Quotes for Today:
Where we have strong emotions, we’re liable to fool ourselves. by Carl Sagan (1934 – 1996), Cosmos (Blues for a Red Planet)
When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bustling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity. by Dale Carnegie
The sign of an intelligent people is their ability to control emotions by the application of reason. by Marya Mannes
Feelings are really your GPS system for life. When your supposed to do something, or not supposed to do something, your emotional guidance system lets you know. by Oprah Winfrey (1954 – ), Stanford Commencement Adress, 2008
The advantage of the emotions is that they lead us astray, and the advantage of science is that it is not emotional. by Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900), The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891
Cherish your own emotions and never undervalue them. by Robert Henri (1865 – 1929)
When you’re eighteen your emotions are violent, but they’re not durable. by W. Somerset Maugham (1874 – 1965), The Razor’s Edge, 1943
Sermon for Today:
All Comers to God Welcomed! by Charles H. Spurgeon
NO. 2349 A SERMON INTENDED FOR READING ON LORD’S DAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, 1894, DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON. ON LORD’S-DAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 17TH, 1889.
“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”(John 6:37)
CHRIST will not die in vain. His Father gave him a certain number to be the
reward of his soul travail, and he will have every one of them, as he said,
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.” Almighty grace shall
sweetly constrain them all to come. My father gave me recently some
letters which I wrote to him when I began to preach. They are almost
boyish epistles; but, in reading through them again, I noticed in one of
them this expression, “How I long to see thousands of men saved; but my
great comfort is that some will be saved, must be saved, shall be saved, for
it is written, ‘All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.’”
The question for each of you to ask is, “Do I belong to that number?” I am
going to preach with the view of helping you to find out whether you
belong to that “all” whom the Father gave to Christ, the “all” who shall
come to him. We can use the second part of the verse to help us to
understand the first. “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out,”
will explain our Savior’s previous words, “All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me.”
I shall have no time for any further preface; I must at once get to my
subject, and try to put everything in a condensed form. Kindly give heed to
the word, think about it, pray over it; and may God the Holy Ghost apply it
to all your hearts!
I. First, notice in the text THE NECESSITY OF CHARACTER:
“Him that cometh to me.” If you want to be saved, you must come to Christ. There is no other way of salvation under heaven but coming to Christ. Go wherever else you will, you must be disappointed and lost; it is only by coming to him that you can by any possibility have eternal life.
What is it to come to Christ? Well, it implies leaving all other confidences.
To come to anybody, is to leave everybody else. To come to Christ, is to
leave everything else, to leave every other hope, every other trust. Are you
trusting to your own works? Are you trusting to a priest? Are you trusting
to the merits of the Virgin Mary, or the saints and angels in heaven? Are
you trusting to anything but the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, leave it, and have
done with it. Come away from every other reliance, and trust to Christ
crucified, for this is the only way of salvation, as Peter said to the rulers
and elders of Israel, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is
none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved.
“To Jesus bleeding on the tree,
Turn thou thine eye, thine heart,”
and come to him at once, and thy soul shall live for ever.
To come to Jesus means, in brief, trusting him. He is a Savior; that is his
business, come you to him, and trust him to save you. If you could save
yourself, you would not need a Savior; and now that Christ has set up to
be a Savior, let him do the business. He will. Come, and lay all your needs
at his feet, and trust him. Resolve that, if lost, you will be lost trusting
alone in Jesus; and that can never be. Tie up all your hopes into one
bundle, and put that bundle upon Christ. Let him be all thy salvation, and
all thy desire, and so thou shalt be surely saved.
I have sometimes tried to explain to you what the life of faith is like; it is
very much like a man walking on a tight rope. The believer is told that he
shall not fall, he trusts in God that he shall not; but every now and then he
says, “What a way it is down there if I did fall!” I have often had this
experience: I have gone up an invisible staircase; I could not see the next
step, but when I put my foot down on it, I found that it was solid granite. I
could not see the next stair, and it seemed as if I should plunge into an
abyss; yet have I gone on upward, steadily, one step at a time, never able
to see farther into absolute darkness, as it seemed, and yet always with a
light just where the light was wanted. When I used to hold a candle to my
father, of an evening, when he was sawing wood out in the yard, he used to
say, “Boy, do hold the candle where I am sawing, don’t look over there.”
And I have often thought to myself, when I wanted to see something in the
middle of next week, or next year, that the Lord seemed to say to me,
“Hold your candle on the piece of work which you have to do to-day; and
if you can see that, be satisfied, for that is all the light you want just now.”
Suppose that you could see into next week, it would be a great mercy if
you lost your sight a while, for a far-seeing gaze into care and trouble is no
gain. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,” as sufficient unto the day
will be the good thereof. But the Lord does train his people for the skies by
testing their faith in the matter of his daily care of them. Often, a man’s
reliance upon God for the supply of his earthly wants proves that he has
trusted the Lord for the weightier affairs relating to his soul’s salvation. Do
not draw a line between the temporal and the spiritual, and say, “God will
go just so far; but I must not take such and such a thing to him in prayer.” I
remember hearing of a certain good man, of whom one said, “Why, he is a
very curious man; he prayed about a key the other day!” Why not pray
about a key? Why not pray about a pin? Sometimes, it may be as important
to pray about a pin as to pray about a kingdom. Little things are often the
linch-pins of great events. Take care that you bring everything to God in
faith and prayer. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God.”
I have turned aside from my subject for a minute, but let us now think
again of this matter of coming to Christ. To come to Jesus, not only
implies leaving all other confidences, and trusting Christ, it also means
following him. If you trust him, you must obey him. If you leave your soul
in his hands, you must take him to be your Master, and your Lord, as well
as your Savior. Christ has come to save you from sin, not in sin. He will
therefore help you to leave your sin, whatever it is; he will give you the
victory over it; he will make you holy. He will help you to do whatever you
should do in the sight of God: He is able to save unto the uttermost them
that come unto God by him; but you must come to him if you would be
saved by him.
To put together all I have said, you must quit every other hope; you must
take Jesus to be your sole confidence, and then you must be obedient to his
command, and take him to be your Master, and Lord. Will you do that? If
not, I have nothing to say to you except this, — he that believeth not in
him will perish without hope. If you will not have God’s remedy for your
soul malady, the only remedy that there is, there remaineth for you nothing
but blackness and dismal darkness for ever and ever.
II. But, now, secondly, while there is this necessity of character, notice also THE UNIVERSALITY OF PERSONS: “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
Granted that he comes to Christ, that is all that is needed. Does some one
say, “Sir, I am a very obscure person. Nobody knows me; my name was
never in the papers, and never will be; I am a nobody”? Well, if Mr.
Nobody comes to Christ, he will not cast him out. Come along, you
unknown person, you anonymous individual, you that everybody but Christ
forgets! If even you come to Jesus, he will not cast you out.
Another says, “ I am so very odd.” Do not say much about that, for I am
odd, too; but, dear friends, however odd we are, though we may be
thought very eccentric, and some may even consider us a little touched in
the head, yet, nevertheless, for all that, Jesus says, “Him that cometh to me
I will in no wise cast out.” Come along with you, Mr. Oddman! You shall
not be lost for want of brains, nor yet for having too many; though that is
not a very common misfortune. If you will but come to Christ, though you
have no talent, though you are but poor, and will never make much
headway in the world, Jesus says, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out.”
“Ah!” says a third friend, “I do not mind about being obscure, or being
eccentric; but it is the greatness of my sin that keeps me back from Christ.”
Let us read the text again: “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast
out.” If he had been guilty of seven murders, and all the whoredoms and
adulteries that ever defiled mortal man, if impossible sins could be charged
against him, yet if he came to Christ, mark you, if he came to Christ, the
promise of Jesus would be fulfilled even in his case, “Him that cometh to
me I will in no wise cast out.”
“But,” says another, “I am completely worn out, I am good for nothing. I
have spent all my days and years in sin. I have come to the very end of the
chapter, I am not worth anybody’s having.” Come along with you, you fag-end of life! Jesus says, “Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”
You have to walk with two sticks, do you? Never mind, come you to
Jesus. You are so feeble that you wonder that you are alive at your
advanced age. My Lord will receive you if you are a hundred years of age;
there have been many cases in which persons have been brought to Christ
even after that age. There are some very remarkable instances of that fact
on record. Christ says, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
If he were as old as Methuselah, if he did but come to Christ, he should not
be cast out.
“Alas!” says one, “I am in a worse case than even that aged friend, for
beside being old, I have resisted the Spirit of God. I have been many years
troubled in my conscience; but I have tried to cover it all up. I have stifled
every godly thought.” Yes, yes; and it is a very sad thing, too; but for all
that, if you come to Christ, if you can even make a dash for salvation, and
come to Jesus, he cannot cast you out.
One friend perhaps says, “I am afraid that I have committed the
unpardonable sin.“ If you come to Christ, you have not, I know; for him
that cometh to him Jesus will in no wise cast out. He cannot, therefore,
have committed the unpardonable sin. Come along with you, man, and if
you are blacker than all the rest of the sinners in the world, so much the
more glorious shall be the grace of God when it shall have proved its
power by washing you whiter than snow in the precious blood of Jesus.
“Ah!” says one, “you do not know me, Sir.” No, dear friend, I do not; but,
perhaps, one of these days I may have that pleasure.” It will not be any
pleasure to you, Sir, for I am an apostate. I used to be a professor of
religion; but I have given it all up, and I have gone back to the world,
wilfully and wickedly doing all manner of evil things.” Ah! well, if you can
but come to Christ, though there were seven apostasies piled one upon
another, still his promise stands true, “Him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out.” Whatever the past, or whatever the present, backslider,
return to Christ, for he standeth to his plighted word, and there are no
exceptions mentioned in my text: “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out.”
“Well, Sir,” cries another, “I should like to come to Christ; but I do not
feel fit to come.“ Then, come all unfit, just as you are. Jesus says, “Him
that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” If I were woke up in the
middle of the night by a cry of “Fire!” and I saw that some one was at the
window with a fire-escape, I do not think that I should keep in bed, and
say, “I have not my black necktie on,” or “I have not my best waistcoat
on.” I should not speak in that way at all. I would be out of the window as
quickly as ever I could, and down the fire-escape. Why do you talk about
your fitness, fitness, fitness? I have heard of a cavalier, who lost his life
because he stopped to curl his hair when Cromwell’s soldiers were after
him. Some of you may laugh at the man’s foolishness; but that is all that
your talk about fitness is. What is all your fitness but the curling of your
hair when you are in imminent danger of losing your soul? Your fitness is
nothing to Christ. Remember what we sang at the beginning of the service:
“Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth,
Is to feel your need of him:
This he gives you
‘Tis the Spirit’s rising beam.”
Come to Christ just as you are, foul, vile, careless, godless, Christless.
