The Daily Lectionary
with Commentary
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Unwavering Faith and Universal Grace
Psalm 27; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 11:1-18
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Advent 2)
Introduction
with Commentary
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Unwavering Faith and Universal Grace
Psalm 27; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 11:1-18
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Advent 2)
Introduction
In the diverse landscape of biblical revelation, the enduring themes of faith amidst adversity and the boundless reach of God's grace are beautifully captured in Psalm 27, Isaiah 4:2-6, and Acts 11:1-18. From the personal, heartfelt cry of David for God's protection and presence in Psalm 27, to the prophetic promise of restoration and shelter in Isaiah, and culminating with the early church's realization of the Gospel's reach to the Gentiles in Acts, these passages collectively echo the assurance of God's safeguarding and the extension of His mercy to all peoples. This triad of texts invites believers to a deeper trust in the God who shields them in times of peril and to embrace the radical inclusivity of God's kingdom, where grace transcends boundaries, and the Spirit's empowerment is for all who believe.
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 27
Unwavering Faith in the Face of Fear
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 27
Unwavering Faith in the Face of Fear
Psalm 27 is a vibrant declaration of faith and trust in the Lord, composed by David amidst his adversities. It stands as a testimony to the power of unshakeable faith in the face of daunting challenges and fears. David articulates a profound confidence in the Lord's protection and guidance, juxtaposing the darkness of his trials with the light of God's presence. This Psalm is an invitation to embrace the Lord as our sanctuary and to seek His face in all seasons of life. It encourages believers to remain steadfast, assuring them of the Lord's constant companionship and the ultimate triumph over all fears.1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear? *
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me, *
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear; *
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek: *
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling; *
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me; *
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord; *
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” *
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger; *
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me, *
the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord; *
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, *
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord *
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord; *
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Heavenly Father, in the refuge of Your presence, we come before You with hearts open and spirits willing. As we ponder the words of Psalm 27, may they become the prayer of our own hearts, reflecting our deep need for Your guidance and protection.
Lord, You are our light and our salvation, whom shall we fear? You are the stronghold of our lives, of whom shall we be afraid? When the wicked advance against us to devour us, it is our enemies and our foes who will stumble and fall. In the face of adversity and amidst the shadows that loom, we stand firm in Your promise, O God, for You are with us.
Teach us Your way, O Lord, and lead us on a straight path because of our oppressors. Do not turn us over to the will of our foes, for false witnesses rise up against us, spouting malicious accusations. We believe we shall see Your goodness, Lord, in the land of the living. Our hope is anchored in Your faithfulness; our spirits lifted by Your mercy.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. In the waiting, we find our strength renewed. In the silence, we hear Your whisper. In the stillness, we feel Your presence. May our hearts be courageous, and our minds steadfast as we seek Your face, O God of our salvation.
One thing we ask from the Lord, this only do we seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. In Your holy presence, every fear dissolves; in the sanctuary of Your love, our joy is made complete.
Even now, when we are tempted to feel forsaken or alone, we cling to the truth that You will never leave us nor forsake us. Hear us, Lord, when we call to You; be merciful and answer us. Teach us Your way, Lord, and lead us in a straight path. We look to You, our Light and our Salvation, to dispel the darkness that surrounds us, and to lead us into the abundance of Your everlasting light.
Through every season, O Lord, You are our confidence and our hope. Our hearts say of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, we will seek. Hide not Your face from us, nor turn Your servants away in anger. You have been our helper; do not reject us or forsake us, God our Savior.
For in the day of trouble, You will keep us safe in Your dwelling; You will hide us in the shelter of Your sacred tent and set us high upon a rock. Thus, our heads will be exalted above the enemies who surround us, and in Your tent, we will sacrifice with shouts of joy; we will sing and make music to the Lord.
Father, help us to remain confident of this: we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Strengthen our hearts and help us to wait patiently for the Lord, for Your timing is perfect, and Your plans for us are good.
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.”
In the midst of Isaiah's prophecies—often filled with warnings of judgment and calls to repentance—Isaiah 4:2-6 shines forth with a message of hope and restoration. This passage is a beacon of light in the midst of darkness, a promise of what is to come after the Lord has exercised His righteousness through acts of purification and judgment. The prophet speaks of a time when the "Branch of the Lord" will be beautiful and glorious, a time of transformation where what is left of Israel will be called holy. Herein lies a profound assurance of divine salvation and the establishment of a sanctuary for the remnant of God's people. This passage anticipates a future where God's presence is both a covering and glory, providing protection, sanctity, and a new beginning for His people.4 2 In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Commentary
Isaiah 4:2-6 presents a vivid contrast to the preceding chapters that depict the ruin and desolation due to the people's unfaithfulness. This section, however, heralds a time of restoration and divine blessing.
