The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Thursday, March 21, 2024

 

The Daily Lectionary
With Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Thursday, March 21, 2024

Celebrating God's Enduring Love and Humility

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Deuteronomy 16:1-8; Philippians 2:1-11
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Lent 6)

Introduction

In this spiritually enriching compilation, we delve into the heart of divine love and humility through the lens of three powerful scriptures: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Deuteronomy 16:1-8; and Philippians 2:1-11. Psalm 118 opens with a jubilant acknowledgment of God's everlasting love, inviting all to join in this celebration. It sets the stage for a journey of gratitude and praise, culminating in a triumphant entry into God's presence. Deuteronomy 16 shifts our focus to the observance of Passover, an enduring reminder of God's deliverance and a call to live in remembrance of His mighty acts. Finally, Philippians 2 presents a profound reflection on Christ's humility, urging believers to adopt a mindset of selfless love and unity, mirroring the sacrificial nature of Jesus. Together, these passages weave a tapestry of divine love, redemption, and the call to embody humility and unity in our daily walk with God.

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Blessed is the One Who Comes

Psalm 118, verses 1-2 and 19-29 presents an exuberant expression of gratitude and praise to God. It begins with an invocation of thanksgiving, acknowledging God's enduring mercy, and invites all of Israel to echo this sentiment. This passage then transitions to a vivid depiction of the psalmist's deliverance, where the gates of righteousness become a metaphorical entrance into God's favor. The psalm culminates in a celebratory procession, possibly reflecting an ancient festival, where the faithful give thanks and recognize the cornerstone rejected by the builders as the foundation of God's saving work. This Psalm, rich in liturgical imagery and Messianic overtones, has been a cornerstone of worship, symbolizing God's steadfast love and faithfulness across generations.

1    O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever!

2    Let Israel say,
        “His steadfast love endures forever.”

19  Open to me the gates of righteousness,
        that I may enter through them
        and give thanks to the LORD.

20  This is the gate of the LORD;
        the righteous shall enter through it.

21  I thank you that you have answered me
        and have become my salvation.
22  The stone that the builders rejected
        has become the chief cornerstone.
23  This is the LORD’s doing;
        it is marvelous in our eyes.
24  This is the day that the LORD has made;
        let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25  Save us, we beseech you, O LORD!
        O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

26  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD.
        We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27  The LORD is God,
        and he has given us light.
    Bind the festal procession with branches,
        up to the horns of the altar.

28  You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
        you are my God, I will extol you.

29  O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
        for his steadfast love endures forever.

Gracious and Everlasting God, we come before You with hearts filled with gratitude, echoing the ancient words of Psalm 118. We praise You, Lord, for Your steadfast love endures forever. Your mercy is a constant presence in our lives, guiding us through trials and rejoicing with us in our triumphs.

We thank You for being our strength and our song, for in moments of weakness, Your grace lifts us up. Like the psalmist, we acknowledge the gates of righteousness You have opened before us, leading us to Your divine presence.

Lord, You are our salvation, the stone which the builders rejected, now the cornerstone of our faith. In You, we find refuge and hope. Help us to embody the spirit of this Psalm in our daily lives, extending Your love and mercy to others, and inviting all to join in this chorus of praise.

As we walk through the gates of righteousness, may our lives reflect Your light and truth. Guide us in paths of justice and peace, that we may be bearers of Your transformative love in the world.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless You from the house of the Lord, joining with all of creation in a symphony of praise. In Your enduring love, O God, we find our strength, our peace, and our eternal home.

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.”

Deuteronomy 16:1-8
The Feast of Unleavened Bread

Deuteronomy 16:1-8 presents a significant portion of the Pentateuch, emphasizing the observance of the Passover. This passage outlines the instructions given by God to the Israelites regarding the proper celebration of the Passover festival, a crucial event in Jewish religious tradition. It details the specific month and manner in which the Passover lamb is to be sacrificed, emphasizing the need to avoid leavened bread and to remember the swift departure from Egypt. This text not only reinforces the importance of remembering Israel's deliverance from bondage in Egypt but also serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the need for the community's continuous obedience. The passage reflects the broader themes of covenant, obedience, and remembrance, which are central to the Deuteronomistic history and theology.

16 1 Observe the month of Abib by keeping the passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 You shall offer the passover sacrifice to the LORD your God, from the flock and the herd, at the place that the LORD will choose as a dwelling for his name. 3 You must not eat with it anything leavened. For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it—the bread of affliction—because you came out of the land of Egypt in great haste, so that all the days of your life you may remember the day of your departure from the land of Egypt. 4 No leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory for seven days; and none of the meat of what you slaughter on the evening of the first day shall remain until morning. 5 You are not permitted to offer the passover sacrifice within any of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you. 6 But at the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name, only there shall you offer the passover sacrifice, in the evening at sunset, the time of day when you departed from Egypt. 7 You shall cook it and eat it at the place that the LORD your God will choose; the next morning you may go back to your tents. 8 For six days you shall continue to eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly for the LORD your God, when you shall do no work.