Come now, even now, for Jesus said, “Him that cometh to me I will in no
wise cast out.”
Is there not a glorious width about my text: “Him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out.” What “him” is this? It is “him that cometh.” What
“him that cometh”? Any “him that cometh” in all the world. If he comes to
Christ, he shall not be cast out. A red man, or a black man, or a white man,
or a yellow man, or a coppercoloured man, whatever he is, if he comes to
Jesus, he shall in no wise be cast out.
When you mean to put a thing broadly, it is always best to state it, and
leave it. Do not go into details; the Savior does not. Some years ago, there
was a man, a kind, loving husband, who wished to leave to his wife all his
property. Whatever he had, he intended her to have it all, as she ought; so
he put down in his will, “I leave to my beloved wife, Elizabeth, all that I
have.” That was all right. Then he went on to describe in detail what he
was leaving her, and he wrote, “All my freehold and personal estate.” The
most of his property happened to be leasehold, so the wife did not get it
because her husband gave a detailed description; it was in the detail that
the property slipped away from the good woman. Now, there is no detail at
all here: “Him that cometh.” That means that every man, and woman, and
child, beneath the broad heavens, who will but come, and trust in Christ,
shall in no wise be cast out. I thank God that there is no allusion to any
particular character, in order specially to say, “People of that character
shall be received,” for then the characters left out might be supposed to be
excluded; but the text clearly means that every soul that comes to Christ
shall be received by him.
III. The flight of time hurries me on, therefore, I beg you to listen
earnestly while I speak to you, in the third place, about THE
UNMISTAKEABLENESS OF THE PROMISE:
“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise” — that is, for no reason, under no circumstances, at no time, under no conditions whatever, — “I will in no wise cast out”; which means, being interpreted, “I will receive him, I will save him, I will bless him.”
Then if you, my dear friend, come to Christ, how could the Lord cast you
out? How could he do it in consistency with his truthfulness? Imagine my
Lord Jesus making this declaration, and giving it to us as an inspired
Scripture, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out,” and yet
casting out somebody, even that unknown somebody up in the corner.
Why, it would be a lie; it would be an acted lie! I pray you, blaspheme not
my Lord, the truthful Christ, by supposing that he could be guilty of such
conduct as that. He could do as he liked about whom he would receive
until he made the promise; but after he had pledged his word, he bound
himself by the veracity of his nature to keep it; and as long as Christ is the
truthful Christ, he must receive every soul that comes to him.
But let me also ask you, suppose that you came to Jesus, and he cast you
out, with what hands could he do it? “With his own hands,” you answer.
What! Christ coming forward to cast out a sinner who has come to him? I
ask again, with what hands could he do it? Would he do it with those
pierced hands, that still bear the marks of the nails? The Crucified rejecting
a sinner? Ah! no; he hath no hand with which to do such a cruel work as
that, for he has given both his hands to be nailed to the tree for guilty men.
He hath neither hand, nor foot, nor heart with which to reject sinners, for
all these have been pierced in his death for them; therefore he cannot cast
them out if they come to him.
Let me ask you another question, What profit would it be to Christ if he
did cast you out? If my dear Lord, of the thorny crown, and the pierced
side, and the wounded hands, were to cast you away, what glory would it
bring to him? If he cast you into hell, you who have come to him, what
happiness would that bring to him? If he were to cast you away, you who
have sought his face, you who trust his love and his blood, by what
conceivable method could that ever render him the happier or the greater?
It cannot be.
What would such a supposition involve? Imagine for a moment that Jesus
did cast away one who came to him; if it were ascertained that one soul
came to Christ and yet he had cast him away, what would happen? Why,
there are thousands of us who would never preach again! For one, I would
have done with the business. If my Lord can cast away a sinner who comes
to him, I cannot, with a clear conscience, go and preach from his words,
“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Moreover, I should feel
that, if he failed in one promise, he might fail in the others. I could not go
and preach a possible but doubtful gospel. I must have “shells” and “wills”
from the eternal throne of God; and if it is not so, our preaching is vain,
and your faith is also vain.
See what would follow if one soul came to Christ, and Christ cast him out.
All the saints would lose their confidence in him. If a man breaks his
promise once, it is of no use for him to say, “Well, I am generally truthful.”
You have caught him false to his word once, and you will not trust him
again, will you? No; and if our dear Lord, whose every word is truth and
verity, could break one of his promises only once, he would not be trusted
by his people any more, and his Church would lose the faith that is her very
life.
Ah! me; and then they would hear of it up in heaven; and one soul that
came to Christ, and was cast away, would stop the music of the harps of
heaven, would dim the lustre of the glory-land, and take away its joy, for it
would be whispered among the glorified, “Jesus has broken his promise.
He cast away a praying, believing soul; he may break his promise to us, he
may drive us out of heaven.” When they began to praise him, this one act
of his would make a lump come in their throats, and they would be unable
to sing. They would be thinking of that poor soul that trusted him, and was
cast away; so how could they sing, “Unto him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood,” if they had to add, “But he did not wash
all that came to him, though he promised that he would”?
I do not like even to talk of all that the supposition would involve; it is
something so dreadful to me, for they would hear of it in hell, and they
would tell it to one another, and an awful glee would take possession of
the fiendish hearts of the devil and all his companions, and they would say,
“The Christ is not true to his word; the boasted Savior rejected one who
came to him. He used to receive even harlots, and he let one wash his feet
with her tears; and publicans and sinners came and gathered about him, and
he spoke to them in tones of love; but here is one, — well, he was too vile
for the Savior to bless; he was too far gone, Jesus could not restore him,
Christ could not cleanse him. He could save little sinners, but not great
ones; he could save sinners eighteen hundred years ago. Oh! he made a fine
show of them; but his power is exhausted now, he cannot save a sinner
now.” Oh, in the halls of Hades, what jests and ridicule would be poured
upon that dear name, and, I had almost said, justly, if Christ cast out one
who came to him! But, beloved, that can never be; it is as sure as God’s
oath, as certain as Jehovah’s being, that he who comes to Christ shall in no
wise be cast out. I gladly bear my own witness before this assembled
throng that —
“I came to Jesus as I was
Weary, and worn, and sad:
I found in him a resting-place,
And he has made me glad.”
Come, each one of you, and prove the text to be true in your own experience,
for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake! Amen.
Hymn for Today:
“Jesus Es Mi Rey Soberano” by Vicente Mendoza
1. Jes˙s es mi Rey soberano
Mi gozo es cantar su loor
Es Rey y me ve cual hermano
Es Rey y me imparte su amor
Dejando su trono de gloria
Me vino a sacar de la escoria
Y yo soy feliz
Y yo soy feliz por Èl.
2. Jes˙s es mi amigo anhelado
Y en sombras o en luz siempre va
Paciente y humilde a mi lado
Ayuda y socorro me da
Por eso constante lo sigo
Porque Èl es mi Rey y mi amigo
Y yo soy feliz
Y yo soy feliz por Èl.
3. SeÒor øquÈ pudiera yo darte
por tanta bondad para mi?
øMe basta servirte y amarte?
øEs todo entregarme yo a ti?
Entonces acepta mi vida
Que a ti solo queda rendida
Pues yo soy feliz
Pues yo soy feliz por ti.
Through the Bible in One Year:
1 Samuel 11 to 20
1 About a month later, Nahash the Ammonite marched up and laid siege to Jabesh in Gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, ‘Make a treaty with us and we will be your subjects.’
2 Nahash the Ammonite replied, ‘I shall make a treaty with you only on this condition, that I put out all your right eyes, and I will make it a taunt to the whole of Israel.’
3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, ‘Give us seven days’ grace while we send messengers throughout the territory of Israel, and if no one comes to our help, we will come out to you.’
4 The messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and reported this to the people, and all the people wept aloud.
5 Now Saul was just then coming in from the fields behind his oxen, and he said, ‘What is wrong? Why are the people weeping?’ They explained to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
6 And the spirit of Yahweh seized on Saul when he heard these words, and he fell into a fury.
7 He took a yoke of oxen, cut them into pieces and sent these by messengers throughout the territory of Israel with these words, ‘Anyone who will not march with Saul will have the same done to his oxen!’ At this, a panic from Yahweh swept on the people and they marched out as one man.
8 Saul inspected them at Bezek; there were three hundred thousand of Israel and thirty thousand of Judah.
9 Then he said to the messengers who had come, ‘This is what you are to say to the people of Jabesh in Gilead, “Tomorrow, by the time that the sun is hot, help will reach you.” ‘ The messengers went and reported this to the people of Jabesh who were overjoyed;
10 they said to Nahash, ‘Tomorrow we shall come out to you and you can do whatever you like to us.’
11 The next day, Saul disposed the army in three contingents, which burst into the middle of the camp during the dawn watch and slaughtered the Ammonites until high noon. The survivors were so scattered that no two of them were left together.
12 The people then said to Samuel, ‘Who said, “Must we have Saul reigning over us?” Hand the men over, for us to put them to death.’
13 ‘No one must be put to death today,’ Saul said, ‘for today Yahweh has intervened to rescue Israel.’
14 Samuel then said to the people, ‘Let us now go to Gilgal and reaffirm the monarchy there.’
15 The people then all went to Gilgal. And there, at Gilgal, they proclaimed Saul king before Yahweh; they offered communion sacrifices before Yahweh, and there Saul and all the people of Israel gave themselves over to great rejoicing.
1 Samuel said to all Israel, ‘I have faithfully done all that you asked of me, and have appointed you a king.
2 In future, the king will lead you. As for me, I am old and grey, and in any case you have my sons. I have been your leader ever since I was young until today.
3 Here I am. Bear witness against me before Yahweh and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Have I wronged or oppressed anyone? Have I taken a consideration from anyone for looking the other way? If so, I will make amends.’
4 They said, ‘You have neither wronged nor oppressed us nor accepted anything from anyone.’
5 He said to them, ‘Yahweh is your witness and his anointed is witness today that you have found nothing in my hands?’ They replied, ‘He is witness.’
6 Samuel then said to the people, ‘Yahweh is witness, he who raised up Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors out of Egypt.
7 So now, stay where you are, while I plead with you before Yahweh and remind you of all the saving acts which he has done for you and for your ancestors.
8 After Jacob had arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians oppressed them, and your ancestors cried to Yahweh. Yahweh then sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and gave them a settled home here.
9 They then forgot Yahweh their God and he sold them into the power of Sisera, general of the army of Hazor, and also into the power of the Philistines and of the king of Moab, who made war on them.
10 They cried to Yahweh, “We have sinned,” they said, “for we have deserted Yahweh and served the Baals and the Astartes. Rescue us now from the power of our enemies, and we will serve you.”
11 Yahweh then sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He rescued you from the power of the enemies surrounding you, and you lived in security.
12 ‘But when you saw Nahash, king of the Ammonites, marching on you, you said to me, “No, we must have a king to rule us”-although Yahweh your God is your king.
