The Daily Lectionary
With Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Sovereignty and Stewardship:
Embracing God’s Eternal Rule and Earthly Commands
Psalm 93; Deuteronomy 11:1-17; 1 Timothy 6:13-16
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Easter 6)
Introduction
With Expository Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Sovereignty and Stewardship:
Embracing God’s Eternal Rule and Earthly Commands
Psalm 93; Deuteronomy 11:1-17; 1 Timothy 6:13-16
(Revised Common Lectionary Year B)
(Easter 6)
Introduction
This selection of scriptures highlights the majesty of God’s sovereignty and the responsibilities of His followers. Psalm 93 reverently portrays the Lord's reign, adorned in majesty and armed with strength, establishing the world as unshakeable. Deuteronomy 11:1-17 echoes this theme by instructing the Israelites to love and serve their sovereign God with all their heart and soul, linking their obedience to the reception of God’s blessings, particularly the rain for their crops. In the New Testament, 1 Timothy 6:13-16 exhorts believers to keep their commitments blamelessly under the watchful eye of God, the only ruler, the King of kings, until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. Together, these passages weave a tapestry of divine rule and human responsibility, calling believers to uphold God’s commandments as stewards of His creation, amidst the enduring truth of His eternal dominion.
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 11:1-17 serves as a poignant reminder of the covenant between God and the Israelites. In this passage, Moses exhorts the people to love and obey God wholeheartedly in order to inherit and prosper in the promised land. He underscores the importance of remembering the great deeds God performed in Egypt and during their journey through the wilderness, portraying these acts as testimonials of God's power and faithfulness. Moses also introduces the blessings and curses contingent upon their obedience or disobedience to God’s commandments. The passage emphasizes that their future prosperity in the land flowing with milk and honey is directly linked to their fidelity to God's laws, thereby reinforcing the covenantal relationship between God and His people.11 1 You shall love the LORD your God, therefore, and keep his charge, his decrees, his ordinances, and his commandments always. 2 Remember today that it was not your children (who have not known or seen the discipline of the LORD your God), but it is you who must acknowledge his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm, 3 his signs and his deeds that he did in Egypt to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and to all his land; 4 what he did to the Egyptian army, to their horses and chariots, how he made the water of the Red Sea flow over them as they pursued you, so that the LORD has destroyed them to this day; 5 what he did to you in the wilderness, until you came to this place; 6 and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab son of Reuben, how in the midst of all Israel the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with their households, their tents, and every living being in their company; 7 for it is your own eyes that have seen every great deed that the LORD did.
8 Keep, then, this entire commandment that I am commanding you today, so that you may have strength to go in and occupy the land that you are crossing over to occupy, 9 and so that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them and to their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 For the land that you are about to enter to occupy is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sow your seed and irrigate by foot like a vegetable garden. 11 But the land that you are crossing over to occupy is a land of hills and valleys, watered by rain from the sky, 12 a land that the LORD your God looks after. The eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
13 If you will only heed his every commandment that I am commanding you today—loving the LORD your God, and serving him with all your heart and with all your soul— 14 then he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil; 15 and he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you will eat your fill. 16 Take care, or you will be seduced into turning away, serving other gods and worshiping them, 17 for then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain and the land will yield no fruit; then you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you.
Expository Commentary
Verse 1: Moses begins by calling the Israelites to love and hold fast to God, emphasizing that obedience to His commandments is not just a duty but a response to His steadfast love. The recurring theme of love in Deuteronomy ties obedience to an emotional and spiritual commitment rather than mere legalism.
Verses 2-7: Moses reminds the Israelites of the uniqueness of their relationship with God, who has revealed His power and care through miraculous deeds. This recollection serves not just as a reminder of God's past actions but as a foundation for faith and trust in Him. Importantly, Moses addresses this to "your own eyes have seen," highlighting personal experience and testimony as a basis for faith.
Verses 8-12: Here, the practical outcomes of obeying God's commandments are outlined. Obedience leads to strength and the ability to possess the land that God promised to their ancestors—a land described vividly as flowing with milk and honey. This prosperity is tied directly to their fidelity to God’s laws.
Verse 13-15: These verses introduce the conditional aspect of God's blessings. If the Israelites obey God and serve Him with their whole heart and soul, He will grant them rain for their land in its season, including the early and late rains, so that they may gather their grain, wine, and oil. These specific blessings are crucial for agricultural success and economic stability in ancient times.
Verses 16-17: Conversely, disobedience leads to dire consequences. Moses warns against turning away to serve other gods, which would provoke God's wrath. The consequences include the shutting of the heavens to prevent rain and the land failing to yield produce, leading to a quick perish from the good land given to them. This serves as a stark warning that their survival and prosperity are directly tied to their spiritual fidelity.
Throughout these verses, the relationship between God and Israel is portrayed as conditional, based on faithfulness and obedience. This passage underscores the idea that the land itself, a central aspect of Israel’s identity and survival, is a gift from God that requires a reciprocal commitment to His laws and commands. The broader message encourages not just adherence to divine laws but also a deep, personal engagement with God, rooted in love and reverence.
In 1 Timothy 6:13-16, the apostle Paul charges Timothy before God, who gives life to all things, and Christ Jesus, who testified to the truth under Pontius Pilate, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. This solemn admonition, framed within the context of God's eternal dominion and power, highlights the gravity and purity with which Timothy is to uphold his duties. Paul emphasizes the majesty of God, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, underscoring the transcendence and ultimate authority of God over all creation, as well as the future revelation of Jesus Christ, which God will bring about at the appointed time.6 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
Expository Commentary
Verse 13: Paul begins this section with a solemn charge to Timothy. He invokes two mighty witnesses: God, the giver of life, and Christ Jesus, who made a courageous confession before Pontius Pilate. This sets a tone of seriousness and authority for the charge. The reference to Jesus' trial under Pilate highlights Jesus' unwavering commitment to truth and righteousness even in the face of death, serving as a powerful example for Timothy.
Verse 14: The "commandment" Paul refers to likely encompasses the entirety of Timothy's pastoral duties, including upholding doctrinal purity, ethical conduct, and the proclamation of the gospel. Timothy is urged to keep this commandment "unstained" and "free from reproach," implying a life and ministry that should remain above moral or ethical blemish. The "manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ" points to the eschatological hope of Christ's return, providing a temporal framework within which Timothy must remain faithful.
Verse 15: Paul shifts focus to God the Father, describing Him as the "blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords." This majestic title underscores God's ultimate authority and dominion over all earthly and heavenly rulers. The phrase "at the right time" indicates that the timing of Christ's return is under God's sovereign control, emphasizing divine providence and timing in the unfolding of eschatological events.
Verse 16: This verse portrays the transcendence and uniqueness of God. The statement that God "alone has immortality" highlights His eternal nature, distinct from mortal beings. "Dwells in unapproachable light" suggests God's holiness and purity, which are so intense that no human can withstand them or fully comprehend them. The clause "whom no one has ever seen or can see" reinforces the mystery and invisibility of God, who exists beyond human perception. Finally, Paul concludes with a doxology, "to him be honor and eternal dominion," affirming God's everlasting glory and power.
This passage combines deep theological assertions about God and Christ with practical exhortations for Timothy's conduct in ministry, setting a high standard for leadership and accountability in the Christian community.
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
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
