The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Wednesday, May 8, 2024

 

The Daily Lectionary
With Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Authority and Obedience:
Divine Dominion and Human Response

Psalm 93; Deuteronomy 11:18-21; Mark 16:19-20
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Easter 6)

Introduction

Psalm 93, Deuteronomy 11:18-21, and Mark 16:19-20 collectively evoke themes of divine authority and the imperative of human obedience. Psalm 93 establishes God's supreme reign, depicted as a majestic king clothed in strength, whose eternal throne is unshaken by the tumult of the seas. This imagery of God's powerful and steadfast dominion over creation sets a foundational tone of reverence. Deuteronomy 11:18-21 extends this theme into the realm of human action, urging adherence to God’s commandments, embedding them deeply within every aspect of daily life to ensure blessings and prosperity in the land promised to their ancestors. Mark 16:19-20 transitions to the New Testament context, recounting Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of God and the disciples’ subsequent mission. Empowered by the Lord's presence, they preach and perform miracles, thus manifesting God’s kingdom on Earth. These passages together challenge believers to recognize divine sovereignty, internalize God's laws, and actively participate in the unfolding of His will through obedience and proclamation.

Psalm 93
God Reigns Above the Floods

Psalm 93 stands as a majestic proclamation of God's sovereignty and eternal kingship. The psalm opens with a vivid description of the Lord's regal authority, symbolically arrayed in majesty and armed with strength. It asserts the unshakeable nature of the world, established firmly by the divine hand. As it unfolds, the psalm contrasts the might of God with the chaos often depicted by tumultuous seas, emphasizing that God's decrees are not only powerful but also eternal and trustworthy. Through its poetic lines, Psalm 93 invites believers to reflect on the enduring stability and righteousness of God's rule over the cosmos.

1    The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty;
        the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength.
    He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
2         your throne is established from of old;
        you are from everlasting.

3    The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
        the floods have lifted up their voice;
        the floods lift up their roaring.
4    More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,
        more majestic than the waves of the sea,
        majestic on high is the LORD!

5    Your decrees are very sure;
        holiness befits your house,
        O LORD, forevermore.

Expository Commentary

Verse 1: This verse announces the Lord's kingship, using the imagery of a monarch robed in majesty and strength, signifying divine authority and power. The reference to the world being established firmly reinforces the idea of God's creation as stable and enduring under His sovereign rule. This imagery sets a foundation for understanding God as an eternal ruler whose decrees are absolute and unchanging.

Verse 2: The psalmist emphasizes the eternity of God's reign by stating that His throne was established long ago and He exists from everlasting. This underscores the timeless nature of God, existing beyond the temporal confines of human understanding, and asserts His authority and sovereignty as being older than time itself.

Verse 3: In this verse, the "floods" likely symbolize chaos and disorder, perhaps recalling ancient Near Eastern myths where deities battle chaotic sea monsters to create order. The repetitive lifting up of the floods' voice illustrates the idea of chaos trying to assert itself against divine order.

Verse 4: Here, the psalmist contrasts the chaos represented by mighty waters and roaring seas with the majesty of the Lord, asserting that God's majesty surpasses even the greatest natural forces. This verse highlights God’s superiority over all elements and forces that appear powerful and uncontrollable to humans.

Verse 5: The final verse reassures that God's decrees, or laws, are secure, reliable, and trustworthy. The holiness that befits God’s house suggests a setting apart or sanctification of where God dwells, indicating that this divine order and majesty extend beyond just the physical realm to the moral and spiritual realms as well. The phrase "forevermore" reiterates the eternal aspect of God's nature and His rule.

Through these verses, Psalm 93 communicates a powerful message of God’s unassailable rule and the divine order over the cosmos, offering reassurance of God's stability and righteousness in a world that can often seem chaotic and unpredictable.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Teach God’s Words to Your Children

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 offers a poignant exhortation from Moses to the Israelites about the importance of internalizing and adhering to God's commandments. Moses instructs the people to "lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul," signifying the deep, personal commitment required in their relationship with God. This passage emphasizes the practical ways in which the Israelites are to keep these teachings ever-present—binding them on their hands, fixing them on their foreheads, and inscribing them on the doorposts and gates of their homes. These verses not only stress the importance of remembering and teaching God's laws through all generations but also link obedience to these commandments with the well-being and prosperity of the people in the land promised to them by God.