13 So, here is the king whom you have chosen; Yahweh has appointed you a king.
14 If you fear and serve Yahweh and obey his voice and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who rules you follow Yahweh your God, all will be well.
15 But if you do not obey Yahweh’s voice but rebel against his commands, Yahweh’s hand will be against you and against your king.
16 ‘Stay where you are and see the wonder which Yahweh will do before your eyes.
17 Is it not now the wheat harvest? I shall call on Yahweh and he will send thunder and rain, so that you may clearly understand what a very wicked thing you have done, in Yahweh’s eyes, by asking for a king.’
18 Samuel then called on Yahweh, and Yahweh sent thunder and rain the same day, and all the people held Yahweh and Samuel in great awe.
19 They all said to Samuel, ‘Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, to save us from death; for to all our sins we have added this wrong of asking for a king.’
20 Samuel said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Although you have done all these wicked things, do not withdraw your allegiance from Yahweh. Instead, serve Yahweh with all your heart.
21 Do not transfer your allegiance to useless idols which, being useless, are futile and cannot save anybody;
22 Yahweh, for the sake of his great name, will not desert his people, for it has pleased Yahweh to make you his people.
23 For my part, far be it from me to sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you or to instruct you in the good and right way.
24 Fear none but Yahweh, and serve him faithfully with all your heart, bearing in mind the wonder which he has just performed. But, if you persist in wickedness, you and your king will perish.’
1 Saul was . . . years old when he became king, and reigned over Israel for . . . years.
2 Saul selected three thousand men of Israel; two thousand of them were with Saul at Michmash and in the highlands of Bethel, and one thousand with Jonathan at Geba of Benjamin; the rest of the people Saul sent home, everyone to his tent.
3 Jonathan killed the Philistine governor stationed at Gibeah and the Philistines were informed that the Hebrews had risen in revolt. Saul had the trumpet sounded throughout the country,
4 and all Israel heard the news, ‘Saul has killed the Philistine governor, and now Israel has antagonised the Philistines.’ So all the people rallied behind Saul at Gilgal.
5 The Philistines mustered to make war on Israel, three thousand chariots, six thousand horse and a force as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They came up and pitched camp at Michmash, to the east of Beth-Aven.
6 When the Israelites saw that their plight was desperate, being so hard pressed, the people hid in caves, in holes, in crevices, in vaults, in wells.
7 Some also crossed the Jordan fords into the territory of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal and all the people who followed him were trembling.
8 He waited for seven days, the period fixed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the army, deserting Saul, began dispersing.
9 Saul then said, ‘Bring me the burnt offering and the communion sacrifices.’ And he presented the burnt offering.
10 Just as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to meet and greet him.
11 Samuel said, ‘What have you been doing?’ Saul replied, ‘I saw the army deserting me and dispersing, and you had not come at the time fixed, while the Philistines were mustering at Michmash.
12 So I thought: Now the Philistines are going to fall on me at Gilgal and I have not implored the favour of Yahweh. So I felt obliged to make the burnt offering myself.’
13 Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have acted like a fool. You have not obeyed the order which Yahweh your God gave you. Otherwise, Yahweh would have confirmed your sovereignty over Israel for ever.
14 But now your sovereignty will not last; Yahweh has discovered a man after his own heart and designated him as leader of his people, since you have not carried out what Yahweh ordered you.’
15 Samuel then got up and left Gilgal to continue his journey. Those people remaining followed Saul as he went to join the warriors, and went from Gilgal to Geba of Benjamin. Saul reviewed the force that was with him; there were about six hundred men.
16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the force that was with them took up their quarters in Geba of Benjamin while the Philistines camped at Michmash.
17 The raiding company sallied out of the Philistine camp in three groups: one group made for Ophrah in the territory of Shual;
18 one group made for Beth-Horon; and one group made for the high ground overlooking the Valley of the Hyenas, in the direction of the desert.
19 There was not a single blacksmith throughout the territory of Israel, the Philistines’ reasoning being, ‘We do not want the Hebrews making swords or spears.’
20 Hence, the Israelites were all in the habit of going down individually to the Philistines to sharpen their ploughshares, axes, mattocks and scythes.
21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for ploughshares and axes, and one-third for sharpening mattocks and straightening goads.
22 So it was that on the day of the battle, no one in the army with Saul and Jonathan was equipped with either sword or spear; only Saul and his son Jonathan were so equipped.
23 A Philistine unit set out for the Pass of Michmash.
1 One day, Jonathan son of Saul said to his armour-bearer, ‘Come on, let us go across to the Philistine outpost over on the other side.’ But he did not inform his father.
2 Saul was on the outskirts of Geba, sitting under the pomegranate tree that stands near the threshing-floor; the force with him numbered about six hundred men.
3 Ahijah son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh at Shiloh, was carrying the ephod. The force did not know that Jonathan had left.
4 In the pass that Jonathan was trying to cross to reach the Philistine outpost, there is a rocky spur on one side and a rocky spur on the other; one is called Bozez, the other Seneh.
5 The first spur stands to the north facing Michmash, the other to the south facing Geba.
6 Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, ‘Come on, let us go across to these uncircumcised people’s outpost; perhaps Yahweh will do something for us, for Yahweh is free to grant deliverance through a few men, just as much as through many.’
7 His armour-bearer replied, ‘Do exactly as you think. I am with you; our hearts are as one.’
8 Jonathan then said, ‘Look, we will go across to these people and let ourselves be seen.
9 If they say, “Do not move until we come to you,” we shall stay where we are and not go up to them.
10 But if they say, “Come up to us,” we shall go up, for that will be the sign for us that Yahweh has given them into our power.’
11 When the two of them let themselves be seen by the Philistine outpost, the Philistines said, ‘Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding.’
12 The men of the outpost then hailed Jonathan and his armour-bearer. ‘Come up to us,’ they said, ‘we have something to tell you.’ Jonathan then said to his armour-bearer, ‘Follow me up; Yahweh has given them into the power of Israel.’
13 Jonathan clambered up on hands and feet, with his armour-bearer behind him; the Philistines fell at Jonathan’s onslaught, and his armour-bearer, coming behind, finished them off.
14 This first killing made by Jonathan and his armour-bearer accounted for about twenty men . . .
15 There was panic in the camp, in the field and throughout the army; outpost and raiding company too were panic-stricken; the earth quaked: it was a panic from Yahweh.
16 Saul’s look-out men in Geba of Benjamin could see the camp scattering in all directions.
17 Saul then said to the force that was with him, ‘Call the roll and see who has left us.’ So they called the roll, and Jonathan and his armour-bearer were missing.
18 Saul then said to Ahijah, ‘Bring the ephod,’ since he was the man who carried the ephod in Israel.
19 But while Saul was speaking to the priest, the turmoil in the Philistine camp grew worse and worse; and Saul said to the priest, ‘Withdraw your hand.’
20 Saul and the whole force with him then formed up and advanced to where the fighting was going on: and there they all were, drawing their swords on one another in wild confusion.
21 Those Hebrews who had earlier taken service with the Philistines and had accompanied them into camp, now defected to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Similarly, all those Israelites who had been hiding in the highlands of Ephraim, hearing that the Philistines were on the run, chased after them and joined in the fight.
23 That day Yahweh gave Israel the victory. The fighting reached the other side of Beth-Horon.
24 As the men of Israel were hard pressed that day, Saul pronounced this imprecation over the people, ‘A curse on anyone who eats food before evening, before I have taken revenge on my enemies!’ So none of the people so much as tasted food.
25 Now there was a honeycomb out in the open.
26 The people came to the honeycomb, the honey was dripping out, but no one put a hand to his mouth, the people being in awe of the oath.
27 Jonathan, however, not having heard his father bind the people with the oath, reached with the end of the stick which he was carrying, thrust it into the honeycomb and put it to his mouth; whereupon his eyes grew brighter.
28 One of the people then spoke up. ‘Your father’, he said, ‘has bound the people with this oath: “A curse on anyone who eats anything today.” ‘
29 ‘My father has brought trouble on the country,’ Jonathan replied. ‘See how much brighter my eyes are for having eaten this mouthful of honey.
30 By the same token, if the people had been allowed to eat some of the booty which they had captured from the enemy today, would not the defeat of the Philistines have been all the greater?’
31 That day the Philistines were beaten from Michmash all the way to Aijalon, until the people were utterly exhausted.
32 The people flung themselves on the booty and, taking sheep, bullocks and calves, slaughtered them there on the ground and ate them with the blood.
33 Saul was informed, ‘The people are sinning against Yahweh by eating with the blood!’ He said, ‘You have not kept faith! Roll me a large stone here!’
34 Saul then said, ‘Scatter among the people and say, “Everyone is to bring his bullock or his sheep to me here.” You will slaughter them here and eat, and not sin against Yahweh by eating with the blood.’ Each individual brought what he happened to have that night, and they all slaughtered in the same place.
35 Saul built an altar to Yahweh; it was the first altar he had built to Yahweh.
36 Saul said, ‘Let us go down under cover of dark and plunder the Philistines until dawn; we shall not leave one of them alive.’ ‘Do whatever you think right,’ they replied. But the priest said, ‘Let us approach God here.’
37 Saul consulted God, ‘Shall I go down and pursue the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?’ But he gave him no reply that day.
38 Saul then said, ‘Come forward, all you leaders of the people; consider carefully where today’s sin may lie;
39 for as Yahweh lives who gives victory to Israel, even if the sin lies with Jonathan my son, he shall be put to death.’ But not one out of all the people answered.
40 He then said to all Israel, ‘Stand on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will stand on the other.’ And the people replied to Saul, ‘Do as you think right.’
41 Saul then said, ‘Yahweh, God of Israel, why did you not answer your servant today? Yahweh, God of Israel, if the fault lies with me or with my son Jonathan, give urim: if the fault lies with your people Israel, give thummim.’ Jonathan and Saul were indicated and the people went free.
42 Saul said, ‘Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,’ and Jonathan was indicated.
43 ‘I only tasted a mouthful of honey off the end of the stick which I was carrying. But I am ready to die.’
44 Saul said, ‘May God bring unnameable ills on me, and worse ones too, if you do not die, Jonathan!’
45 But the people said to Saul, ‘Must Jonathan die after winning this great victory for Israel? We will never allow that! As Yahweh lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for his deeds today have been done with the help of God.’ And so the people ransomed Jonathan and he was not put to death.
46 Saul decided not to pursue the Philistines, and the Philistines retired to their own territory.
47 Saul consolidated his rule over Israel and made war on all his enemies on all fronts: on Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the king of Zobah and the Philistines; whichever way he turned, he was victorious.
48 He did great deeds of valour; he defeated the Amalekites and delivered Israel from those who used to pillage him.
49 Saul’s sons were: Jonathan, Ishvi and Malchishua. The names of his two daughters were: the elder, Merab, and the younger, Michal.
