The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 16, 23 August 2015
I Kings 8:1, 6, 10-11, 22-30,
41-43
Psalm 84
Or
Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Psalm 34:15-22
Ephesians 6:10-20
St. John 6:59-69
Background: The Covenant
Stemming from the
covenants that marked everyday life in the Ancient Near East, the biblical
covenants were also influenced by the form of the Hittite Treaty. All of them
acknowledge the relative status of each of the parties, and the consequences of
meeting or not meeting the provisos of the agreement. We see this in the
“blessings and curses” that are found in the Bible, the latest of which was
Luke’s version of Beatitudes, where the “Happy is” is contrasted with the “Woe
to”. There are several covenants in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Noahic (see Genesis 9:8-17), the several
covenants made with Abraham (see Genesis
12, 15, and 17). It is the Mosaic
covenant (see Exodus 19-24),
however, that not only guides the history of Israel, but also continues to
guide western civilization to a greater or lesser degree. The priestly covenant
undergirds the institution of the Aaronic priesthood, and the David covenant
did similar service to the monarchy. See the first reading in Track 2 for
Joshua’s take on the covenant.
1 Kings 8:[1, 6, 10-11], 22-30, 41-43
[Solomon
assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of
the ancestral houses of the Israelites, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to
bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is
Zion. Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its
place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath
the wings of the cherubim. And when the priests came out of the holy place, a
cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to
minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of
the LORD.]
Then Solomon
stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of
Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, “O LORD, God of Israel,
there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant
and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart,
the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to
him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand.
Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that
which you promised him, saying, `There shall never fail you a successor before
me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to
walk before me as you have walked before me.' Therefore, O God of Israel, let
your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David.
“But will God
indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain
you, much less this house that I have built! Regard your servant's prayer and
his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays
to you today; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the
place of which you said, `My name shall be there,' that you may heed the prayer
that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of
your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your
dwelling place; heed and forgive.
“Likewise
when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because
of your name -- for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and
your outstretched arm-- when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house,
then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the
foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name
and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your
name has been invoked on this house that I have built.”
The purpose of Track 1 in the Revised Common Lectionary
(RCL) is to familiarize people with a greater view of the Hebrew Scriptures by
means of a continuing reading from its books. Here we have a continuing history
of Solomon, his building of the temple, and the subsequent installation of the
Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies there. What is really startling in
this passage is the material from verse 41 on. There is concern about the name
of Israel, its reputation, amongst the nations of the earth. The attitude in
verse 41 is quite a change, however, in that it advocates for a rather benevolent
attitudes toward the Gentile nations. One wonders if this is a theological
point in Kings, or rather a practical attitude in which matters of political
and commercial interest are made livelier by such a position.
Breaking open I Kings
- What does the Ark of the Covenant symbolize to you?
- What are the ideals in this passage?
- Can these ideals speak to our time?
Psalm 84 or 84:1-6 Quam dilecta!
How dear to me
is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts! *
My soul has a
desire and longing for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my
flesh rejoice in the living God.
The sparrow has
found her a house
and the swallow
a nest where she may lay her young; *
by the side of
your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my King and my
God.
Happy are they
who dwell in your house! *
they will
always be praising you.
Happy are the
people whose strength is in you! *
whose hearts
are set on the pilgrims' way.
Those who go
through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs, *
for the early
rains have covered it with pools of water.
They will climb
from height to height, *
and the God of
gods will reveal himself in Zion.
LORD God of
hosts, hear my prayer; *
hearken, O God
of Jacob.
Behold our
defender, O God; *
and look upon
the face of your Anointed.
For one day in
your courts is better than a thousand in my own room, *
and to stand at
the threshold of the house of my God
than to dwell
in the tents of the wicked.
For the LORD
God is both sun and shield; *
he will give
grace and glory;
No good thing will
the LORD withhold *
from those who
walk with integrity.
O LORD of
hosts, *
happy are they
who put their trust in you!
This psalm always brings a smile to my face. I recall a
situation in college where birds having gotten into the rather spacious chapel,
were being discouraged with helpings of poison seed placed there by the
maintenance staff. One day I noticed the seed was gone, replaced by a sign
quoting this psalm, “The sparrow has
found her a house and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; by the
side of your altars, O Lord of hosts.”
This is a devotional piece on the Temple that is stated in
startling terms. The longing and love of the place is described (in the Hebrew)
in almost erotic terms. Such intensity is missing from our English
translations. As a pilgrim psalm, it urges the pilgrim on with the intensity of
emotion and longing. It is not only humankind who long for the temple, but
birds as well, along with all the other pilgrims who make their way there.
There are both urban, “They climb from
height (rampart) to height,” and rural “(they)
will find it a place of springs.” It reflects in a way the images of the 23rd
psalm. God makes a place (the green pastures, and the temple) and we long to be
there.
Breaking open Psalm 84:
- For what do you long in life?
- Where does the church fit into that vision?
- How do you love God?
Or
Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Joshua gathered
all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the
judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God.