11 18 You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 20 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.

Expository Commentary

Verse 18: "You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes."

• Heart and Soul: This phrase emphasizes the necessity of internalizing God's laws, suggesting that obedience to God must involve the whole being—both emotionally (heart) and volitionally (soul).

• Bind them on your hand: The command to bind the laws on one’s hand symbolically represents keeping God’s commandments at the forefront of actions and decisions.

• Frontlets between your eyes: The reference to having commandments as frontlets between the eyes suggests constant mental engagement with God’s laws, influencing perception and understanding.

Verse 19: "Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise."

• Teach them to your children: This directive underscores the importance of passing on religious heritage and moral values from one generation to the next, ensuring the continuity of faith and obedience.

• Daily discourse: The verse calls for the commandments to be a topic of regular conversation in various settings and times, infusing God's laws into everyday life and routine interactions within the family.

Verse 20: "Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

• Doorposts and gates: By marking the entrances to their homes with God’s laws, the Israelites create a physical reminder of their commitment to these laws, which also serves as a public declaration of their faith and values to all who enter.

Verse 21: "so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth."

• Promise of longevity and prosperity: The adherence to God's commandments is connected with the promise of prolonged life and prosperity in the Promised Land. This promise is conditional, based on their fidelity to God's laws.

• As long as the heavens are above the earth: This poetic expression emphasizes the enduring nature of God’s promise, suggesting an almost limitless duration as long as the natural order remains.

These verses collectively stress the comprehensive integration of God's commandments into personal, familial, and community life. The instructions to internalize, teach, and visibly display these laws indicate a lifestyle where God’s will permeates every aspect of existence, promoting a society deeply rooted in divine principles and promises.

Mark 16:19-20
An Account of Jesus’ Ascension

The conclusion of the Gospel of Mark, verses 16:19-20, captures the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and the subsequent mission of His disciples. After His resurrection and various appearances, Jesus is taken up into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God. This pivotal moment is not merely an end but a beginning, as the disciples are then empowered to go forth. They preach everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through accompanying signs. These verses encapsulate the transition from Jesus' earthly ministry to the age of the Church, emphasizing the ongoing presence and power of Christ in the spread of the Gospel.

16 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.

Expository Commentary

Verse 19: "So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God."

• The Ascension: This verse describes the ascension of Jesus into heaven, an event that signifies the completion of His earthly mission and the beginning of His exalted existence in heaven. The ascension is a critical Christian doctrine, emphasizing both Jesus' divinity and the fulfillment of His work as the Messiah.

• "Sat down at the right hand of God": Sitting at the right hand of God symbolizes a position of honor and authority. In Jewish tradition, this phrase denotes power and prestige, reinforcing the idea that Jesus now shares in God's sovereignty and divine rule. This image is crucial for understanding the nature of Christ in the context of the Trinity and His ongoing intercessory role for humanity.

Verse 20: "And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs."

• The Disciples' Mission: Following Jesus' ascension, the disciples obey His command to spread the Gospel. This marks the start of the Christian Church's mission in the world, a mission characterized by proclamation and evangelization.

• Divine Collaboration: The phrase "the Lord worked with them" highlights the cooperative dynamic between Jesus and His disciples. Despite His physical absence, Jesus remains actively involved in the mission through the presence of the Holy Spirit. This ongoing divine assistance is fundamental to Christian ministry.

• Confirmation by Signs: The signs that accompany the disciples' preaching serve multiple purposes: they validate the truth of Jesus' teachings, demonstrate the power of God, and fulfill Jesus' promises about the signs that would follow believers (Mark 16:17-18). These miraculous signs are both evidential and evangelistic, helping to establish the early Church's credibility and attract new believers.

This passage, often referred to as the "Longer Ending" of Mark, encapsulates the transition from Jesus’ physical presence with His disciples to His spiritual presence that empowers them. It underscores the perpetuity of Jesus' ministry through His followers, reinforced by divine power and miraculous signs, setting the foundational principles for Christian outreach and the expansion of the Church.

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