50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of his army commander was Abner son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.
51 Kish father of Saul, and Ner father of Abner were the sons of Abiel.
52 There was fierce warfare with the Philistines throughout Saul’s life. Any strong or valiant man who caught Saul’s eye, he recruited into his service.
1 Samuel said to Saul, ‘I am the man whom Yahweh sent to anoint you as king of his people Israel, so now listen to the words of Yahweh.
2 This is what Yahweh Sabaoth says, “I intend to punish what Amalek did to Israel — laying a trap for him on the way as he was coming up from Egypt.
3 Now, go and crush Amalek; put him under the curse of destruction with all that he possesses. Do not spare him, but kill man and woman, babe and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” ‘
4 Saul summoned the people and reviewed them at Telaim: two hundred thousand foot soldiers (and ten thousand men of Judah).
5 Saul advanced on the town of Amalek and lay in ambush in the river bed.
6 Saul said to the Kenites, ‘Go away, leave your homes among the Amalekites, in case I destroy you with them — you acted with faithful love towards all the Israelites when they were coming up from Egypt.’ So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
7 Saul then crushed the Amalekites, beginning at Havilah in the direction of Shur, which is to the east of Egypt.
8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive and, executing the curse of destruction, put all the people to the sword.
9 But Saul and the army spared Agag with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fatlings and lambs and all that was good. They did not want to consign these to the curse of destruction; they consigned only what was poor and worthless.
10 The word of Yahweh came to Samuel,
11 ‘I regret having made Saul king, since he has broken his allegiance to me and not carried out my orders.’ Samuel was appalled and cried to Yahweh all night long.
12 In the morning, Samuel set off to find Saul. Samuel was told, ‘Saul has been to Carmel, to raise himself a monument there, but now has turned about, moved on and gone down to Gilgal.’
13 When Samuel reached Saul, Saul said, ‘May you be blessed by Yahweh! I have carried out Yahweh’s orders.’
14 Samuel replied, ‘Then what is this bleating of sheep in my ears and the lowing of cattle that I hear?’
15 Saul said, ‘They have been brought from Amalek, the people having spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice them to Yahweh, your God; the rest we have consigned to the curse of destruction.’
16 Samuel then said to Saul, ‘Stop! Let me tell you what Yahweh said to me last night.’ He said, ‘Go on.’
17 Samuel said, ‘Small as you may be in your own eyes, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh has anointed you as king of Israel.
18 When Yahweh sent you on a mission he said to you, “Go and put those sinners, the Amalekites, under the curse of destruction and make war on them until they are exterminated.”
19 Why then did you not obey Yahweh’s voice? Why did you fall on the booty and do what is wrong in Yahweh’s eyes?’
20 Saul replied to Samuel, ‘But I did obey Yahweh’s voice. I went on the mission which Yahweh gave me; I brought back Agag king of the Amalekites; I put Amalek under the curse of destruction;
21 and from the booty the people have taken the best sheep and cattle of what was under the curse of destruction only to sacrifice them to Yahweh your God in Gilgal.’
22 To which, Samuel said: Is Yahweh pleased by burnt offerings and sacrifices or by obedience to Yahweh’s voice? Truly, obedience is better than sacrifice, submissiveness than the fat of rams.
23 Rebellion is a sin of sorcery, presumption a crime of idolatry! ‘Since you have rejected Yahweh’s word, he has rejected you as king.’
24 Saul then said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, having broken Yahweh’s order and your instructions because I was afraid of the people and yielded to their demands.
25 Now, please forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I can worship Yahweh.’
26 Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not come back with you, since you have rejected Yahweh’s word and Yahweh has rejected you as king of Israel.’
27 As Samuel turned away to leave, Saul caught at the hem of his cloak and it tore,
28 and Samuel said to him, ‘Today Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you and given it to a neighbour of yours who is better than you.’
29 (The Glory of Israel, however, does not lie or go back on his word, not being human and liable to go back on his word.)
30 ‘I have sinned,’ Saul said, ‘but please still show me respect in front of my people’s elders and in front of Israel, and come back with me, so that I can worship Yahweh your God.’
31 Samuel followed Saul back and Saul worshipped Yahweh.
32 Samuel then said, ‘Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites!’ Agag came towards him unsteadily saying, ‘Truly death is bitter!’
33 Samuel said: As your sword has left women childless, so will your mother be left childless among women! Samuel then butchered Agag before Yahweh at Gilgal.
34 Samuel left for Ramah, and Saul went up home to Gibeah of Saul.
35 Samuel did not see Saul again till his dying day. Samuel indeed mourned over Saul, but Yahweh regretted having made Saul king of Israel.
1 Yahweh said to Samuel, ‘How much longer do you mean to go on mourning over Saul, now that I myself have rejected him as ruler of Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have found myself a king from among his sons.’
2 Samuel replied, ‘How can I go? When Saul hears of it he will kill me.’ Yahweh then said, ‘Take a heifer with you and say, “I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.”
3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I shall reveal to you what you must do; and you will anoint for me the one I indicate to you.’
4 Samuel did what Yahweh ordered and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the town came trembling to meet him and asked, ‘Seer, is your coming favourable for us,’
5 ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.’ He purified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, he looked at Eliab and thought, ‘This must be Yahweh’s anointed now before him,’
7 but Yahweh said to Samuel, ‘Take no notice of his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him; God does not see as human beings see; they look at appearances but Yahweh looks at the heart.’
8 Jesse then called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, ‘Yahweh has not chosen this one either.’
9 Jesse then presented Shammah, but Samuel said, ‘Yahweh has not chosen this one either.’
10 Jesse thus presented seven of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Yahweh has not chosen these.’
11 He then asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ Jesse replied, ‘There is still one left, the youngest; he is looking after the sheep.’ Samuel then said to Jesse, ‘Send for him, for we shall not sit down to eat until he arrives.’
12 Jesse had him sent for; he had ruddy cheeks, with fine eyes and an attractive appearance. Yahweh said, ‘Get up and anoint him: he is the one!’
13 At this, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him, surrounded by his brothers; and the spirit of Yahweh seized on David from that day onwards. Samuel, for his part, set off and went to Ramah.
14 Now the spirit of Yahweh had withdrawn from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh afflicted him with terrors.
15 Saul’s servants said to him, ‘An evil spirit from God is undoubtedly the cause of your terrors.
16 Let our lord give the order, and your servants who wait on you will look for a skilled harpist; when the evil spirit from God comes over you, he will play and it will do you good.’
17 Saul said to his attendants, ‘Find me, please, a man who plays well, and bring him to me.’
18 One of the servants then spoke up and said, ‘I have seen one of the sons of Jesse the Bethlehemite: he is a skilled player, a brave man and a fighter, well spoken, good-looking and Yahweh is with him.’
19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse with the order, ‘Send me your son David (who is with the sheep).’
20 Jesse took five loaves, a skin of wine and a kid, and sent them to Saul by his son David.
21 David went to Saul and entered his service; Saul became very fond of him and David became his armour-bearer.
22 Saul then sent a message to Jesse, ‘Let David stay in my service, since he has won my favour.’
23 And whenever the spirit from God came over Saul, David would take a harp and play; Saul would then be soothed; it would do him good, and the evil spirit would leave him.
1 The Philistines mustered their troops for war; they assembled at Socoh in Judah and pitched camp between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-Dammim.
2 Saul and the Israelites also mustered, pitching camp in the Valley of the Terebinth, and drew up their battle-line opposite the Philistines.
3 The Philistines occupied the high ground on one side and the Israelites occupied the high ground on the other side, with the valley between them.
4 A champion stepped out from the Philistine ranks; his name was Goliath, from Gath; he was six cubits and one span tall.
5 On his head was a bronze helmet and he wore a breastplate of scale-armour; the breastplate weighed five thousand shekels of bronze.
6 He had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze scimitar slung across his shoulders.
7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed six hundred shekels of iron. A shield-bearer walked in front of him.
8 Taking position in front of the Israelite lines, he shouted, ‘Why have you come out to range yourselves for battle? Am I not a Philistine and are you not Saul’s lackeys? Choose a man and let him come down to me.
9 If he can fight it out with me and kill me, we will be your servants; but if I can beat him and kill him, you become our servants and serve us.’
10 The Philistine then said, ‘I challenge the ranks of Israel today. Give me a man and we will fight it out!’
11 When Saul and all Israel heard what the Philistine said, they were dismayed and terrified.
12 David was the son of an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah whose name was Jesse; Jesse had eight sons and, by Saul’s time, he was old and well on in years.
13 Jesse’s eldest three sons followed Saul to the war. The names of the three sons who went to the war were: the eldest Eliab, the second Abinadab and the third Shammah.
14 David was the youngest; the eldest three followed Saul.
15 David alternated between serving Saul and looking after his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
16 Morning and evening, the Philistine advanced, presenting himself thus for forty days.
17 Jesse said to his son David, ‘Take your brothers this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves, and hurry to the camp, to your brothers.
18 And take these ten cheeses to their commanding officer; find out how your brothers are and bring some token back from them;
19 they are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of the Terebinth, fighting the Philistines.’
20 David got up early in the morning and, leaving the sheep with someone to guard them, took up his load and went off as Jesse had ordered; he reached the encampment just as the troops were leaving to take up battle stations and shouting the war cry.
21 Israel and the Philistines drew up their lines facing one another.
22 David left his bundle in charge of the baggage guard and, running to the battle-line, went and asked his brothers how they were.
23 While he was talking to them, the champion (Goliath, the Philistine from Gath) came up from the Philistine ranks and made his usual speech, which David heard.
24 As soon as the Israelites saw this man, they all ran away from him and were terrified.
25 The Israelites said, ‘You saw that man who just came up? He comes to challenge Israel. The king will lavish riches on the man who kills him, he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s family from all taxes in Israel.’
26 David asked the men who were standing near him, ‘What would be the reward for killing this Philistine and saving Israel from disgrace? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, to challenge the armies of the living God?’
27 The people told him what they had been saying, ‘That would be the reward for killing him,’ they said.
28 His eldest brother Eliab heard David talking to the men and grew angry with him. ‘Why have you come down here?’ he said. ‘Whom have you left in charge of those few sheep in the desert? I know how impudent and artful you are; you have come to watch the battle!’
29 David retorted, ‘What have I done? May I not even speak?’
30 And he turned away from him to someone else and asked the same question, to which the people replied as before.
31 David’s words were noted, however, and reported to Saul, who sent for him.
32 David said to Saul, ‘Let no one be discouraged on his account; your servant will go and fight this Philistine.’
33 Saul said to David, ‘You cannot go and fight the Philistine; you are only a boy and he has been a warrior since his youth.’