And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:
"Now
therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put
away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and
serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day
whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region
beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but
as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Then the people
answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve
other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from
the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs
in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the
peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the
peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the
LORD, for he is our God."
The scene at Shechem, a cult center of Israel, is a
renewal of the covenant between the tribes and God. Ancient history is
reviewed, and it is more than a history of movement, but also a change of
allegiance from the gods “across the river” to the God of Israel. Joshua forces
them to see the comparison and to make the choice. It’s either the gods that
their forefathers worshipped, or the gods of the Amorites (Canaanites) or the
God of Israel. Joshua makes his choice and the people follow suit.
Breaking open Joshua:
- What religious choices have you made?
- What were the alternatives?
- Would you do it over again?
Psalm 34:15-22 Benedicam Dominum
The eyes of the
LORD are upon the righteous, *
and his ears
are open to their cry.
The face of the
LORD is against those who do evil, *
to root out the
remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous
cry, and the LORD hears them *
and delivers
them from all their troubles.
The LORD is
near to the brokenhearted *
and will save
those whose spirits are crushed.
Many are the
troubles of the righteous, *
but the LORD
will deliver him out of them all.
He will keep
safe all his bones; *
not one of them
shall be broken.
Evil shall slay
the wicked, *
and those who
hate the righteous will be punished.
The LORD
ransoms the life of his servants, *
and none will
be punished who trust in him.
This psalm has been our companion for several Sundays. In
this section, the psalmist poses a choice similar to the one that Joshua poses,
“Swerve from evil and do good, seek peace
and pursue it.” Here it is not the gods so much as it is the attitude that
one has while living life, and living in covenant with God. This is no Hallmark
card however, for there are harsh realities that invade this righteous attitude
of following the Lord. The vicissitudes of daily life are met with the comfort
of the God who walks with us, “The Lord
is near to the brokenhearted and will save those whose spirits are crushed.”
Perhaps that is why the psalter, or at least parts of it, remains popular. It
meets us at our worst hours.
Breaking open Psalm 34:
- In what ways have you “swerved from evil”?
- How has God met you in the dark parts of your life?
- How have you met others in their darkness?
Ephesians 6:10-20
Be strong in
the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle
is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole
armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having
done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth
around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your
feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With
all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench
all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the
Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert
and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so
that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the
mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may
declare it boldly, as I must speak.
The long period of ethical exhortation has ended, and now
we are to listen to the author as to a general prior to battle. The martial
attitude is quite evident, “put on the
whole armor of God.” Are we exhorted to fight against human authority? No.
We are in battle against spiritual forces, which move us from faith in the
Christ who triumphs to concerns of this world and its wealth. We have heard of
the “Day of the Lord,” however here we are warned against that “Evil Day.” What
we are armed with is a typical Pauline list of Christian virtues: truth,
righteousness, the Gospel of peace, faith, and salvation. There is an “active waiting”
filled with alertness and perseverance, guided by mutual prayer.
Breaking open Ephesians:
- What battles does God want you to fight?
- How will you fight them?
- What will happen if you lose?
St. John 6:56-69
Jesus said,
“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as
the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me
will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like
that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread
will live forever." He said these things while he was teaching in the
synagogue at Capernaum.
When many
of his disciples heard it, they said, "This teaching is difficult; who can
accept it?" But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining
about it, said to them, "Does this offend you? Then what if you were to
see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that
gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are
spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe." For
Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was
the one that would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told
you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father."
Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer
went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, "Do you also wish to go
away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have
the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the
Holy One of God."
This is quite a remarkable event – Jesus teaching the people
on the Bread of Life in a synagogue. We need to remember that at the time John
was writing this Gospel, the Christians had already been cast out of the
synagogues. And what is further, the subject matter would have been quite
odious to a Jewish audience, “eat my
flesh and drink my blood.” The disciples see the difficulty and object, “this teaching is difficult.” Jesus is
declaring some freedom and asking that they take into themselves a fresh and
life-giving spirit. John makes a comparison between the spirit and the flesh,
one gives life, and the other is useless. The disciples are hung between the
horns of a dilemma, and there are some who cannot make the transference –
indeed one will betray Jesus.
Dwight Zscheile, in his book The Agile Church[1],
talks about the church’s need to accept failure as a way to build knowledge and
relationship so that the Gospel might be authentically proclaimed. Here we have
the perfect example of failure that leads to a confession on the part of Peter.
“Many of his disciples turned back and no
longer went about with him.” Jesus questions Peter, as he questions all of
us. “Is this too much for you – do you need to leave.” Peter admits that there
is no other way, which makes us wonder if we have really wrestled with the
alternatives that Jesus has shown us.
Breaking open the Gospel:
- Why are the Jews offended?
- Why do the disciples find this difficult?
- Have you ever left Jesus?
After breaking open the Word,
you might want to pray the Collect for Sunday:
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered
together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all
peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Questions
and comments copyright © 2015, Michael T. Hiller
[1]Zscheile, D. (2014), The Agile Church: Spirit-Led Innovation in an Uncertain Age, Church
Publishing, New York, Kindle Edition.
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