The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Tuesday, June 25, 2024

 

The Daily Lectionary
With Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Tuesday, June 25, 2024

God's Sovereignty in Creation, Judgment,

and Salvation

Psalm 65; Exodus 9:13-35; Acts 27:39-44
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Complementary Reading Plan)
(Ordinary 12)

Introduction

In Psalm 65, we are invited to reflect on God's abundant provision and the celebration of His creation's beauty and bounty. Exodus 9:13-35 takes us to the dramatic confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh, highlighting God's power and judgment through the plague of hail. Meanwhile, Acts 27:39-44 recounts the perilous journey of Paul and his companions, showcasing divine providence and deliverance amid disaster. Together, these passages underscore God's overarching sovereignty, His righteous judgments, and His unwavering commitment to salvation and care for His people.

Psalm 65
God Silences the Seas

Psalm 65 is a hymn of praise attributed to David, celebrating God's abundant blessings and the wonders of creation. The psalm emphasizes God's provision, forgiveness, and faithfulness, portraying Him as the source of life and sustenance for all creation. It reflects on the joy and gratitude of the people for the bountiful harvests, the fertility of the land, and the divine care that sustains the earth. This psalm invites the worshipers to acknowledge and extol God's goodness and mercy, recognizing His hand in every aspect of their lives and the natural world.

1    Praise is due to you,
        O God, in Zion;
    and to you shall vows be performed,
2         O you who answer prayer!
    To you all flesh shall come.
3    When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
        you forgive our transgressions.
4    Happy are those whom you choose and bring near
        to live in your courts.
    We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
        your holy temple.

5    By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
        O God of our salvation;
    you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
        and of the farthest seas.
6    By your strength you established the mountains;
        you are girded with might.
7    You silence the roaring of the seas,
        the roaring of their waves,
        the tumult of the peoples.
8    Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
    you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout
    for joy.

9    You visit the earth and water it,
        you greatly enrich it;
    the river of God is full of water;
        you provide the people with grain,
        for so you have prepared it.
10  You water its furrows abundantly,
        settling its ridges,
    softening it with showers,
        and blessing its growth.
11  You crown the year with your bounty;
        your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
12  The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
        the hills gird themselves with joy,
13  the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
        the valleys deck themselves with grain,
        they shout and sing together for joy.

Expository Commentary

Verse 1-2: These opening verses set the tone of the psalm, focusing on the worship and reverence due to God in Zion, the symbolic heart of God's presence. The psalmist acknowledges that God hears and answers prayers, drawing all people to Him. This inclusivity highlights the universal nature of God's sovereignty and grace.

Verse 3: Here, the psalmist recognizes human sinfulness and the overwhelming nature of iniquity. Yet, there is a profound assurance in God's forgiveness. This verse underscores the merciful character of God, who is willing to forgive the sins of those who turn to Him in repentance.

Verse 4: The psalmist expresses the blessedness of those whom God chooses to be close to Him. Living in God's courts and being in His presence brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment, highlighting the joy and contentment found in God's holy temple.

Verse 5: God's response to His people is characterized by awe-inspiring deeds, signifying His mighty power and ability to deliver. God is portrayed as the savior and the hope for all people, regardless of their location, emphasizing His global reign and care.

Verse 6-7: These verses reflect on God's creative power and His control over nature. Establishing mountains and calming the seas are symbols of His omnipotence. Similarly, God has the power to bring peace amidst human turmoil and conflict, demonstrating His sovereignty over both the natural world and human affairs.

Verse 8: God's wonders are evident even to those living at the farthest reaches of the earth. The "gateways of the morning and the evening" poetically represent the entire day, signifying that God's glory is continuously proclaimed, bringing joy to all creation.

Verse 9: God's providence is highlighted as He waters and enriches the earth, ensuring its fertility and the abundance of resources like grain. This verse portrays God as a careful and generous provider who prepares and sustains life.

Verse 10: The psalmist continues to describe God's nurturing care over the land, emphasizing the detailed and tender manner in which He tends to the earth, ensuring it is fruitful and productive.