34 David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to look after the sheep for his father and whenever a lion or a bear came and took a sheep from the flock,
35 I used to follow it up, lay into it and snatch the sheep out of its jaws. If it turned on me, I would seize it by the beard and batter it to death.
36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine will end up like one of them for having challenged the armies of the living God.’
37 ‘Yahweh,’ David went on, ‘who delivered me from the claws of lion and bear, will deliver me from the clutches of this Philistine.’ Then Saul said to David, ‘Go, and Yahweh be with you!’
38 Saul dressed David in his own armour; he put a bronze helmet on his head, dressed him in a breastplate
39 and buckled his own sword over David’s armour. David tried to walk but, not being used to them, said to Saul, ‘I cannot walk in these; I am not used to them.’ So they took them off again.
40 He took his stick in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the river bed and put them in his shepherd’s bag, in his pouch; then, sling in hand, he walked towards the Philistine.
41 The Philistine, preceded by his shield-bearer, came nearer and nearer to David.
42 When the Philistine looked David up and down, what he saw filled him with scorn, because David was only a lad, with ruddy cheeks and an attractive appearance.
43 The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog for you to come after me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
44 The Philistine said to David, ‘Come over here and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the wild beasts!’
45 David retorted to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword, spear and scimitar, but I come to you in the name of Yahweh Sabaoth, God of the armies of Israel, whom you have challenged.
46 Today, Yahweh will deliver you into my hand; I shall kill you, I shall cut off your head; today, I shall give your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the wild beasts, so that the whole world may know that there is a God in Israel,
47 and this whole assembly know that Yahweh does not give victory by means of sword and spear — for Yahweh is lord of the battle and he will deliver you into our power.’
48 No sooner had the Philistine started forward to confront David than David darted out of the lines and ran to meet the Philistine.
49 Putting his hand in his bag, he took out a stone, slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead; the stone penetrated his forehead and he fell face downwards on the ground.
50 Thus David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; he hit the Philistine and killed him, though he had no sword in his hand.
51 David ran and stood over the Philistine, seized his sword, pulled it from the scabbard, despatched him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
52 The men of Israel and of Judah started forward, shouting their war cry, and pursued the Philistines as far as the approaches of Gath and the gates of Ekron. The Philistine dead lay all along the road from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron.
53 Turning back from their ferocious pursuit of the Philistines, the Israelites plundered their camp.
54 And David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; his weapons, however, he put in his own tent.
55 When Saul saw David going to engage the Philistine he said to Abner, the army commander, ‘Abner, whose son is that boy?’ ‘On your life, O king,’ Abner replied, ‘I do not know.’
56 The king said, ‘Find out whose son the lad is.’
57 When David came back after killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head in his hand.
58 Saul asked him, ‘Whose son are you, young man?’ David replied, ‘The son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.’
1 When David had finished talking to Saul, Jonathan felt an instant affection for David; Jonathan loved him like his very self;
2 Saul engaged him that very day and would not let him go home to his father.
3 Jonathan made a pact with David, since he loved him like his very self;
4 Jonathan took off the cloak which he was wearing and gave it to David, and his armour too, even including his sword, his bow and his belt.
5 Wherever David was sent on a mission by Saul, he was successful, and Saul put him in command of the fighting men; all the people respected him and so did Saul’s staff.
6 On their return, when David was coming back from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul, with tambourines, sistrums and cries of joy;
7 and as they danced the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.
8 Saul was very angry; the incident displeased him. ‘They have given David the tens of thousands,’ he said, ‘but me only the thousands; what more can he have, except the throne?’
9 And Saul watched David jealously from that day onwards.
10 The following day, an evil spirit from God seized on Saul and he fell into a frenzy while he was indoors. David played the harp as on other occasions; Saul had a spear in his hand.
11 Saul brandished the spear; he said, ‘I will pin David to the wall!’ David evaded him twice.
12 Saul feared David, since Yahweh was with him and had withdrawn from Saul.
13 So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him commander of a thousand; he led the people on campaign.
14 In all his expeditions, David was successful and Yahweh was with him.
15 And Saul, seeing how very successful he was, was afraid of him.
16 All Israel and Judah loved David, however, since he was their leader on campaign.
17 Saul said to David, ‘This is my elder daughter Merab; I shall give her to you in marriage; but you must serve me bravely and fight Yahweh’s wars.’ Saul thought, ‘Better than strike the blow myself, let the Philistines do it!’
18 David replied to Saul, ‘Who am I and what is my lineage — and my father’s family — in Israel, for me to become the king’s son-in-law?’
19 When the time came for Merab daughter of Saul to be given to David, she was given to Adriel of Meholah instead.
20 Now Michal daughter of Saul fell in love with David. When Saul heard this he was pleased.
21 He thought, ‘Yes, I shall give her to him; she can be the snare for him, so that the Philistines will get him.’ (On two occasions, Saul told David, ‘Today, you shall be my son-in-law.’)
22 Saul gave instructions to his servants, ‘Have a private word with David and say, “Look, the king is fond of you and all his servants love you — why not be the king’s son-in-law?” ‘
23 Saul’s servants repeated these words in David’s ear, to which David replied, ‘Do you think that becoming the king’s son-in-law is a trivial matter; I have neither wealth nor position.’
24 Saul’s servants then reported back, ‘This is what David said.’
25 Saul replied, ‘Tell David this, “The king desires no bride-price except one hundred Philistine foreskins, in vengeance on the king’s enemies.” ‘ Saul was counting on getting David killed by the Philistines.
26 When his servants repeated this to David, David thought it would be a fine thing to be the king’s son-in-law. And no time was lost
27 before David got up to go, he and his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. David brought their foreskins back and counted them out before the king, so that he could be the king’s son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.
28 Saul could not but see that Yahweh was with David, and that the whole House of Israel loved him;
29 Saul became more afraid of David than ever, and became his inveterate enemy.
30 The Philistine chiefs kept mounting their campaigns but, whenever they did so, David proved more successful than any of Saul’s staff; consequently he gained great renown.
1 Saul let his son Jonathan and all his servants know of his intention to kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, held David in great affection;
2 and Jonathan warned David, ‘My father Saul is looking for a way to kill you, so be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding, stay out of sight.
3 I shall go out and keep my father company in the countryside where you will be, and shall talk to my father about you; I shall see what the situation is and then tell you.’
4 Jonathan spoke highly of David to Saul his father and said, ‘The king should not harm his servant David; far from harming you, what he has done has been greatly to your advantage.
5 He took his life in his hands, he killed the Philistine, and Yahweh brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw for yourself. How pleased you were! Why then sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?’
6 Saul was impressed by Jonathan’s words. Saul swore, ‘As Yahweh lives, I will not kill him.’
7 Jonathan called David and told him all this. Jonathan then brought him to Saul, and David remained in attendance as before.
8 War broke out again and David sallied out to fight the Philistines; he inflicted a great defeat on them and they fled before him.
9 An evil spirit from Yahweh came over Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand; David was playing the harp.
10 Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear, but he avoided Saul’s thrust and the spear stuck in the wall. David fled and made good his escape. That same night
11 Saul sent agents to watch David’s house, intending to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, ‘If you do not escape tonight, you will be a dead man tomorrow!’
12 Michal then let David down through the window, and he made off, took to flight and so escaped.
13 Michal then took a domestic image, laid it on the bed, put a tress of goats’ hair at the head of the bed and put a cover over it.
14 When Saul sent the agents to arrest David, she said, ‘He is ill.’
15 Saul sent the agents back to see David, with the words, ‘Bring him to me on his bed, for me to kill him!’
16 So in the agents went, and there in bed was the image, with the tress of goats’ hair on its head!
17 Saul then said to Michal, ‘Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go, and so make his escape?’ Michal replied to Saul, ‘He said, “Let me go, or I shall kill you!” ‘
18 David, having fled and made his escape, went to Samuel at Ramah and told him exactly how Saul had treated him; he and Samuel went and lived in the huts.
19 Word was brought to Saul, ‘David is in the huts at Ramah.’
20 Saul accordingly sent agents to capture David; when they saw the community of prophets prophesying, and Samuel there as their leader, the spirit of God came over Saul’s agents, and they too fell into frenzy.
21 When Saul was told of this, he sent other agents, and they too fell into frenzy; Saul then sent a third group of agents, and they fell into frenzy too.
22 He then went to Ramah himself and, arriving at the large storage-well at Seku, asked, ‘Where are Samuel and David?’ And someone said, ‘Why, they are in the huts at Ramah!’
23 Making his way from there to the huts at Ramah, the spirit of God came over him too, and he went along in a frenzy until he arrived at the huts at Ramah.
24 He too stripped off his clothes and he too fell into a frenzy in Samuel’s presence, then collapsed naked on the ground for the rest of that day and all night. Hence the saying: Is Saul one of the prophets too?
1 Fleeing from the huts at Ramah, David went and confronted Jonathan, ‘What have I done, what is my guilt, how have I wronged your father, for him to want to take my life?’
2 He replied, ‘You must not think that! You are not going to die. My father, you see, does nothing, important or unimportant, without confiding in me, so why should my father hide this from me? It is not true.’
3 In reply, David swore, ‘Your father knows very well that I enjoy your favour, and thinks, “Jonathan must not know about this or he will be upset.” But, as Yahweh lives and as you yourself live, there is only a step between me and death.’
4 At which, Jonathan said to David, ‘Whatever you think best, I will certainly do for you.’
5 David replied, ‘Look, tomorrow is New Moon and I ought to sit at table with the king, but you must let me go and hide in the countryside until the evening.
6 If your father notices my absence, you must say, “David insistently asked me for permission to hurry over to Bethlehem, his home town, because they are holding the annual sacrifice there for the whole clan.”
7 If he says, “Very well,” your servant is safe, but if he flies into a rage, you may be sure that he has some evil plan.
8 Show your servant faithful love, since you have bound your servant to you by a pact in Yahweh’s name. But if I am guilty, then kill me yourself — why take me to your father?’
9 Jonathan replied, ‘Perish the thought! If I knew for sure that my father was determined to do you a mischief, would I not have told you?’
10 David then said to Jonathan, ‘Who will let me know if your father gives you a harsh answer?’
11 Jonathan then said to David, ‘Come on, let us go out into the country,’ and the pair of them went out into the country.
12 Jonathan then said to David, ‘By Yahweh, God of Israel! I shall sound my father this time tomorrow; if all is well for David and I do not then send and inform you,
13 may Yahweh bring unnameable ills to Jonathan and worse ones too! If my father intends to do you a mischief, I shall tell you so and let you get away, so that you can be safe. And may Yahweh be with you as he used to be with my father!
14 If I am still alive, show your servant faithful love; if I die,
15 never withdraw your faithful love from my family. When Yahweh has exterminated every enemy of David’s from the face of the earth,
16 do not let Jonathan’s name be exterminated with Saul’s family, or may Yahweh call David to account!’
