The Daily Lectionary
with Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Thursday, February 1, 2024
The Harmony of Reverence, Wisdom,
with Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Thursday, February 1, 2024
The Harmony of Reverence, Wisdom,
and Freedom
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; Proverbs 12:10-21; Galatians 5:2-15
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Ordinary 5)
Introduction
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; Proverbs 12:10-21; Galatians 5:2-15
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Ordinary 5)
Introduction
In the divine tapestry of scriptural wisdom, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c, Proverbs 12:10-21, and Galatians 5:2-15 interweave to offer a rich exploration of reverence, righteousness, and liberty. Psalm 147 extols the greatness of God, praising Him for His understanding and mighty acts, urging the faithful to find strength in His boundless grace. Proverbs 12 provides a contrast between the paths of righteousness and wickedness, highlighting the moral and practical wisdom of living in harmony with divine and moral laws. Galatians 5 speaks of the freedom found in Christ, a freedom not for self-indulgence but for serving one another in love and fulfilling the law. Together, these passages encourage believers to celebrate God's mighty works, embrace wisdom in their conduct, and live freely and responsibly within the bounds of God's love.
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
Harmony of Praise and Providence
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
Harmony of Praise and Providence
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c is a resounding hymn of praise, reflecting on the immense power and loving care of God. It invites believers to celebrate God's majesty, as it touches on His creation, understanding, and compassion. The Psalm emphasizes the joy found in worship and the blessings that come from fearing the Lord and hoping in His unfailing love. It is a profound reminder of the Lord's pleasure in those who respect Him and the peace He provides to His chosen ones.1 Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God, *
How pleasant and fitting to praise him!
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; *
He gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted *
And binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars *
And calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *
His understanding has no limit.
6 The Lord sustains the humble *
But casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; *
Make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds; *
He supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle *
And for the young ravens when they call.
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, *
Nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 The Lord delights in those who fear him, *
Who put their hope in his unfailing love.
20c Praise the Lord.
Heavenly Father, we approach Your throne with hearts full of gratitude as we reflect on Psalm 147. We marvel at Your creation, the vastness of the heavens, and the care You show to every living thing. Teach us to worship You with a sincere heart, recognizing Your wisdom and power in all things. May we find joy in Your commandments and peace in Your promises. Help us to fear You rightly and to hope in Your steadfast love, knowing that You delight in those who put their trust in You.
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.”
Proverbs 12:10-21 offers profound wisdom on the themes of compassion, truth, and the consequences of deceit. These verses provide a stark contrast between the righteous and the wicked, highlighting how their actions and words impact not only themselves but also those around them. This section of Proverbs emphasizes the importance of integrity, the power of truthful speech, and the value of kindness towards all of creation.12 10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous endures.
13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,
and so the innocent escape trouble.
14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
and the work of their hands brings them reward.
15 The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
16 Fools show their annoyance at once,
but the prudent overlook an insult.
17 An honest witness tells the truth,
but a false witness tells lies.
18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.
21 No harm overtakes the righteous,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
Expository Commentary
Verse 10 (Compassion for Animals as a Reflection of Righteousness): This verse underscores the righteous person's care for the needs of their animals, contrasting it with the cruel actions of the wicked. It implies that compassion and righteousness extend beyond human relationships to all living beings.
Verses 11-12 (The Value of Hard Work and Integrity): These verses contrast the fruits of hard work with the pursuit of ill-gotten gains. The hardworking person finds satisfaction and sustenance, while those who chase after unrighteous shortcuts find their efforts ultimately fruitless.
Verses 13-14 (The Consequences of Speech): The power of words is a central theme here. Verse 13 warns of the pitfalls of evil speech, potentially trapping the speaker, while verse 14 highlights the benefits of wise words, which can bring reward and satisfaction.
Verses 15-16 (Wisdom in Heeding Advice): The difference between the foolish and the wise is evident in their response to advice. The foolish are quick to reject guidance, believing in their own rightness, while the wise are open to instruction and correction.
Verses 17-18 (Truthfulness vs. Deceit): These verses emphasize the importance of truth. A truthful witness promotes justice, but a false witness is deceitful. The words of the reckless can harm like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise can bring healing.
Verses 19-20 (The Endurance of Truth and the Futility of Deceit): Truth is presented as enduring forever, but lies are fleeting. Those who plot evil deceive themselves, while those who plan peace find joy and delight.
Verse 21 (The Assurance for the Righteous): The final verse offers a reassurance that the righteous will be spared from harm, contrasting with the turmoil that the wicked will inevitably face.
In conclusion, Proverbs 12:10-21 presents a compelling portrait of the life and character of the righteous versus the wicked. It emphasizes the significance of compassionate action, truthful speech, and the pursuit of wisdom, while warning against cruelty, deceit, and folly. This passage encourages readers to reflect on their actions and words, aligning them with the principles of righteousness and truth.
In Galatians 5:2-15, the Apostle Paul addresses the community of believers with a poignant and powerful message about the nature of freedom in Christ. This passage is a critical component of Paul's larger theological argument in the letter to the Galatians, where he contends against the Judaizers who insisted that Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish laws and customs, particularly circumcision, to be true followers of Christ. Paul asserts that true freedom is found not in the observance of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.5 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Expository Commentary
Verses 2-6 (The Emptiness of Law without Faith): Paul opens with a stark warning: if the Galatians accept circumcision, Christ will be of no value to them. He insists that attempting to justify themselves through the law obligates them to obey the entire law, which is impossible to fulfill and thus, nullifies the grace of God. Instead, Paul points to faith working through love as the true path to righteousness, emphasizing that in Christ, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.
Verses 7-12 (The Hindrance of the False Gospel): Paul uses the metaphor of running a race to describe the Galatians' initial commitment to the true gospel. He expresses confusion and dismay at their hindrance, suggesting that their diversion is not of divine origin. He confronts the agitators directly, using strong language to wish that they would remove themselves altogether from the community, indicating the severity of their misleading teaching.
Verses 13-15 (Called to Freedom and Love): Here, Paul reaches the crux of his argument: while believers are indeed called to freedom, this freedom is not an opportunity for self-indulgence but a call to serve one another in love. He warns that the entire law is fulfilled in keeping one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Paul cautions against biting and devouring each other, using vivid imagery to illustrate the destructive potential of internal strife and legalism.
In this passage, Paul navigates the delicate balance between freedom and responsibility, urging the Galatians to embrace a life led by the Spirit, marked by love and service rather than a slavish adherence to the law. He dismantles the notion that external rites like circumcision hold any salvific power and redirects the believers to the transformative and liberating power of faith in Christ. This section of Galatians stands as a timeless reminder of the essence of Christian liberty: a freedom that empowers believers to live out their faith through love and service to others.
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 Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 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
The Daily Lectionary with Commentary for Thursday, February 1, 2024
The Harmony of Reverence, Wisdom, and Freedom
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; Proverbs 12:10-21; Galatians 5:2-15
Today's scriptural narratives weave a rich tapestry, delving into themes of awe, virtue, and freedom. The Psalm reading praises God's immense wisdom and power, calling the devout to seek solace in His endless mercy. Proverbs sets a dichotomy, contrasting the routes of virtue and vice, underscoring the importance of aligning one's life with both divine and ethical principles. The excerpt from Galatians discusses the liberty through Christ, a liberty meant not for selfish gains but for loving and serving others, thereby fulfilling the law. Collectively, these texts inspire the faithful to honor God's grand deeds, pursue moral wisdom in their lives, and inhabit a realm of freedom and responsibility under God's loving care.