Verse 11: This verse celebrates the annual cycle of God's blessings, with the image of a bountiful harvest being so plentiful that it overflows. God's generosity is seen as continuous and overflowing, symbolized by the abundance in His "wagon tracks."

Verse 12-13: The psalm concludes with a vivid portrayal of the natural world rejoicing in God's provision. The wilderness, hills, meadows, and valleys are depicted as vibrant and abundant, reflecting the joy and praise elicited by God's care and generosity. This imagery reinforces the theme of creation responding in worship and gratitude to the Creator.

Overall, Psalm 65 is a rich tapestry of praise, acknowledging God's power, mercy, and provision. It invites believers to recognize and celebrate God's ongoing involvement and care in both the natural world and human lives.

Exodus 9:13-35
God Sends Hail

Exodus 9:13-35 recounts the seventh plague that God inflicts upon Egypt as part of His divine judgment against Pharaoh for refusing to release the Israelites. In this passage, God commands Moses to confront Pharaoh once more, warning him of a devastating hailstorm unlike any seen before in Egypt. This plague not only demonstrates God's power and the consequences of Pharaoh's hardened heart but also serves as a call for repentance and recognition of the Lord's supremacy. The narrative highlights the stark contrast between the Egyptians who disregard God's warning and those who heed it, further emphasizing the themes of obedience and divine justice.

9 13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. 14 For this time I will send all my plagues upon you yourself, and upon your officials, and upon your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. 15 For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. 16 But this is why I have let you live: to show you my power, and to make my name resound through all the earth. 17 You are still exalting yourself against my people, and will not let them go. 18 Tomorrow at this time I will cause the heaviest hail to fall that has ever fallen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19 Send, therefore, and have your livestock and everything that you have in the open field brought to a secure place; every human or animal that is in the open field and is not brought under shelter will die when the hail comes down upon them.’” 20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD hurried their slaves and livestock off to a secure place. 21 Those who did not regard the word of the LORD left their slaves and livestock in the open field.

22 The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven so that hail may fall on the whole land of Egypt, on humans and animals and all the plants of the field in the land of Egypt.” 23 Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire came down on the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt; 24 there was hail with fire flashing continually in the midst of it, such heavy hail as had never fallen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 The hail struck down everything that was in the open field throughout all the land of Egypt, both human and animal; the hail also struck down all the plants of the field, and shattered every tree in the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were, there was no hail.

27 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Pray to the LORD! Enough of God’s thunder and hail! I will let you go; you need stay no longer.” 29 Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s. 30 But as for you and your officials, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.” 31 (Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they are late in coming up.) 33 So Moses left Pharaoh, went out of the city, and stretched out his hands to the LORD; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the earth. 34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned once more and hardened his heart, he and his officials. 35 So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.

Expository Commentary

Verses 13-14: In these verses, the Lord instructs Moses to rise early in the morning and present himself before Pharaoh with a message from God. The message is a stern warning that if Pharaoh does not let God's people go, a new and severe plague will come upon him, his officials, and his people. This plague will be a display of God's unmatched power and authority, meant to demonstrate that there is no one like God in all the earth.

Verses 15-16: God declares that He could have struck Pharaoh and his people with a plague that would have wiped them off the earth. However, He has allowed them to remain in order to show His power and to proclaim His name throughout the earth. This reveals God's purpose in the plagues: not just punishment, but a demonstration of His sovereignty and an opportunity for His name to be known and revered.

Verses 17-18: God confronts Pharaoh's continued arrogance and refusal to humble himself before the Lord. He announces that the next day He will send the worst hailstorm Egypt has ever seen. This warning emphasizes the severity of the coming judgment and serves as a final opportunity for Pharaoh and the Egyptians to repent.

Verses 19-21: Moses is instructed to tell the Egyptians to bring their livestock and everything they have in the field into safe shelter, for any human or animal left outside will die when the hail falls. This directive is unique because it offers a chance for the Egyptians to protect themselves and their possessions if they heed God's warning. Some officials of Pharaoh take the word of the Lord seriously and bring their slaves and livestock indoors, showing a contrast in responses to God's command.