Expository Commentary

Verse 1: This verse sets the time for the Passover celebration, in the month of Abib (later known as Nisan), marking the start of the religious year. It reminds the Israelites of their miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage, signifying God's saving power and fidelity. The mention of nightfall is significant, recalling the urgency and the haste of their departure.

Verse 2: This verse instructs the Israelites to sacrifice animals from their flock and herd as a Passover offering to God. The focus is on the "place that the Lord will choose," which later becomes Jerusalem. This centralization of worship is a key Deuteronomic theme, emphasizing unity in worship and obedience to God's commandments.

Verse 3: The prohibition against leavened bread (representing sin and corruption) and the command to eat unleavened bread (symbolizing purity and haste) are given. The "bread of affliction" serves as a reminder of the hardships in Egypt and the haste of their departure, reinforcing the theme of God's timely deliverance.

Verse 4: This verse reiterates the prohibition of leaven and adds that none of the sacrificial meat should be left until morning, signifying complete devotion and consumption of God's provision, leaving nothing behind as a sign of trust in God's continual provision.

Verses 5-6: These verses stress the centralization of the Passover sacrifice, not allowing it in just any town but only in the chosen place (Jerusalem). The precise timing "at sunset" correlates with the exact time of their departure from Egypt, reinforcing the historical memory of liberation.

Verse 7: The method of preparation (cooking) and the location for eating the sacrifice are specified. The allowance to return home the next morning indicates that the observance is not just a ritual act but a communal experience, bringing together the entire nation in remembrance and celebration.

Verse 8: The passage concludes with instructions for the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread, culminating in a solemn assembly on the seventh day. This assembly, a time of rest and worship, underscores the communal and sacred nature of the observance, tying it back to God's deliverance and the continual call for Israel's obedience and remembrance.

In summary, Deuteronomy 16:1-8 encapsulates key elements of Israelite religious practice and identity, centering on the Passover. It emphasizes God's saving acts, the importance of remembrance, obedience, and centralized worship, and the role of ritual in shaping communal identity.

Philippians 2:1-11
Paul’s Plea for Christ-Like Humility

Philippians 2:1-11 presents a profound reflection on the nature of Christian unity and humility, centered on the example of Jesus Christ. This passage, often referred to as the 'Christ Hymn', eloquently articulates the self-emptying of Jesus (known as kenosis) and His humble obedience to God's will, even unto death on a cross. Paul urges the Philippians to adopt the same mindset as Christ, promoting a life of selfless service and unity among believers. These verses not only offer theological insights into the nature of Christ's incarnation and exaltation but also provide practical guidance for living in harmony and humility within the Christian community.

2 1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

6    who, though he was in the form of God,
        did not regard equality with God
        as something to be exploited,
7    but emptied himself,
        taking the form of a slave,
        being born in human likeness.
    And being found in human form,
8         he humbled himself
        and became obedient to the point of death—
        even death on a cross.

9    Therefore God also highly exalted him
        and gave him the name
        that is above every name,
10  so that at the name of Jesus
        every knee should bend,
        in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11  and every tongue should confess
        that Jesus Christ is Lord,
        to the glory of God the Father.

Expository Commentary

Verses 1-2 — Unity and Love in the Christian Community: Here, Paul appeals to the Philippians' experience of being in Christ: the encouragement, love, and spiritual fellowship they have received. He urges them to make his joy complete by embodying unity and love, indicating the deep relational aspect of the Christian faith.

Verses 3-4 — Humility and Selflessness: Paul emphasizes humility and selflessness, core virtues in Christian ethics. He challenges the community to avoid actions driven by selfish ambition or vanity, encouraging them to value others above themselves and consider others' interests.

Verses 5-6 — Christ’s Example of Humility: Paul introduces the example of Christ, who, although possessing the nature of God, did not cling to His divine status. This introduces the concept of kenosis (self-emptying), a key theological concept illustrating Jesus' humility.

Verse 7 — The Incarnation of Christ: The phrase "emptied himself" signifies Jesus' incarnation, His taking on human nature. The use of "slave" metaphorically describes His total submission to God's will, highlighting His humility and obedience.

Verse 8 — Christ’s Obedience and Death: Paul emphasizes Jesus' humility further, noting His obedience to God, which led to His death on the cross. This was the ultimate act of humility and obedience, a central element of Christian salvation.

Verses 9-11 — Exaltation of Christ: In response to Jesus' humility and obedience, God exalts Him above all. The exaltation of Jesus serves as a testament to His Lordship and divine nature. This passage points to the universal acknowledgment of Jesus' lordship and glory, which is central to Christian eschatology.

In summary, Philippians 2:1-11 offers a powerful theological exposition on Christ's humility and exaltation, while simultaneously providing practical guidance for Christian living centered around unity, selflessness, and humility. This passage not only deepens the understanding of Christ's nature and work but also serves as a moral and spiritual guide for believers.

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 biblical commentaries provided here are intended for educational and spiritual enrichment purposes only. The interpretations and insights offered are based on the authors' understanding and perspective of the Bible, which may be influenced by their theological training, denominational background, and personal beliefs.

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