The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Friday, February 16, 2024

 

The Daily Lectionary
with Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Friday, February 16, 2024

Seeking Divine Guidance and Deliverance

Psalm 25:1-10; Daniel 9:15-25a; 2 Timothy 4:1-5
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Lent 1)

Introduction

This thematic exploration delves into the depths of Psalm 25:1-10, Daniel 9:15-25a, and 2 Timothy 4:1-5, unveiling a spiritual journey centered on seeking divine guidance and deliverance. Psalm 25:1-10 offers a heartfelt plea for God's protection and instruction, highlighting themes of trust, guidance, and forgiveness. In Daniel 9:15-25a, we witness a prophetic prayer for mercy and understanding of God's plans, emphasizing the need for repentance and God's faithfulness to His promises. Finally, 2 Timothy 4:1-5 presents an urgent exhortation to preach the word, remain steadfast in faith, and carry out one's duties in the face of challenges and changing times. Together, these passages encourage a faithful reliance on God's guidance, a commitment to understanding His will, and the courage to act righteously amidst trials.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 25:1-10
Your Paths are Love and Faithfulness

Psalm 25, a deeply personal prayer of David, is an earnest plea for God's guidance and protection. In verses 1-10, David expresses his unwavering trust in the Lord, despite facing adversaries and personal anxieties. This section of the Psalm resonates with themes of seeking divine direction, understanding God's ways, and a heartfelt desire for forgiveness. As we delve into these verses, we find a profound acknowledgment of God's steadfast love and faithfulness. It's a passage that speaks to the heart of those yearning for a closer walk with God amidst life's challenges.

1    To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2            O my God, in you I trust; *
        Do not let me be put to shame;
            do not let my enemies exult over me.

3    Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; *
        Let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4    Make me to know your ways, O Lord; *
        Teach me your paths.

5    Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
            for you are the God of my salvation; *
        For you I wait all day long.

6    Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, *
        For they have been from of old.

7    Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; *
        According to your steadfast love remember me,
            for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

8    Good and upright is the Lord; *
        Therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9    He leads the humble in what is right, *
        And teaches the humble his way.

10  All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, *
        For those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Heavenly Father, in the spirit of Psalm 25, I lift my soul to You, O Lord, in trust and hope. You are my God, and in You, I place my unwavering faith. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation, and I wait for You all day long.

Lord, remember Your tender mercies and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

Good and upright are You, Lord; therefore, You instruct sinners in the way. Lead the humble in what is right, and teach the humble Your way. All Your paths, O Lord, are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep Your covenant and Your decrees.

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.”

Daniel 9:15-25a
An angel speaks to Daniel

Daniel 9:15-25a is a profound passage that showcases a fervent prayer by Daniel, expressing deep repentance and seeking God's mercy for his people. In this segment, Daniel acknowledges God's acts of deliverance in the past and implores Him to turn away His anger from Jerusalem, the holy city. His heartfelt supplication is marked by humility and a clear recognition of the sins committed by the people of Israel. This passage also includes the appearance of the angel Gabriel, who comes to give Daniel insight and understanding. Gabriel's arrival signifies a pivotal moment where he reveals a prophecy concerning the seventy weeks, a symbolic period marking significant events in the history of salvation. This section of Daniel is rich in theological significance, offering insights into themes of repentance, divine mercy, and eschatological prophecy.

9 15 “And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made your name renowned even to this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 O Lord, in view of all your righteous acts, let your anger and wrath, we pray, turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because of our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become a disgrace among all our neighbors. 17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, and for your own sake, Lord, let your face shine upon your desolated sanctuary. 18 Incline your ear, O my God, and hear. Open your eyes and look at our desolation and the city that bears your name. We do not present our supplication before you on the ground of our righteousness, but on the ground of your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, listen and act and do not delay! For your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people bear your name!”

20 While I was speaking, and was praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God on behalf of the holy mountain of my God— 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen before in a vision, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He came and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come out to give you wisdom and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your supplications a word went out, and I have come to declare it, for you are greatly beloved. So consider the word and understand the vision:

24 “Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city: to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25a Know therefore and understand: from the time that the word went out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the time of an anointed prince, there shall be seven weeks.

