The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Wednesday, April 17, 2024

 

The Daily Lectionary
With Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Revelation of Divine Majesty

and Wisdom in Action

Psalm 150; Proverbs 9:1-6; Mark 16:9-18
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Easter 3)

Introduction

In this selection, we encounter three distinct yet harmoniously intertwined scriptural passages that elucidate the multifaceted nature of the divine. Psalm 150 serves as a jubilant finale to the Psalter, calling for the praise of God in His sanctuary with every breath and instrument, highlighting the universal and ceaseless adoration due to the Creator. Proverbs 9:1-6 personifies wisdom as a hospitable hostess, inviting the simple to partake of her banquet, symbolizing the nourishment of the soul through divine understanding and the forsaking of foolishness. Lastly, Mark 16:9-18 recounts the resurrection appearances of Jesus and His Great Commission, emphasizing the transformative power of faith and the miracles that accompany believers. Together, these passages celebrate the glory of God, the value of wisdom, and the transformative power of faith and resurrection, offering a composite picture of divine majesty and wisdom in action.

Psalm 150
Praise to God

Psalm 150, the final chapter in the Book of Psalms, serves as an exuberant conclusion to this ancient collection of religious poetry. Revered in Jewish, Christian, and other religious traditions, this psalm is a vibrant call to praise God, known in Hebrew as "Hallelujah". It stands out for its emphatic and repetitive encouragement of worship through music and dance. Unlike other psalms that often include pleas, laments, or thanksgiving, Psalm 150 focuses solely on praising the Lord, emphasizing the use of various musical instruments. Set in the context of the sanctuary, or "his mighty firmament", it invites everything that breathes to join in this universal chorus of praise, thus encapsulating the spirit of joy and adoration that characterizes much of the Psalms.

1    Praise the LORD!
    Praise God in his sanctuary;
        praise him in his mighty firmament!
2     Praise him for his mighty deeds;
        praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

3    Praise him with trumpet sound;
        praise him with lute and harp!
4    Praise him with tambourine and dance;
        praise him with strings and pipe!
5    Praise him with clanging cymbals;
        praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6    Let everything that breathes praise the LORD!
    Praise the LORD!

Expository Commentary

Verse 1: This verse opens with a universal call to praise God, referred to as "the Lord". The "sanctuary" implies a sacred space, possibly the Temple in Jerusalem, symbolizing God's presence among his people. The "mighty firmament" refers to the heavens, expanding this call to praise beyond earthly confines, indicating that God's glory fills the entire universe.

Verse 2: The psalmist encourages praise for God's "mighty deeds" and "surpassing greatness". This encompasses both God's acts in history, like creation and deliverance, and his incomparable nature. It suggests that God's deeds and character are reasons enough for adoration.

Verses 3-5: These verses emphasize the use of diverse musical instruments in worship: trumpet, lute, harp, tambourine, dance, strings, pipe, and cymbals. Each instrument mentioned adds a different texture to the symphony of praise. The inclusion of dance indicates that worship involves the whole body, not just the voice. The progression from softer to louder instruments (culminating in "loud clashing cymbals") mirrors the escalating intensity of the praise.

Verse 6: The final verse extends the call to praise to "everything that breathes", signifying all living creatures. This universal invitation underscores the belief that every living being is capable of recognizing and praising the Creator. The repetition of "Praise the Lord!" frames the entire psalm as a powerful and all-encompassing doxology.

In summary, Psalm 150 serves as a grand finale to the Book of Psalms. It not only calls for praising God in a specific sacred space but expands this praise to the cosmos, encompassing all creation. The use of a wide array of musical instruments and the inclusive call for every living being to join in this praise underscores the psalm's theme of universal and exuberant worship.

Proverbs 9:1-6
Wisdom Invites to Her Feast

Proverbs 9:1-6 presents a rich allegory illustrating the contrast between wisdom and folly. In these verses, Wisdom is personified as a woman who has built her house, prepared a feast, and now invites those who lack understanding to partake in her nourishment. This invitation symbolizes the offer of insight and knowledge to those who are willing to abandon their naive ways and embrace a life guided by wisdom. The passage emphasizes the transformative power of wisdom, portraying it as a source of life and understanding, contrasting the path of folly, which leads to ignorance and downfall. This text serves as an invitation to all readers to seek and value wisdom, highlighting its foundational role in a life well-lived.

9 1 Wisdom has built her house,
        she has hewn her seven pillars.
2    She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
        she has also set her table.
3    She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
        from the highest places in the town,
4    “You that are simple, turn in here!”
        To those without sense she says,
5    “Come, eat of my bread
        and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6    Lay aside immaturity, and live,
        and walk in the way of insight.”