Verses 22-26: The Lord commands Moses to stretch out his hand toward heaven, and as he does, the Lord sends thunder, hail, and fire flashing down to the earth. The storm is extraordinarily severe, striking everything in the field, including people, animals, and plants. Only the land of Goshen, where the Israelites live, is spared from the plague. This selective destruction highlights God's protection over His people and the distinction He makes between the Egyptians and the Israelites.

Verses 27-28: Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron, acknowledging his sin and admitting that the Lord is in the right. He begs them to pray to the Lord to end the plague, promising to let the Israelites go. This is a significant moment as Pharaoh appears to show remorse and a willingness to comply with God's demand.

Verses 29-30: Moses responds by agreeing to pray for the cessation of the storm, but he also makes it clear that he knows Pharaoh and his officials still do not truly fear the Lord God. Moses’ statement reveals his understanding of Pharaoh's heart and foreshadows the continued resistance and deceit.

Verses 31-32: The passage provides specific details about the destruction: the flax and barley crops are ruined because they were in bloom, while the wheat and spelt are spared because they ripen later. This detail underscores the devastating impact of the plague on Egypt's agriculture and economy, while also hinting at the lingering potential for future sustenance.

Verses 33-35: Moses leaves Pharaoh, stretches out his hands to the Lord, and the thunder, hail, and rain cease. However, once the plague stops, Pharaoh sins again by hardening his heart, as do his officials. Despite the clear demonstration of God's power and the temporary relief, Pharaoh's stubbornness persists, and he reneges on his promise to let the Israelites go. This cycle of hardness of heart and false repentance sets the stage for the subsequent plagues and further intensifies the narrative conflict.

In summary, Exodus 9:13-35 vividly portrays the seventh plague, emphasizing themes of divine power, judgment, mercy, and human response. It highlights the opportunity for repentance and the consequences of continued defiance against God's will.

Acts 27:39-44
Safe Arrival on Land

Acts 27:39-44 recounts the dramatic conclusion of Paul's perilous journey by sea, where he and his companions face the daunting challenge of surviving a shipwreck. As dawn breaks, the crew discovers an unfamiliar bay with a beach, offering a glimmer of hope. Desperate to reach land, they attempt to run the ship aground, only to be thwarted by a hidden reef that shatters the vessel. Amidst the chaos, the soldiers plan to kill the prisoners, fearing their escape, but the centurion, determined to save Paul, intervenes. In an extraordinary display of divine providence and human courage, all 276 passengers manage to reach shore safely, fulfilling God's promise of their survival.

27 39 In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none might swim away and escape; 43 but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

Expository Commentary

Verse 39: At dawn, the crew and passengers of the ship find themselves near an unfamiliar coastline. Despite their dire circumstances, the sight of a bay with a beach offers a potential lifeline. The crew's plan to run the ship ashore reflects their desperate hope for survival, relying on their navigational skills to guide them to safety.

Verse 40: To execute their plan, the crew jettisons the anchors, allowing the ship to move freely. By loosening the ropes of the steering oars and hoisting the foresail, they harness the wind to propel the ship towards the beach. This coordinated effort demonstrates their resolve and resourcefulness in a critical situation.

Verse 41: Despite their best efforts, the ship strikes a hidden reef, causing it to run aground. The bow remains firmly lodged, while the relentless waves begin to break apart the stern. This turn of events heightens the danger, threatening the lives of everyone on board as the ship disintegrates.

Verse 42: The soldiers, responsible for guarding the prisoners, propose a grim solution to prevent any escapees. Their plan to kill the prisoners underscores the harsh reality of Roman military discipline and the severe consequences they face for losing their charges.

Verse 43: The centurion, recognizing Paul's significance and possibly influenced by his previous interactions with him, intervenes to prevent the execution of the prisoners. His decision to order those who can swim to jump overboard first reflects his leadership and desire to ensure the safety of all, showcasing a moment of compassion and practical wisdom.

Verse 44: In a final bid for survival, those who cannot swim are instructed to use planks and debris from the ship to float to shore. Miraculously, despite the harrowing circumstances, everyone reaches land safely. This outcome fulfills God's earlier promise of their preservation, illustrating divine providence and the fulfillment of Paul's mission.

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