Expository Commentary

Verses 15-19 — Daniel's Prayer: Daniel begins his prayer by recalling God's mighty acts in leading the Israelites out of Egypt. He acknowledges Israel's sin and pleads for mercy, not because of their righteousness but because of God's great mercy. Daniel's prayer is a model of humility and repentance.

Verse 20 — Confession of Personal and Corporate Sin: While Daniel is confessing his sin and the sin of his people, he emphasizes the communal aspect of sin and the need for communal repentance.

Verses 21-23 — Gabriel's Appearance: While Daniel is still praying, the angel Gabriel, described as a man in the text, appears to him. Gabriel's appearance signifies the importance of Daniel's prayer and the response it is about to receive. Gabriel comes to give Daniel insight and understanding.

Verses 24-25a — The Seventy Weeks: Gabriel explains that seventy weeks have been decreed for Daniel's people and the holy city. This prophecy is one of the most complex and debated in the Bible. It's often interpreted as a timeline for significant events in Jewish history, culminating in the coming of the Messiah. The seventy weeks are generally understood symbolically rather than literally, each 'week' representing a period of seven years.

This passage is rich in theological and historical significance, touching on themes of repentance, divine response, and eschatological prophecy. The complexity of the seventy weeks prophecy has led to various interpretations, particularly regarding its chronological implications and its fulfillment.

2 Timothy 4:1-5
Apostolic and pastoral advice for Timothy

The passage from 2 Timothy 4:1-5 offers a solemn charge from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a fellow worker in the early Christian church. In this segment, Paul emphasizes the critical importance of preaching the word and remaining steadfast in the face of challenging times. He warns Timothy about a time when people will turn away from the truth, seeking teachers who tell them what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. Paul counsels Timothy to be vigilant, to endure suffering, to do the work of an evangelist, and to fulfill his ministry. This passage resonates with a sense of urgency and responsibility, highlighting the duties of a Christian leader in maintaining the integrity of the Gospel message amidst a changing and often resistant world.

4 1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5 As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Expository Commentary

Verse 1 — A Solemn Charge: Paul begins with a solemn charge to Timothy, invoking the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead. This introduction underscores the seriousness of the apostolic mandate. It reminds Timothy of the ultimate accountability before God and Christ, particularly concerning the resurrection and the coming kingdom.

Verse 2 — The Call to Preach: Here, Paul instructs Timothy to "preach the word," emphasizing the urgency of this task "in season and out of season." The directive encompasses both opportune and challenging times, urging continuous, unwavering proclamation of the Gospel. Paul further advises Timothy to convince, rebuke, and encourage with utmost patience and teaching. This guidance reflects the pastoral role's multifaceted nature, requiring discernment and adaptability.

Verses 3-4 — A Warning of Future Challenges: Paul warns of a time when people will not endure sound teaching. Instead, they will accumulate teachers to suit their own desires and will turn away from the truth to myths. This prophetic insight highlights the challenges of maintaining doctrinal purity and the temptation for believers to seek teachings that align more with personal desires than with biblical truth.

Verse 5 — A Call to Endurance and Evangelism: Finally, Paul exhorts Timothy to keep a clear mind, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, and carry out his ministry fully. This verse serves as a personal encouragement to Timothy, reminding him to remain vigilant, endure hardships inherent in Christian ministry, and fulfill his evangelistic calling with diligence.

Conclusion: The passage from 2 Timothy 4:1-5 is a powerful reminder of the enduring relevance of apostolic wisdom. It serves as a guide for Christian leaders and believers, emphasizing the importance of steadfast preaching, teaching, and adherence to the truth of the Gospel, despite the challenges and changing times. Paul's words to Timothy resonate through the centuries, calling for faithful, courageous, and discerning proclamation of the Christian faith.

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 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Commentaries are by Kenny Sallee, ThM, aided by ChatGPT.

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