17 Jonathan then renewed his oath to David, since he loved him like his very soul.
18 Jonathan then said to David, ‘Tomorrow is New Moon; your absence will be noticed, since your place will be empty.
19 The day after tomorrow your absence will be very marked, and you must go to the place where you hid on the day of the deed, and stay beside that mound.
20 For my part, the day after tomorrow I shall shoot three arrows in that direction, as though at a target.
21 I shall then send a servant to go and find the arrows. If I say to him, “The arrows are this side of you, get them,” come out, since all will be well for you and nothing the matter, as sure as Yahweh lives.
22 But if I say to him, “The arrows are ahead of you,” then be off, for Yahweh himself will be sending you away.
23 And as regards the agreement we made, you and I, why, Yahweh is witness between us for ever.’
24 So David hid in the country; New Moon came and the king sat down to his meal.
25 He sat in his usual place with his back to the wall, Jonathan sat facing him and Abner sat next to Saul; but David’s place was empty.
26 Saul said nothing that day, thinking, ‘It is sheer chance; he is unclean.’
27 On the day after New Moon, the second day, David’s place was still empty.
28 Saul said to his son Jonathan, ‘Why did not the son of Jesse come to the meal either yesterday or today?’
29 Jonathan answered Saul, ‘David insistently asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem. “Please let me go,” he said, “for we are holding the clan sacrifice in the town and my brothers have ordered me to attend. So now, if I enjoy your favour, let me get away and see my brothers.” That is why he has not come to the king’s table.’
30 Saul flew into a rage with Jonathan and said, ‘Son of a rebellious slut! Don’t I know that you side with the son of Jesse to your own shame and your mother’s dishonour?
31 As long as the son of Jesse lives on earth, neither you nor your royal rights are secure. Now have him fetched and brought to me; he deserves to die.’
32 Jonathan retorted to his father Saul, ‘Why should he die? What has he done?’
33 But Saul brandished his spear at him to strike him, and Jonathan realised that his father was determined that David should die.
34 Hot with anger, Jonathan got up from the table and ate nothing on the second day of the month, being upset about David — and because his father had insulted him.
35 Next morning, Jonathan went out into the country at the time agreed with David, taking a young servant with him.
36 He said to his servant, ‘Run and find the arrows which I am going to shoot,’ and the servant ran while Jonathan shot an arrow ahead of him.
37 When the servant reached the spot to which Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan shouted after him, ‘Is not the arrow ahead of you?’
38 Again Jonathan shouted after the servant, ‘Quick! Hurry, do not stand around.’ Jonathan’s servant picked up the arrow and brought it back to his master.
39 The servant suspected nothing; only Jonathan and David knew what was meant.
40 Jonathan then gave his weapons to his servant and said, ‘Go and carry them to the town.’
41 As soon as the servant had gone, David stood up beside the mound, threw himself to the ground, prostrating himself three times. They then embraced each other, both weeping copiously.
42 Jonathan then said to David, ‘Go in peace. And as regards the oath that both of us have sworn by the name of Yahweh, may Yahweh be witness between you and me, between your descendants and mine for ever.’(New Jerusalem Bible)
Daily Office for Sunday, January 29, 2012:
Psalm 24
1 [Psalm Of David] To Yahweh belong the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live there;
2 it is he who laid its foundations on the seas, on the flowing waters fixed it firm.
3 Who shall go up to the mountain of Yahweh? Who shall take a stand in his holy place?
4 The clean of hands and pure of heart, whose heart is not set on vanities, who does not swear an oath in order to deceive.
5 Such a one will receive blessing from Yahweh, saving justice from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the people that seeks him, that seeks your presence, God of Jacob.Pause
7 Gates, lift high your heads, raise high the ancient gateways, and the king of glory shall enter!
8 Who is he, this king of glory? It is Yahweh, strong and valiant, Yahweh valiant in battle.
9 Gates, lift high your heads, raise high the ancient gateways, and the king of glory shall enter!
10 Who is he, this king of glory? Yahweh Sabaoth, he is the king of glory.Pause(New Jerusalem Bible)
Psalm 29
1 [Psalm Of David] Give Yahweh his due, sons of God, give Yahweh his due of glory and strength,
2 give Yahweh the glory due to his name, adore Yahweh in the splendour of holiness.
3 Yahweh’s voice over the waters, the God of glory thunders; Yahweh over countless waters,
4 Yahweh’s voice in power, Yahweh’s voice in splendour;
5 Yahweh’s voice shatters cedars, Yahweh shatters cedars of Lebanon,
6 he makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 Yahweh’s voice carves out lightning-shafts,
8 Yahweh’s voice convulses the desert, Yahweh convulses the desert of Kadesh,
9 Yahweh’s voice convulses terebinths, strips forests bare. In his palace all cry, ‘Glory!’
10 Yahweh was enthroned for the flood, Yahweh is enthroned as king for ever.
11 Yahweh will give strength to his people, Yahweh blesses his people with peace.(New Jerusalem Bible)
Psalm 8
1 [For the choirmaster On the . . . of Gath Psalm Of David] Yahweh our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the world! Whoever keeps singing of your majesty higher than the heavens,
2 even through the mouths of children, or of babes in arms, you make him a fortress, firm against your foes, to subdue the enemy and the rebel.
3 I look up at your heavens, shaped by your fingers, at the moon and the stars you set firm-
4 what are human beings that you spare a thought for them, or the child of Adam that you care for him?
5 Yet you have made him little less than a god, you have crowned him with glory and beauty,
6 made him lord of the works of your hands, put all things under his feet,
7 sheep and cattle, all of them, and even the wild beasts,
8 birds in the sky, fish in the sea, when he makes his way across the ocean.
9 Yahweh our Lord, how majestic your name throughout the world!(New Jerusalem Bible)
Psalm 84
1 [For the choirmaster On the . . . of Gath Of the sons of Korah Psalm] How lovely are your dwelling-places, Yahweh Sabaoth.
2 My whole being yearns and pines for Yahweh’s courts, My heart and my body cry out for joy to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, the swallow a nest to place its young: your altars, Yahweh Sabaoth, my King and my God.
4 How blessed are those who live in your house; they shall praise you continually. Pause
5 Blessed those who find their strength in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of the Balsam, they make there a water-hole, and — a further blessing — early rain fills it.
7 They make their way from height to height, God shows himself to them in Zion.
8 Yahweh, God Sabaoth, hear my prayer, listen, God of Jacob.
9 God, our shield, look, and see the face of your anointed.
10 Better one day in your courts than a thousand at my own devices, to stand on the threshold of God’s house than to live in the tents of the wicked.
11 For Yahweh God is a rampart and shield, he gives grace and glory; Yahweh refuses nothing good to those whose life is blameless.
12 Yahweh Sabaoth, blessed is he who trusts in you.(New Jerusalem Bible)
Genesis 18:16-33
16 From there the men set out and arrived within sight of Sodom, with Abraham accompanying them to speed them on their way.
17 Now Yahweh had wondered, ‘Shall I conceal from Abraham what I am going to do,
18 as Abraham will become a great and powerful nation and all nations on earth will bless themselves by him?
19 For I have singled him out to command his sons and his family after him to keep the way of Yahweh by doing what is upright and just, so that Yahweh can carry out for Abraham what he has promised him.’
20 Then Yahweh said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin is so grave,
21 that I shall go down and see whether or not their actions are at all as the outcry reaching me would suggest. Then I shall know.’
22 While the men left there and went to Sodom, Yahweh remained in Abraham’s presence.
23 Abraham stepped forward and said, ‘Will you really destroy the upright with the guilty?
24 Suppose there are fifty upright people in the city. Will you really destroy it? Will you not spare the place for the sake of the fifty upright in it?
25 Do not think of doing such a thing: to put the upright to death with the guilty, so that upright and guilty fare alike! Is the judge of the whole world not to act justly?’
26 Yahweh replied, ‘If I find fifty upright people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place because of them.’
27 Abraham spoke up and said, ‘It is presumptuous of me to speak to the Lord, I who am dust and ashes:
28 Suppose the fifty upright were five short? Would you destroy the whole city because of five?’ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘I shall not destroy it if I find forty-five there.’
29 Abraham persisted and said, ‘Suppose there are forty to be found there?’ ‘I shall not do it,’ he replied, ‘for the sake of the forty.’
30 Abraham said, ‘I hope the Lord will not be angry if I go on: Suppose there are only thirty to be found there?’ ‘I shall not do it,’ he replied, ‘if I find thirty there.’
31 He said, ‘It is presumptuous of me to speak to the Lord: Suppose there are only twenty there?’ ‘I shall not destroy it,’ he replied, ‘for the sake of the twenty.’
32 He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I shall not destroy it,’ he replied, ‘for the sake of the ten.’
33 When he had finished talking to Abraham Yahweh went away, and Abraham returned home.(New Jerusalem Bible)
Galatians 5:13-25
13 After all, brothers, you were called to be free; do not use your freedom as an opening for self-indulgence, but be servants to one another in love,
14 since the whole of the Law is summarised in the one commandment: You must love your neighbour as yourself.
15 If you go snapping at one another and tearing one another to pieces, take care: you will be eaten up by one another.
16 Instead, I tell you, be guided by the Spirit, and you will no longer yield to self-indulgence.
17 The desires of self-indulgence are always in opposition to the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are in opposition to self-indulgence: they are opposites, one against the other; that is how you are prevented from doing the things that you want to.
18 But when you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: sexual vice, impurity, and sensuality,
20 the worship of false gods and sorcery; antagonisms and rivalry, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels, disagreements,
21 factions and malice, drunkenness, orgies and all such things. And about these, I tell you now as I have told you in the past, that people who behave in these ways will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 On the other hand the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control; no law can touch such things as these.
24 All who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified self with all its passions and its desires.
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let our behaviour be guided by the Spirit(New Jerusalem Bible)
Mark 8:22-30
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought to him a blind man whom they begged him to touch.
23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Then, putting spittle on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked, ‘Can you see anything?’
24 The man, who was beginning to see, replied, ‘I can see people; they look like trees as they walk around.’
25 Then he laid his hands on the man’s eyes again and he saw clearly; he was cured, and he could see everything plainly and distinctly.
26 And Jesus sent him home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’
27 Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’
28 And they told him, ‘John the Baptist, others Elijah, others again, one of the prophets.’
29 ‘But you,’ he asked them, ‘who do you say I am?’ Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.’
30 And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.(New Jerusalem Bible)
Gary Lee Parker’s Sermon Outline with Scriptures for Sunday, January 29, 2012 and Thursday, February 2, 2012:
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
January 29, 2012
ART — PRAYER
Thematic
Perfect Light of revelation,
as you shone in the life of Jesus,
whose epiphany we celebrate,
so shine in us and through us,
that we may become beacons of truth and compassion,
enlightening all creation with deeds of justice and mercy. Amen.