Expository Commentary

Verse 1: This verse personifies Wisdom as a woman who has built a house, representing a structure of stability and permanence. The "seven pillars" may symbolize completeness and perfection, as the number seven often does in biblical literature. This imagery implies that wisdom provides a solid, well-founded structure for life.

Verse 2: Here, the preparations of a feast symbolize the readiness and richness of Wisdom. The act of slaughtering animals and mixing wine indicates a celebratory and significant occasion. The setting of the table represents an invitation to partake in what Wisdom offers—nourishment for the soul and mind.

Verse 3: Wisdom is proactive and inviting, sending out messengers to spread her invitation. The “highest places in the town” suggest a position of prominence and accessibility. This can be interpreted as wisdom being available to all who are willing to listen and respond to her call.

Verse 4: The invitation is extended specifically to the "simple," meaning those who are naive or lack judgment. This indicates that wisdom is accessible even to those who currently lack it, offering a path to greater understanding and insight.

Verse 5: Eating bread and drinking wine symbolize internalizing wisdom—taking it into oneself. It suggests that acquiring wisdom is not just an intellectual exercise but something that nourishes and transforms the whole person.

Verse 6: This final verse presents a clear call to action: abandon immaturity (or folly) and choose a life guided by wisdom. “Walking in the way of insight” suggests an ongoing process, a journey of continually seeking and applying wisdom in one’s life.

In summary, Proverbs 9:1-6 uses the metaphor of a grand feast prepared by Wisdom to illustrate the richness and accessibility of wisdom to all, especially to those who currently lack understanding. It emphasizes the transformative power of wisdom and invites readers to embrace a life guided by insight and understanding.

Mark 16:9-18
Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Mark 16:9-18 contains the conclusion of the Gospel according to Mark, presenting a post-resurrection narrative. This passage is often referred to as the "Longer Ending" of Mark's Gospel, as it is believed to have been added after the original conclusion. It starts with Jesus' appearance to Mary Magdalene, the first witness of His resurrection. Following this, Jesus appears to two disciples, their testimony being initially unbelieved. The narrative then progresses to Jesus' final appearance to the Eleven, delivering the Great Commission—a directive to spread the Gospel to all creation, emphasizing the importance of faith and baptism for salvation. It concludes with Jesus' ascension into heaven and the disciples' subsequent mission, spreading the word with accompanying signs. This passage is significant in Christian theology for its emphasis on faith, the missionary mandate, and the miraculous signs that follow believers.

16 9 [[Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

12 After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

14 Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Expository Commentary

Verse 9: This verse sets the stage post-resurrection and identifies Mary Magdalene as the first witness of Jesus' resurrection. The mention of her past, from which Jesus had delivered her, underscores the transformative impact of Jesus in the lives of those He encountered.

Verse 10: Mary Magdalene's immediate response to her encounter with the risen Christ is to share the news with Jesus' followers, who are depicted in a state of mourning, reflecting their despair and unbelief following Jesus' death.

Verse 11: The disciples' initial disbelief highlights a common theme in the Gospels: the struggle to understand and accept the reality of Jesus' resurrection, a concept that was unprecedented and challenging even for His closest followers.

Verse 12: This verse briefly introduces another resurrection appearance, reminiscent of the account on the road to Emmaus found in Luke's Gospel, emphasizing the varied experiences and recognitions of the risen Jesus.

Verse 13: Again, the response to the testimony of resurrection is disbelief among the disciples, underscoring the theme of doubt and the difficulty of faith based on testimony alone.

Verse 14: Jesus confronts the Eleven (the disciples minus Judas) about their unbelief, emphasizing the importance of faith. This reprimand serves as a corrective and a call to a deeper faith and trust in Jesus and His word.

Verse 15: This commissioning is central to Christian mission, where the disciples are instructed to spread the Gospel universally. It highlights the inclusive and global nature of Jesus' message.

Verse 16: This verse presents a stark contrast between salvation and condemnation, tied to belief and baptism. It underscores the necessity of faith for salvation in Christian theology.

Verses 17-18: The final verses describe miraculous signs that will follow believers, indicating divine empowerment and the continuing presence of Jesus' power among His followers. This promise serves as an assurance of God's active role in the mission of the Church.

Conclusion: Mark 16:9-18 serves as a powerful conclusion to the Gospel, emphasizing key themes of resurrection, belief, mission, and divine empowerment. While its authenticity as part of the original Markan text is debated among scholars, its theological impact on Christian doctrine and practice is significant.

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