The Daily Lectionary with Commentary
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Enduring Covenants: God’s Unwavering Promises Across Time
Psalm 78; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 24:29-35
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)
Introduction
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Enduring Covenants: God’s Unwavering Promises Across Time
Psalm 78; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 24:29-35
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)
Introduction
Throughout the scriptures, we encounter a God who communicates with His people through covenants, expressing His enduring love, faithfulness, and purpose for humanity. Psalm 78 recounts the wonders of God, His promises, and the fickle nature of people, yet His enduring love for them. Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant, not written on stone but inscribed on the hearts of God’s people. Jesus, in Matthew, foretells of the end times but assures that, even as the heavens and earth change, His words will never fade. These passages collectively emphasize the persistent and unwavering nature of God's promises. Regardless of our inconsistencies and the shifting sands of time, His words and covenants remain as a testament to His eternal commitment to His creation.
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 78
God settled the tribes of Israel
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 78
God settled the tribes of Israel
Psalm 78, a Maskil of Asaph, is one of the lengthiest psalms in the Book of Psalms. This psalm serves as a reminder of God's continual faithfulness to Israel throughout their history, even in the face of their repeated unfaithfulness to Him. As a didactic poem, it underlines the importance of passing down the knowledge of God's deeds from one generation to the next. Through a recounting of the wonders, miracles, and judgments that the Lord performed for Israel, this psalm emphasizes the necessity of trust and obedience in our relationship with God. Let it be a call for us, as readers, to not only remember the past but to also be vigilant in teaching future generations about God's steadfast love and righteousness.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.
8 They would not be like their ancestors—
a stubborn and rebellious generation, *
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
whose spirits were not faithful to him.
9 The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, *
turned back on the day of battle;
10 They did not keep God’s covenant *
and refused to live by his law.
11 They forgot what he had done, *
the wonders he had shown them.
12 He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors *
in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and led them through; *
he made the water stand up like a wall.
14 He guided them with the cloud by day *
and with light from the fire all night.
15 He split the rocks in the wilderness *
and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
16 He brought streams out of a rocky crag *
and made water flow down like rivers.
17 But they continued to sin against him, *
rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High.
18 They willfully put God to the test *
by demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God; *
they said, “Can God really
spread a table in the wilderness?
20 True, he struck the rock,
and water gushed out,
streams flowed abundantly, *
but can he also give us bread?
Can he supply meat for his people?”
21 When the Lord heard them, he was furious; *
his fire broke out against Jacob,
and his wrath rose against Israel,
22 For they did not believe in God *
or trust in his deliverance.
23 Yet he gave a command to the skies above *
and opened the doors of the heavens;
24 He rained down manna for the people to eat, *
he gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Human beings ate the bread of angels; *
he sent them all the food they could eat.
26 He let loose the east wind from the heavens *
and by his power made the south wind blow.
27 He rained meat down on them like dust, *
birds like sand on the seashore.
28 He made them come down inside their camp, *
all around their tents.
29 They ate till they were gorged— *
he had given them what they craved.
30 But before they turned from what they craved, *
even while the food was still in their mouths,
31 God’s anger rose against them; *
he put to death the sturdiest among them,
cutting down the young men of Israel.
32 In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; *
in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.
33 So he ended their days in futility *
and their years in terror.
34 Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; *
they eagerly turned to him again.
35 They remembered that God was their Rock, *
that God Most High was their Redeemer.
36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths, *
lying to him with their tongues;
37 Their hearts were not loyal to him, *
they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he was merciful; *
he forgave their iniquities
and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger *
and did not stir up his full wrath.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh, *
a passing breeze that does not return.
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness *
and grieved him in the wasteland!
41 Again and again they put God to the test; *
they vexed the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember his power— *
the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,
43 The day he displayed his signs in Egypt, *
his wonders in the region of Zoan.
44 He turned their river into blood; *
they could not drink from their streams.
45 He sent swarms of flies that devoured them, *
and frogs that devastated them.
46 He gave their crops to the grasshopper, *
their produce to the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail *
and their sycamore-figs with sleet.
48 He gave over their cattle to the hail, *
their livestock to bolts of lightning.
49 He unleashed against them his hot anger, *
his wrath, indignation and hostility—
a band of destroying angels.
50 He prepared a path for his anger; *
he did not spare them from death
but gave them over to the plague.
51 He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, *
the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.
52 But he brought his people out like a flock; *
he led them like sheep through the wilderness.
53 He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; *
but the sea engulfed their enemies.
54 And so he brought them to the border of his holy land, *
to the hill country his right hand had taken.
55 He drove out nations before them
and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; *
he settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.
56 But they put God to the test
and rebelled against the Most High; *
they did not keep his statutes.
57 Like their ancestors they were disloyal and faithless, *
as unreliable as a faulty bow.
58 They angered him with their high places; *
they aroused his jealousy with their idols.
59 When God heard them, he was furious; *
he rejected Israel completely.
60 He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, *
the tent he had set up among humans.
61 He sent the ark of his might into captivity, *
his splendor into the hands of the enemy.
62 He gave his people over to the sword; *
he was furious with his inheritance.
63 Fire consumed their young men, *
and their young women had no wedding songs;
64 Their priests were put to the sword, *
and their widows could not weep.
65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, *
as a warrior wakes from the stupor of wine.
66 He beat back his enemies; *
he put them to everlasting shame.
67 Then he rejected the tents of Joseph, *
he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
68 But he chose the tribe of Judah, *
Mount Zion, which he loved.
69 He built his sanctuary like the heights, *
like the earth that he established forever.
70 He chose David his servant *
and took him from the sheep pens;
71 From tending the sheep he brought him
to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, *
of Israel his inheritance.
