The Daily Lectionary
with Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Monday, February 19, 2024
Seeking Comfort in Times of Trial
Psalm 77; Job 4:1-21; Ephesians 2:1-10
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Lent 1)
Introduction
with Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Monday, February 19, 2024
Seeking Comfort in Times of Trial
Psalm 77; Job 4:1-21; Ephesians 2:1-10
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Lent 1)
Introduction
In this harmonious blend of lament, wisdom, and grace, Psalm 77, Job 4:1-21, and Ephesians 2:1-10 offer a compelling narrative of human suffering, divine intervention, and the transformative power of faith. Psalm 77 articulates the deep anguish of a soul in distress, crying out to God in a time of trouble, while Job 4 delves into the perplexing nature of suffering through the counsel of Eliphaz, suggesting that suffering may be a correction from God. Ephesians 2, in contrast, offers a message of hope and redemption, emphasizing the grace of God in saving humanity from its trespasses. Together, these passages weave a rich tapestry, exploring the intricate relationship between human suffering, divine justice, and the unmerited favor of God’s salvation. They challenge the reader to find solace in faith and to recognize the transformative journey from despair to grace.
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 77
Prayer for God to Remember Us
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 77
Prayer for God to Remember Us
Psalm 77 is a poignant expression of human distress and a profound search for God in times of deep trouble. Authored by Asaph, a prominent Levite musician and seer, this Psalm resonates with anyone who has ever felt abandoned or overwhelmed by life's trials. It begins with a heartfelt cry to God, reflecting the Psalmist's intense feelings of despair and isolation. However, as we journey through the verses, we witness a transition from despair to remembrance, from questioning to affirming God's mighty deeds in history. Psalm 77 encourages us to remember God's past faithfulness as a source of hope for our present and future. As we read, let us open our hearts to the timeless message of this Psalm, allowing its words to comfort and strengthen us in our own moments of difficulty.1 I cry aloud to God, *
Aloud to God, that he may hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the LORD;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; *
My soul refuses to be comforted.
3 I think of God, and I moan; *
I meditate, and my spirit faints. Selah
4 You keep my eyelids from closing; *
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old, *
And remember the years of long ago.
6 I commune with my heart in the night; *
I meditate and search my spirit:
7 “Will the LORD spurn forever, *
And never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love ceased forever? *
Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? *
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
10 And I say, “It is my grief *
That the right hand of the Most High has changed.”
11 I will call to mind the deeds of the LORD; *
I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all your work, *
And muse on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy. *
What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders; *
You have displayed your might among the peoples.
15 With your strong arm you redeemed your people, *
The descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid; *
The very deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
the skies thundered; *
Your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lit up the world; *
The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea,
your path, through the mighty waters; *
Yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock *
By the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Heavenly Father, as we reflect upon Psalm 77, we ask for Your guidance and wisdom. Help us to enter into the emotions and experiences of the Psalmist, to understand the depth of their despair and the strength of their faith. May this Psalm speak to our hearts, especially in moments when we feel lost or forsaken. Grant us the grace to remember Your past faithfulness, to see Your hand at work in our lives, and to trust in Your unfailing love and mercy. May the words of this Psalm resonate within us, offering comfort, hope, and a renewed sense of Your presence in our lives. Open our minds to the lessons it holds and help us to apply them in our daily walk with 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.”
Job 4:1-21 is part of a dialogue between Job and one of his friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, who speaks for the first time. In this chapter, Eliphaz begins his discourse by questioning Job’s integrity and suggesting that his sufferings are a result of his own wrongdoing. He argues that the innocent do not suffer and implies that Job’s misfortunes are a form of divine punishment. Eliphaz also recounts a mystical vision he had, which reinforced his belief that human beings cannot be righteous before God. This chapter sets the tone for the theological debate that unfolds in the subsequent chapters, where the nature of suffering, the justice of God, and the righteousness of human beings are deeply explored.4 1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:
2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended?
But who can keep from speaking?
3 See, you have instructed many;
you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Your words have supported those who were stumbling,
and you have made firm the feeble knees.
5 But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
it touches you, and you are dismayed.
6 Is not your fear of God your confidence,
and the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Think now, who that was innocent ever perished?
Or where were the upright cut off?
8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity
and sow trouble reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish,
and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,
and the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Now a word came stealing to me,
my ear received the whisper of it.
13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night,
when deep sleep falls on mortals,
14 dread came upon me, and trembling,
which made all my bones shake.
15 A spirit glided past my face;
the hair of my flesh bristled.
16 It stood still,
but I could not discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
there was silence, then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Can mortals be righteous before God?
Can human beings be pure before their Maker?
18 Even in his servants he puts no trust,
and his angels he charges with error;
19 how much more those who live in houses of clay,
whose foundation is in the dust,
who are crushed like a moth.
20 Between morning and evening they are destroyed;
they perish forever without any regarding it.
21 Their tent-cord is plucked up within them,
and they die devoid of wisdom.’
