The Daily Lectionary
With Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Seeking Refuge in Divine Mercy and Rest
Psalm 51:1-12; Isaiah 30:15-18; Hebrews 4:1-13
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Lent 5)
Introduction
With Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Seeking Refuge in Divine Mercy and Rest
Psalm 51:1-12; Isaiah 30:15-18; Hebrews 4:1-13
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Lent 5)
Introduction
In this spiritual exploration, we delve into the themes of repentance, divine mercy, and restful trust in God as presented in Psalm 51:1-12, Isaiah 30:15-18, and Hebrews 4:1-13. Psalm 51, attributed to David, is a poignant plea for forgiveness and purification, reflecting a heart earnestly seeking God's mercy. Isaiah 30:15-18 portrays the Lord's desire for His people to find salvation and strength in quietness and trust, despite their reluctance. Meanwhile, Hebrews 4:1-13 offers a profound reflection on the concept of divine rest, urging believers to enter into God's rest by faith, drawing a parallel between God's rest and the rest offered to us through Christ. Together, these passages invite us into a deeper understanding of the nature of repentance, the tranquility found in trusting God, and the eternal rest promised to us as an aspect of our salvation.
A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 51:1-12
Create in Me a Clean Heart
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 51:1-12
Create in Me a Clean Heart
Psalm 51:1-12 is a profound and heartfelt plea for mercy, forgiveness, and renewal. Traditionally attributed to King David after his moral failing with Bathsheba, this psalm expresses deep remorse and a sincere desire for spiritual cleansing. Its opening verses, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions," set the tone for a deeply personal and universal appeal for divine grace. The psalmist acknowledges his sins and seeks restoration, not through his own merits, but through God's unfailing love and compassion. This passage resonates with anyone seeking redemption and transformation, emphasizing the themes of contrition, confession, and the hope for a renewed spirit within the context of a loving and forgiving God.1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.
5 Indeed, I was born guilty,
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
6 You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
O Merciful God, in Your boundless compassion and unfathomable grace, hear my humble prayer. As I reflect on the words of Psalm 51, I recognize my own frailty and the multitude of my transgressions. In Your great mercy, blot out my iniquities and cleanse my heart from sin.
Lord, I acknowledge my offenses and my sins are ever before me. Against You alone have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight. Yet, in Your steadfast love and abundant mercy, wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Teach me Your ways, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth. Help me to understand the depth of Your forgiveness, that I may be a vessel of Your grace to others. May my lips, once purified, declare Your praise, and my life be a testament to Your redeeming love.
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.”
Isaiah 30:15-18 presents a profound message of hope and trust in God amidst adversity. In these verses, the prophet Isaiah conveys God's call to the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of returning to a steadfast faith in the Lord. The passage begins with God's invitation to find strength not in haste and anxiety, but in quiet trust and reliance on Him. This is juxtaposed with a warning against the Israelites' reliance on foreign alliances and their own understanding, illustrating the futility of seeking security outside of God's guidance. Despite their waywardness, God's compassion and eagerness to bless His people are evident, as He promises to be gracious if they wait for Him. This section of Isaiah highlights a central theme of the Bible: the blessings that come from patiently trusting in God's timing and plans, contrasting human impatience and the temptation to seek immediate, yet unsustainable solutions.30 15 For thus said the LORD God, the Holy One of Israel:
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.
But you refused 16 and said,
“No! We will flee upon horses”—
therefore you shall flee!
and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”—
therefore your pursuers shall be swift!
17 A thousand shall flee at the threat of one,
at the threat of five you shall flee,
until you are left
like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,
like a signal on a hill.
18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
Expository Commentary
Verse 15: "For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. But you refused."
- This verse emphasizes the importance of returning to God and finding rest in Him. The terms "returning" and "rest" suggest a spiritual renewal and a cessation from the frenzied activities that often distract from faith.
- "Quietness and trust" are highlighted as sources of strength, indicating that faith and reliance on God are more powerful than physical might or human strategies.
Verse 16: "And you said, ‘No, we will flee upon horses’—therefore you shall flee! and, ‘We will ride upon swift steeds’—therefore your pursuers shall be swift!"
- The final part, "But you refused," shows a stark contrast between God's offer and the people's response. This refusal indicates a rejection of God's path and a preference for their own ways.