72 And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; *
with skillful hands he led them.
Heavenly Father, we come before You, reflecting upon the words of Psalm 78, which recounts the history of Your people, their trials and tribulations, and Your unfailing love and patience.
Lord, we are in awe of Your mighty deeds and miracles. From the parting of the Red Sea to the manna from heaven, Your wonders are without end. Yet, just as the Israelites sometimes forgot and tested You, we too falter and forget Your love and kindness towards us. Forgive us, O God, when our hearts become wayward, when our faith weakens, and when we neglect to remember Your great works.
Teach us, Lord, to pass on the stories of Your faithfulness to the next generation. Let the lessons of the past be a guiding light for the future. Help us to ensure that our children and their children know of Your mighty acts, Your love, and Your grace.
Fill our hearts with gratitude for every deliverance, every mercy, and every moment You've carried us through. Even when we face challenges, let us always remember that You are with us, guiding us and leading us towards Your perfect will.
Lord, may we always heed Your commandments and walk in Your ways. Strengthen our resolve to be faithful, just as You have remained faithful to us through the ages.
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.”
Jeremiah 31 is nestled within the larger context of the Book of Jeremiah, a prophetic text that recounts the messages of the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah. The chapter stands out for its comforting and hopeful tone, especially in contrast to the preceding chapters which often spoke of judgment and destruction. The passage from verses 31 to 34 is especially poignant, presenting the promise of a new covenant. Unlike the earlier covenant which was broken by the people, this new covenant promises an intimate and unbreakable relationship between God and His people.31 31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
Commentary
This passage begins with a prophetic announcement, "The days are coming…” This formulaic introduction is common in the prophetic literature, indicating a promise or a prophecy about the future.
The essence of the new covenant, as revealed in verses 31 and 32, is that it will differ fundamentally from the one given to the ancestors of Israel at Sinai. The old covenant, despite God’s fatherly (and even spousal) care, was broken by the people. The Mosaic covenant was external, engraved on tablets of stone, and was repeatedly broken by Israel's disobedience.
Verse 33 takes a profound shift. This new covenant will not be external but internal. God's law will be placed in the minds and inscribed on the hearts of the people. This speaks of an internal transformation, where obedience and faithfulness will flow naturally from an inner conviction and relationship with God.
The result of this internal transformation is highlighted in verse 34. The knowledge of God will be universal among the people, eliminating the need for one to instruct another about the ways and knowledge of the Lord. This pervasive knowledge is not merely intellectual but relational; it stems from an intimate relationship with God.
Finally, the promise concludes with God’s commitment to forgive and forget their iniquities. The act of God remembering sins no more emphasizes the totality of His forgiveness, a fresh start, and a relationship that's no longer hindered by the transgressions of the past.
Overall, Jeremiah 31:31-34 is a profound passage that speaks of hope, renewal, and an intimate relationship between God and His people. It points forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, in whom many Christians believe this new covenant was inaugurated, bringing about the fulfillment of this gracious promise.
The Gospel of Matthew, one of the synoptic gospels, contains a significant discourse by Jesus on the future and the end times, often referred to as the "Olivet Discourse" because it took place on the Mount of Olives. In this discourse, Jesus outlines various signs and events that will precede His return and the consummation of the age. Matthew 24:29-35 forms a crucial section of this discourse, revealing a vivid description of cosmic disturbances and the glorious coming of the Son of Man.24 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.
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Commentary
Cosmic Disturbances (v. 29): Jesus utilizes apocalyptic language, echoing Old Testament prophecies, especially from the book of Isaiah (e.g., Isaiah 13:10; 34:4). These descriptions symbolize divine judgment and upheaval on a cosmic scale, indicating a radical shift in the order of things.
Appearance of the Son of Man (v. 30): Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of Man, a title taken from the book of Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14), which denotes a divine figure given authority, glory, and dominion. His coming will be both magnificent and mournful: magnificent for His followers who eagerly await Him and mournful for those who rejected Him.
Gathering of the Elect (v. 31): The use of angels and trumpets emphasizes the grandeur and solemnity of this event. The elect refers to God's chosen people who have faithfully followed Christ.
Lesson from the Fig Tree (v. 32-33): Jesus uses the analogy of the fig tree to teach readiness and discernment. Just as one can predict the arrival of summer by observing a fig tree, believers should be able to discern the times by observing the signs Jesus mentioned.
This Generation (v. 34): This verse has been a subject of much debate. Some believe Jesus was referring to the generation of His time, suggesting that some end-time events occurred with the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD. Others believe He was speaking of the generation that would witness the signs He mentioned.
Eternal Words (v. 35): Amidst all the changing circumstances and the passing away of heaven and earth, Jesus assures that His words are eternal and trustworthy. It underscores the unchanging nature of God's promises and the certainty of prophetic fulfillment.
In conclusion, this passage from Matthew serves as a reminder of the imminent return of Christ and the need for believers to be vigilant, discerning, and grounded in the eternal words of Jesus.
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 Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Enduring Covenants: God’s Unwavering Promises Across Time
Psalm 78; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 24:29-35
Throughout the scriptures, we encounter a God who communicates with His people through covenants, expressing His enduring love, faithfulness, and purpose for humanity. Psalm 78 recounts the wonders of God, His promises, and the fickle nature of people, yet His enduring love for them. Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant, not written on stone but inscribed on the hearts of God’s people. Jesus, in Matthew, foretells of the end times but assures that, even as the heavens and earth change, His words will never fade. These passages collectively emphasize the persistent and unwavering nature of God's promises. Regardless of our inconsistencies and the shifting sands of time, His words and covenants remain as a testament to His eternal commitment to His creation.
