages, we find recurring themes of human unfaithfulness, divine faithfulness, the need for transformation, and the limitations of religious structures. Together, they challenge us to examine our own lives in the light of God's enduring faithfulness and transformative power.