- This verse reflects the people's reliance on their own plans, symbolized by their trust in horses and swift steeds for escape or military strength.
Verse 17: "A thousand shall flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you shall flee, until you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill."
- It also carries a tone of irony and divine retribution: the very means they choose for security will be turned against them, as their pursuers will also be swift.
- This verse further illustrates the consequences of not trusting in God. The hyperbolic language ("a thousand shall flee at the threat of one") emphasizes the extent of their panic and fear.
Verse 18: "Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."
- The imagery of being "left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain" conveys isolation and vulnerability, indicating that without God, they are exposed to danger and without support.
- Despite the previous verses of warning and consequences, this verse offers a message of hope and redemption.
- It portrays God as patient and willing to show grace and mercy, emphasizing His nature as a God of justice.
In summary, these verses from Isaiah offer a profound reflection on the importance of trust in God, the futility of relying solely on human strength, and the promise of God's grace and mercy for those who turn back to Him. They teach about the consequences of turning away from God, but also about His readiness to forgive and be gracious when people seek Him with sincerity.
- The verse ends with a blessing for those who wait for the Lord, suggesting that trust and patience in God's timing and methods bring blessings.
Hebrews 4:1-13 presents a profound theological exposition on the theme of rest, both in a historical and spiritual context. This passage intricately weaves together the Old Testament narrative of the Israelites' journey towards the promised land with the Christian understanding of spiritual rest found in Christ. It warns against the peril of unbelief and disobedience, as exemplified by the Israelites who failed to enter God’s rest due to their lack of faith. The text also delves into the concept of a greater, eternal rest promised to believers, symbolized by the Sabbath rest but fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The passage emphasizes the power and relevance of God's word, likening it to a double-edged sword that penetrates the deepest parts of human existence, discerning thoughts and intentions. This section of Hebrews serves as a theological bridge, connecting the story of Israel with the new covenant in Christ, and invites reflection on faith, obedience, and the promise of eternal rest in the Christian journey.4 1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“As in my anger I swore,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
though his works were finished at the foundation of the world. 4 For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this place it says, “They shall not enter my rest.” 6 Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he sets a certain day—“today”—saying through David much later, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. 9 So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; 10 for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.
12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
Expository Commentary
Verses 1-2 — The Promise of Rest: The author of Hebrews speaks to a Jewish Christian audience, reminding them of the promise of entering God's rest. This promise, first given to the Israelites, remains unfulfilled for some due to disobedience and lack of faith. The promise of rest still stands, but it requires faith to enter into it. The good news must be met with faith, not just heard, to benefit from it.
Verses 3-5— Rest for God’s People: Here, the writer refers to the Genesis account of creation, where God rested on the seventh day. This rest is symbolic of a spiritual rest available to believers. The rest God offers is not just a physical cessation from labor, but a spiritual state of peace and fulfillment in Him. It is a rest that has been available since creation.
Verses 6-7 — A Remaining Opportunity:* The author reiterates that the opportunity to enter God's rest still exists. This is evident from David's mention of "today" in Psalm 95, long after Joshua led Israel into Canaan, which implies that the promised rest was not fully realized even then. The call to enter God’s rest is urgent and ongoing. "Today" emphasizes the immediacy and relevance of this promise to the audience of Hebrews and to contemporary readers.
Verses 8-10 — Joshua and Jesus: The author notes that if Joshua had given rest to the Israelites, God would not have spoken later about another day of rest. This points forward to Jesus (referred to as Joshua, as both names are the same in Hebrew). Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise, offering a greater rest than the physical land of Canaan.
Verses 11-13 — The Power of God’s Word: Verse 11 urges believers to strive to enter that rest, implying active faith and obedience. Verses 12-13 describe the word of God as living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It’s penetrating and discerning, revealing the innermost thoughts and intentions. These verses underscore the transformative power of God's word in guiding believers to live in a way that leads to God's rest.
Conclusion: Hebrews 4:1-13 speaks profoundly about the spiritual rest offered through faith in Christ, distinct from physical rest or even the rest associated with the Promised Land. It emphasizes the continuity of God's promise, the urgency to respond to His word, and the discerning power of scripture in guiding believers towards this promised rest. This passage encourages a faith that is active and responsive, always mindful of the living and powerful nature of God's word.
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