Verse 2 introduces the Branch of the Lord as a symbol of new growth, fruitfulness, and the embodiment of the Lord's splendor. This metaphor is rich with messianic undertones, foreshadowing the coming of Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as the Branch in Christian theology. It speaks of life springing forth from apparent death, beauty from ashes—indicating a profound transformation led by God's hand.
In verses 3-4, there is a shift to the purification that precedes glory. Those who remain in Zion and survive in Jerusalem will be called holy—set apart for God's purposes. This purification is as if by fire and by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire, indicating a thorough and refining process that purifies God's people.
Verses 5-6 paint a picture of divine protection and presence. The creation of a canopy over Mount Zion and over those assembled symbolizes God's sheltering presence, reminiscent of the cloud of glory that led the Israelites in the wilderness and the pillar of fire that protected them by night. The provision of a refuge, a place of safety and a shelter from the storm and rain, speaks of God's compassionate care for His people.
Isaiah 4:2-6, therefore, is not only a promise of what God will do but also a template for what He seeks in His people: beauty from growth, holiness from purification, and life lived under the protective shadow of His presence. It is a holistic vision of salvation that encompasses both spiritual and physical dimensions, assuring us that God's ultimate plan for His creation is redemption and renewal.
In Acts 11:1-18, we find a pivotal moment in the early Christian church's development, as the Apostle Peter recounts a divine revelation that expands the church's mission beyond the bounds of traditional Jewish boundaries. This passage follows the narrative of Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, who receives the Holy Spirit, demonstrating God's acceptance of Gentiles into the faith. As Peter shares this experience with the Jerusalem church, the passage confronts longstanding prejudices and opens the door to a more inclusive understanding of God’s salvation plan.11 1 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’
15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”
18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Commentary
Acts 11:1-18 unfolds in a context of uncertainty and transformation. The early followers of Jesus are grappling with the radical nature of the Gospel and its implications for their deeply held beliefs about God's chosen people.
Verses 1-3 depict the initial backlash Peter faces upon his return to Jerusalem. The Jewish believers are astounded that Peter, a Jew, would associate with Gentiles, let alone enter their homes and share a meal with them. This criticism reflects the stringent Jewish dietary laws and social customs of the time, which separated Jews from non-Jews.
Verses 4-10 provide a detailed account of Peter’s vision. In his vision, Peter sees a sheet descending from heaven, containing various animals considered unclean by Jewish law. A voice instructs him to eat, but Peter protests, citing his adherence to Jewish dietary restrictions. The voice from heaven challenges Peter three times, stating, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This repetition not only underscores the importance of the message but also mirrors Peter's threefold denial of Jesus, suggesting a complete reversal and restoration of Peter's understanding.
Verse 11-14 transitions to the event of the three men sent by Cornelius arriving to summon Peter. Cornelius, though a Gentile, is described as a devout man who feared God—an indication that the message of Jesus was already resonating beyond Jewish communities. Peter's compliance with the vision is an act of faith, stepping into the unknown and beginning to grasp the scope of God's redemptive work.
Verses 15-17 recount the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles, paralleling the Pentecost experience of the Jewish believers. This moment is theologically significant; it equates the experience of Gentile believers with that of the initial Jewish followers, challenging the idea that God’s favor is limited by ethnic or cultural lines. Peter’s rhetorical question, "So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us... who was I to think that I could stand in God's way?" is a profound recognition of God's sovereignty and the inclusivity of His grace.
Verse 18 concludes with the reaction of the Jerusalem church, which transitions from criticism to praise. The realization that God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life marks a turning point in the early church's outlook, as they begin to understand the Gospel as a message for all humanity.
In this narrative, we see the breaking down of longstanding barriers and the fulfillment of prophecies that the Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles. The passage challenges us to consider how our own preconceptions may limit our understanding of God's work in the world and invites us to embrace a vision of grace that extends to all peoples, regardless of background or tradition.
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 Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Unwavering Faith and Universal Grace
Psalm 27; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 11:1-18
In the diverse landscape of biblical revelation, the enduring themes of faith amidst adversity and the boundless reach of God's grace are beautifully captured in today's readings. From the personal, heartfelt cry of David for God's protection and presence in Psalm 27, to the prophetic promise of restoration and shelter in Isaiah, and culminating with the early church's realization of the Gospel's reach to the Gentiles in Acts, these passages collectively echo the assurance of God's safeguarding and the extension of His mercy to all peoples. This triad of texts invites believers to a deeper trust in the God who shields them in times of peril and to embrace the radical inclusivity of God's kingdom, where grace transcends boundaries, and the Spirit's empowerment is for all who believe.