OR
O God,
you spoke your word
and revealed your good news in Jesus, the Christ.
Fill all creation with that word again,
so that by proclaiming your joyful promises to all nations
and singing of your glorious hope to all peoples,
we may become one living body,
your incarnate presence on the earth. Amen.
Intercessory
To God who welcomes all in love,
let us pray for the good of the church
and the concerns of those in need.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
God of every land and nation,
you have created all people
and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
Listen to the cries of those who pray to you,
and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness of your name,
all people will know the power of love at work in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
OR
Sisters and brothers,
let us lift our hearts in faith
to the one who hears all prayers
and holds close all those in need.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
Holy God, you gather the whole universe
into your radiant presence
and continually reveal your Son as our Savior.
Bring healing to all wounds,
make whole all that is broken,
speak truth to all illusion,
and shed light in every darkness,
that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ. Amen.
Scripture
Holy and awesome God,
your Son’s authority is found in integrity and living truth,
not the assertion of power over others.
Open our imaginations to new dimensions of your love,
and heal us of all that severs us from you and one another,
that we may grow into the vision you unfold before us. Amen.
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
15 Yahweh your God will raise up a prophet like me; you will listen to him.
16 This is exactly what you asked Yahweh your God to do — at Horeb, on the day of the Assembly, when you said, “Never let me hear the voice of Yahweh my God or see this great fire again, or I shall die.”
17 Then Yahweh said to me,
18 “What they have said is well said. From their own brothers I shall raise up a prophet like yourself;
19 I shall put my words into his mouth and he will tell them everything I command him. Anyone who refuses to listen to my words, spoken by him in my name, will have to render an account to me.
20 But the prophet who presumes to say something in my name which I have not commanded him to say, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die.”(New Jerusalem Bible)
Psalm 111
1 Alleluia! I give thanks to Yahweh with all my heart, in the meeting-place of honest people, in the assembly.
2 Great are the deeds of Yahweh, to be pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendour and majesty his work, his saving justice stands firm for ever.
4 He gives us a memorial of his great deeds; Yahweh is mercy and tenderness.
5 He gives food to those who fear him, he keeps his covenant ever in mind.
6 His works show his people his power in giving them the birthright of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are fidelity and justice, all his precepts are trustworthy,
8 established for ever and ever, accomplished in fidelity and honesty.
9 Deliverance he sends to his people, his covenant he imposes for ever; holy and awesome his name.
10 The root of wisdom is fear of Yahweh; those who attain it are wise. His praise will continue for ever.(New Jerusalem Bible)
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
1 Now about food which has been dedicated to false gods. We are well aware that all of us have knowledge; but while knowledge puffs up, love is what builds up.
2 Someone may think that he has full knowledge of something and yet not know it as well as he should;
3 but someone who loves God is known by God.
4 On the subject of eating foods dedicated to false gods, we are well aware that none of the false gods exists in reality and that there is no God other than the One.
5 Though there are so-called gods, in the heavens or on earth — and there are plenty of gods and plenty of lords-
6 yet for us there is only one God, the Father from whom all things come and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come and through whom we exist.
7 However, not everybody has this knowledge. There are some in whose consciences false gods still play such a part that they take the food as though it had been dedicated to a god; then their conscience, being vulnerable, is defiled,
8 But of course food cannot make us acceptable to God; we lose nothing by not eating it, we gain nothing by eating it.
9 Only be careful that this freedom of yours does not in any way turn into an obstacle to trip those who are vulnerable.
10 Suppose someone sees you, who have the knowledge, sitting eating in the temple of some false god, do you not think that his conscience, vulnerable as it is, may be encouraged to eat foods dedicated to false gods?
11 And then it would be through your knowledge that this brother for whom Christ died, vulnerable as he is, has been lost.
12 So, sinning against your brothers and wounding their vulnerable consciences, you would be sinning against Christ.
13 That is why, if food can be the cause of a brother’s downfall, I will never eat meat any more, rather than cause my brother’s downfall.(New Jerusalem Bible)
Mark 1:21-28
21 They went as far as Capernaum, and at once on the Sabbath he went into the synagogue and began to teach.
22 And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.
23 And at once in their synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit, and he shouted,
24 ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’
25 But Jesus rebuked it saying, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’
26 And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him.
27 The people were so astonished that they started asking one another what it all meant, saying, ‘Here is a teaching that is new, and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’
28 And his reputation at once spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.(New Jerusalem Bible)
TITLE: Holy Authority
SCRIPTURES: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, & Mark 1:21-28
THEME: When things seem disconnected, they are more connected then we realize.
INTRODUCTION: How do we connect God’s dots between these Scripture passage given to us for today? We look at the Deuteronomy’s passage where Moses is prophesying that a prophet will arise greater than he is. He shares that the prophets with God’s authority will point to God alone, not to false gods. Then we look at the letter to the church at Corinth by the Apostle Paul and we see that the freedom that God gives comes with responsibility to other people. Lastly, we come to the passage where Jesus teaches in the synagogue while healing a person from demon possession and the people say that Jesus speaks as one with authority not as the Scribes and Pharisees. How do you see the connection? Just maybe the connection is the Holy Authority that comes from God alone. How do you understand this?
I. Moses as a Prophet.
A. Moses says that there will be one coming among them who has more authority than he does.
B. Moses also warns about false prophets who point the people to worship false gods.
C. How have you understood this passage in Deuteronomy?
II. Freedom comes with Responsibilities.
A. Paul speaks about the freedom our faith has to eat anything wherever it comes from.
B. Paul warns that a vulnerable or weak Christian may lose their faith because what they see us eat.
C. How do you live your freedom with responsibilities to other Christians and other people?
III. Jesus teaches with great Holy Authority.
A. Jesus heals a demon possessed person.
B. The people in the synagogue are in awe of Jesus’ words and authority.
C. How do you understand God’s Holy and true Authority?
CONCLUSION: We come to realize are lack of responsibilities to other people. Where we have sinned, we come and repent of our sins to receive God’s forgiveness and grace.
INVITATION: We come now to receive God’s grace as we take and eat Jesus’ body and drink His Blood through the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. As we come, we sing from the hymn “God of Our Fathers” by Daniel C. Roberts:
1. God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
2.Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast,
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.
3. From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
4. Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.
BENEDICTION: Let us leave this place with not only God’s freedom in our lives, but live with His responsibilities towards other people.
Presentation of the Lord
February 2, 2012
ART — PRAYER
Thematic
God of steadfast love,
you sent your Son to be the light of the world,
saving people everywhere from sin and death.
As Anna gave thanks for the freedom he would bring,
and Simeon saw in him the dawn of redemption,
complete your purpose once made known in him.
Make us the vessels of his light,
that all the world may glory in the splendor of your peace. Amen.
Intercessory
God of love,
you refine silver and shelter the sparrow’s nest.
Accept the prayers we bring this day,
for you know all that tests and troubles us.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
Embrace our needs in your blessing,
so that we may be sustained,
even in times of trial. Amen.
Scripture
Strong and mighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus,
the presentation of your Son in the temple
was his first entrance into the place of sacrifice.
Grant that, trusting in his offering upon the cross
to forgive our sins and uphold us in the time of trial,
we may sing your praises
and live in the light of your salvation, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Malachi 3:1-4
1 ‘Look, I shall send my messenger to clear a way before me. And suddenly the Lord whom you seek will come to his Temple; yes, the angel of the covenant, for whom you long, is on his way, says Yahweh Sabaoth.
2 Who will be able to resist the day of his coming? Who will remain standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like fullers’ alkali.
3 He will take his seat as refiner and purifier; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they can make the offering to Yahweh with uprightness.
4 The offering of Judah and Jerusalem will then be acceptable to Yahweh as in former days, as in the years of old.(New Jerusalem Bible)
Psalm 84
1 [For the choirmaster On the . . . of Gath Of the sons of Korah Psalm] How lovely are your dwelling-places, Yahweh Sabaoth.
2 My whole being yearns and pines for Yahweh’s courts, My heart and my body cry out for joy to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, the swallow a nest to place its young: your altars, Yahweh Sabaoth, my King and my God.
4 How blessed are those who live in your house; they shall praise you continually. Pause
5 Blessed those who find their strength in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of the Balsam, they make there a water-hole, and — a further blessing — early rain fills it.
7 They make their way from height to height, God shows himself to them in Zion.
8 Yahweh, God Sabaoth, hear my prayer, listen, God of Jacob.
9 God, our shield, look, and see the face of your anointed.
10 Better one day in your courts than a thousand at my own devices, to stand on the threshold of God’s house than to live in the tents of the wicked.
11 For Yahweh God is a rampart and shield, he gives grace and glory; Yahweh refuses nothing good to those whose life is blameless.
12 Yahweh Sabaoth, blessed is he who trusts in you.(New Jerusalem Bible)
or
Psalm 24:7-10
7 Gates, lift high your heads, raise high the ancient gateways, and the king of glory shall enter!
8 Who is he, this king of glory? It is Yahweh, strong and valiant, Yahweh valiant in battle.
9 Gates, lift high your heads, raise high the ancient gateways, and the king of glory shall enter!
10 Who is he, this king of glory? Yahweh Sabaoth, he is the king of glory.Pause(New Jerusalem Bible)
Hebrews 2:14-18
14 Since all the children share the same human nature, he too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could set aside him who held the power of death, namely the devil,
15 and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.
16 For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself the line of Abraham.
17 It was essential that he should in this way be made completely like his brothers so that he could become a compassionate and trustworthy high priest for their relationship to God, able to expiate the sins of the people.
18 For the suffering he himself passed through while being put to the test enables him to help others when they are being put to the test.(New Jerusalem Bible)
Luke 2:22-40
22 And when the day came for them to be purified in keeping with the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord-
23 observing what is written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord-
24 and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is prescribed in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
25 Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to the restoration of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord.
27 Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required,
28 he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:
29 Now, Master, you are letting your servant go in peace as you promised;
30 for my eyes have seen the salvation
31 which you have made ready in the sight of the nations;
32 a light of revelation for the gentiles and glory for your people Israel.
33 As the child’s father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him,
34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Look, he is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed-
35 and a sword will pierce your soul too — so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
36 There was a prophetess, too, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years
37 before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer.
38 She came up just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.
39 When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
40 And as the child grew to maturity, he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.(New Jerusalem Bible)
TITLE: Giving to God
SCRIPTURE: Malachi 3:1-4, Hebrews 2:14-18, & Luke 2:22-40
THEME: When God gives, we give back to God in full to do as He desires.
INTRODUCTION: Today, we are reminded that even Jesus was given back to God as the Law has required. First, we heart that Malachi prophesies that a person will come before the Messiah to prepare His way. Second, we hear from the writer of the Book of Hebrews that Jesus is the greater High Priest because He did not have to sacrifice for His own sins because He was and is sinless. Lastly, we see when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple to fulfill the requirement of the Law to consecrate the first born male back to God. They had two witnesses, a man and woman, shared about their promise from God that they were see The Messiah before they died. How do you understand these promises and the promises God may have given you for your life?