Expository Commentary
Job 4:1-21 presents the beginning of the first cycle of dialogues between Job and his friends. In this chapter, Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job's friends, initiates the conversation.
Verses 1-2: Eliphaz starts by acknowledging the challenge of offering advice to someone as wise and experienced as Job. He gently introduces his intention to speak, showing awareness of Job’s fragile state.
Verses 3-5: Eliphaz reminds Job of his past as a teacher and counselor to many. He contrasts Job's current despair with his previous role as a source of strength and guidance for others, hinting that Job is not living up to his own teachings.
Verses 6-7: Here, Eliphaz subtly begins to suggest that Job’s suffering might be due to some wrongdoing. He implies that Job’s fear of God and integrity should have been his confidence and hope, suggesting that perhaps Job was not as righteous as he seemed.
Verses 8-11: Eliphaz introduces a principle that he believes to be universally true: those who sow trouble reap the same. He uses the metaphor of a lion perishing for lack of prey to suggest that the wicked bring about their own destruction.
Verses 12-16: This section describes a mysterious and terrifying vision that Eliphaz experienced. He uses this vision to establish his authority on spiritual matters, suggesting that his insights are divinely inspired.
Verses 17-19: Eliphaz’s vision leads to a rhetorical question about the possibility of a man being more righteous than God or more pure than his Maker. He emphasizes the frailty and imperfection of humans compared to celestial beings, underlining human inferiority to God.
Verses 20-21: The chapter concludes with a reflection on the fragility of human life. Eliphaz remarks on how people die without wisdom, drawing a parallel to Job’s current situation, and implying that Job’s lack of understanding is leading to his downfall.
Throughout this chapter, Eliphaz combines gentle reproach with an underlying assumption that suffering is a result of sin. He uses a mix of personal observation, traditional wisdom, and a mystical experience to argue his point. This sets the stage for the ongoing debate about suffering, righteousness, and divine justice that characterizes the Book of Job.
The passage of Ephesians 2:1-10 serves as a profound reflection on the transformational power of faith and grace in the Christian journey. This section, written by the Apostle Paul, delves into the theme of spiritual rebirth and redemption. It starts by acknowledging the human condition of sin and separation from God, illustrating the dire state of humanity without divine intervention. Paul then transitions to the core message of grace, emphasizing that it is by God's grace, not by human deeds, that salvation is granted. This grace, bestowed through faith in Jesus Christ, marks a transition from spiritual death to life, symbolizing a rebirth into a new existence guided by God’s purpose. The passage culminates in affirming the concept of good works as a natural outcome of this grace, not as a means to earn salvation, but as a reflection of the transformative power of God's love working within believers. Ephesians 2:1-10 thus encapsulates key Christian doctrines of grace, salvation, and the transformative power of faith.2 1 You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Expository Commentary
Verses 1-3: Human Condition in Sin
- Verse 1: "You were dead through the trespasses and sins." This metaphorically describes the spiritual state of individuals before coming to faith. It suggests a life disconnected from God, lacking spiritual vitality.
Verses 4-7: God’s Mercy and Love
- Verses 2-3: These verses expand on the nature of this 'death', attributing it to living according to worldly ways and under the influence of 'the ruler of the power of the air' (often interpreted as Satan or a general spirit of evil). Paul includes himself and his readers, indicating a universal human condition under the sway of sin and desires of the flesh.
- Verse 4: "But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us." Here, Paul introduces a sharp contrast with the previous verses. Despite the dire situation, God's character is defined by mercy and love.
- Verses 5-6: These verses declare that believers are spiritually resurrected with Christ. This is not due to their own merit but because of God's grace. Being 'raised with Christ' and 'seated with him in the heavenly places' symbolizes a radical change in status from spiritual death to life.
Verses 8-9: Salvation by Grace Through Faith
- Verse 7: The purpose of this gracious act is to show the 'immeasurable riches of his grace'. This future-looking verse indicates that the full display of God's grace is yet to be fully revealed.
- Verse 8: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." This is perhaps one of the most quoted verses in the New Testament, emphasizing that salvation is a gift from God, accessible through faith, not by human efforts or achievements.
Verse 10: Good Works as a Fruit of Faith
- Verse 9: "Not the result of works, so that no one may boast." Paul emphasizes that salvation is not a reward for good deeds, to ensure that no individual can claim superiority or boast about their own efforts in achieving salvation.
In summary, Ephesians 2:1-10 offers a comprehensive view of the Christian narrative of salvation: from the depths of sin and separation from God, through the transformative power of God's grace and love, to a new life characterized by good works as a response to this unmerited favor. It underscores the central Christian tenet that salvation is a gift from God, accessible through faith, and manifests in a life of good works prepared by God.
- Verse 10: "For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." This verse connects the notion of being created anew in Christ with the purpose of performing good works. These works are not the means of salvation but are a natural outcome of a transformed life in Christ. They are prepared by God, indicating that believers are to walk in them as a response to the grace they have received.
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 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 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 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