I. God promises through Malachi.
A. God’s chosen forerunner to come and prepare the way for The Messiah.
B. The Messiah will come to deliver Israel.
C. How would you and how do you see this promise fulfilled?
II. The teaching about Jesus.
A. Jesus is greater High Priest than the High Priest through Aaron.
B. Jesus took on our suffering in Himself.
C. How do you understand who Jesus is?
III. The fulfilling the Law.
A. Joseph and Mary takes Jesus to consecrate Him as the Law requires.
B. Two seniors witness to whom Jesus is as promised by God.
C. How would you have or do understand the witness of Simeon and Anna?
CONCLUSION: We come to realize that God’s promises are always fulfilled while His Law continues. Where we attempt to separate grace from law, we repent of our sins.
INVITATION: We come to receive from God what He has for us as we eat the Body of Jesus and drink His Blood through the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. As we come, we sing from the hymn “Let There Be Peace on Earth” by Jill Jackson and Mark Miller:
1. Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
2. Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step i take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let ther be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.
3, (child)
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With god as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
4. Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
BENEDICTION: May each of us go from this place with renewed grace and peace to live out God’s promises in our lives.
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saint(s) of the day:St. Gildas the Wise, Abbot (6th century)
Psalm 95
1 Come, let us cry out with joy to Yahweh, acclaim the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, acclaim him with music.
3 For Yahweh is a great God, a king greater than all the gods.
4 In his power are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are his;
5 the sea belongs to him, for he made it, and the dry land, moulded by his hands.
6 Come, let us bow low and do reverence; kneel before Yahweh who made us!
7 For he is our God, and we the people of his sheepfold, the flock of his hand. If only you would listen to him today!
8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as at the time of Massah in the desert,
9 when your ancestors challenged me, put me to the test, and saw what I could do!
10 For forty years that generation sickened me, and I said, ‘Always fickle hearts; they cannot grasp my ways.’
11 Then in my anger I swore they would never enter my place of rest.(New Jerusalem Bible)
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
32 I should like you to have your minds free from all worry. The unmarried man gives his mind to the Lord’s affairs and to how he can please the Lord;
33 but the man who is married gives his mind to the affairs of this world and to how he can please his wife, and he is divided in mind.
34 So, too, the unmarried woman, and the virgin, gives her mind to the Lord’s affairs and to being holy in body and spirit; but the married woman gives her mind to the affairs of this world and to how she can please her husband.
35 I am saying this only to help you, not to put a bridle on you, but so that everything is as it should be, and you are able to give your undivided attention to the Lord.(New Jerusalem Bible)
Commentary of the day:
Saint Jerome (347-420), priest, translator of the Bible, Doctor of the Church
Commentary on Saint Mark’s Gospel, 2; PLS 2,125f.
“What is this? A new teaching”
«The unclean spirit convulsed him with a loud cry.» This was his way of expressing his distress: by convulsing him. Since he could not ruin the man’s soul, the devil wrought his anger on his body. Besides, these physical manifestations were the only means he had to show that he was coming out. When the spirit of purity makes his presence known, the spirit of impurity beats a retreat…
«All were amazed and asked one another: «What is this?» Let us look at the Acts of the Apostles and the signs given by the first prophets. What did Pharaoh’s magicians say when confronted by Moses’ marvellous deeds? «This is the finger of God» (Ex 8,15). It was Moses who carried them out but it was the power of another they recognised. Later on the apostles performed further marvels: «In the name of Jesus Christ, rise and walk!» (Acts 3,6); «Paul… said to the spirit: ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of this woman’» (Acts 16,18). Jesus’ name is always used. Here, however, what does he himself say? «Come out of this man» without any further precision. It is in his own name that he orders the spirit to come out. «All were amazed and asked one another: ‘What is this? A new teaching.’» Now, in itself, the expulsion of the demon had nothing new about it: Hebrew exorcists were doing the same thing at that time. But what does Jesus say? What is this new teaching? And where is the novelty? It is that he gives the command to the unclean spirits by his own authority, referring to no one else. He himself gives the order; he does not speak in another’s name but by his own authority.
1st Thought for Today:
My Utmost for His Highest
Reading for Sunday 29th January 2012
BUT IT IS HARDLY CREDIBLE THAT ONE COULD BE SO POSITIVELY IGNORANT! by Oswald Chambers
Who art Thou, Lord?(Acts 26:15)
“The Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand.” There is no escape when Our Lord speaks, He always comes with an arrestment of the understanding. Has the voice of God come to you directly? If it has, you cannot mistake the intimate insistence with which it has spoken to you in the language you know best, not through your ears, but through your circumstances.
God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. “I know this is what I should do” – and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance. We have shown our ignorance of Him in the very way we determined to serve Him. We serve Jesus in a spirit that is not His, we hurt Him by our advocacy for Him, we push His claims in the spirit of the devil. Our words sound all right, but our spirit is that of an enemy. “He rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” The spirit of our Lord in an advocate of His is described in 1 Corinthians 13.
Have I been persecuting Jesus by a zealous determination to serve Him in my own way? If I feel I have done my duty and yet have hurt Him in doing it, I may be sure it was not my duty, because it has not fostered the meek and quiet spirit, but the spirit of self-satisfaction. We imagine that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord – “I delight to do Thy will, O My God.”
Reflecting God-No One More Busy
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Scripture-Psalm 72:8-20
8 His empire shall stretch from sea to sea, from the river to the limits of the earth.
9 The Beast will cower before him, his enemies lick the dust;
10 the kings of Tarshish and the islands will pay him tribute. The kings of Sheba and Saba will offer gifts;
11 all kings will do him homage, all nations become his servants.
12 For he rescues the needy who calls to him, and the poor who has no one to help.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the needy from death.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their lives, their blood is precious in his sight.
15 (Long may he live; may the gold of Sheba be given him!) Prayer will be offered for him constantly, and blessings invoked on him all day.
16 May wheat abound in the land, waving on the heights of the hills, like Lebanon with its fruits and flowers at their best, like the grasses of the earth.
17 May his name be blessed for ever, and endure in the sight of the sun. In him shall be blessed every race in the world, and all nations call him blessed.
18 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders;
19 blessed for ever his glorious name. May the whole world be filled with his glory! Amen! Amen!
20 End of the prayers of David, son of Jesse.(New Jerusalem Bible)
No One More Busy by Gerald Crispin
“Are you busy?” That is a question we are often asked. No matter how busy we may be, no human, as far as I know, was busier than the king written about in Psalm 72. The words “he will” are found together eight times in the psalm. Among those “he will” statements are some big things!
The first thing the king will do is “judge” his people (verse 2). The next seven things include “defend,” “endure,” “be like rain,” “rule,” “deliver,” “take pity,” and finally “rescue” (verses 4-14). What a job description! I get tired just thinking about it. No one was busier than this king, and no one was more worthy of honor ( verses 9-11). In the human arena abundance and enduring fame often comes to the hard working and righteous leader.
God has no need to acquire wealth or make a name. the Lord’s marvelous deeds call for our eternal praise. In all my doing I need to remember to praise and honor God’s glorious name forever. Not only for what he has done, and for what he is going to do, but for who he is. Even a busy king found time to remember that.
Hymn for Today:
“O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” by Charles Wesley
1. O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
2. My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.
3. Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’tis life, and health, and peace.
4. He breaks the power of canceled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.
5. He speaks, and listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.
6. Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your savior come,
and leap, ye lame, for joy.
7. In Christ, your head, you then shall know,
shall feel your sins forgiven;
anticipate your heaven below,
and own that love is heaven.
2nd Thought for Today:
“Our primary concern as Christians should be the worship of God. Take care of that, and the other priorities will become even more urgent as well as more authentic”(Rob L. Staples).
Prayer Needs:
Many people in Iraq will come to know Christ and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
3rd Thought for Today:
Sunday 29 January 2012
A New Vision
Let’s rethink a new vision for our world, based on every human person as important. And that means we will have to change. We move from a world of competition where I have to appear the powerful one, which means crushing others, to becoming the cooperative one, the understanding one, the listening one, so that we can build something together. by Jean Vanier
Belonging: The Search for Acceptance
Windborne Production Video
1.29.12 – What Destroys/Heals Relationships from The Church of the Resurrection-United Methodist in Leawood, Kansas, United States
Weekly Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when you were on earth, you were a real human being, not a sort of plastic figurine who never got angry, tired, frustrated or disappointed. You showed us how to live a truly human life of honesty with yourself and with others. Without hiding or repressing, you always sought to build relationships that were ultimately redemptive. Strengthen and guide me to be more and more like you in my most important relationships. Amen.
Prayer Tip:
Praying Scripture
We can turn many passages in Scripture into prayers. I find it a neat thing to pray the Bible’s words back to God. If we struggle to come up with our own words, we can use the vocabulary of the Scriptures as the basis of our prayers. All it takes is to change some of the pronouns, and put an opening and closing on the prayer.
For example, John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
Now let’s make it into a personal prayer: “Holy and Loving God, for You so loved me that You gave Your only son, so that I who believe in him may not perish but have eternal life. This I pray in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen.”
With so many of the passages of Scripture you may read in Bible study, this is a perfect way to make the words your own.
Here are some other examples of Scriptures you might try praying:
Psalm 18: 1-3 1I love you, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so I shall be saved from my enemies.
Philippians 4:4-6 4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Matthew 11: 28-30 28 Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I hope this is a meaningful and enriching practice for you this week. by Pastor Nancy Pauls, Resurrection Prayer Ministry
The Upper Room Daily Devotional
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Gracious Words
Suggested Bible Reading:
Read Ephesians 4:25-32
25 So from now on, there must be no more lies. Speak the truth to one another, since we are all parts of one another.
26 Even if you are angry, do not sin: never let the sun set on your anger
27 or else you will give the devil a foothold.
28 Anyone who was a thief must stop stealing; instead he should exert himself at some honest job with his own hands so that he may have something to share with those in need.
29 No foul word should ever cross your lips; let your words be for the improvement of others, as occasion offers, and do good to your listeners;
30 do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with his seal, ready for the day when we shall be set free.
31 Any bitterness or bad temper or anger or shouting or abuse must be far removed from you — as must every kind of malice.
32 Be generous to one another, sympathetic, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ.(New Jerusalem Bible)
Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to all who hear.(Ephesians 4:29 (NRSV))
Today’s Devotional
Bob, my step-grandfather for 38 years, never hesitated to express an opinion. If he felt something needed saying, he said it. He told me who deserved our vote, who was going to win the game, and what I needed to do with my life. Sometimes I wished that God would gently take away Bob’s gift of speech for a day or two. But just when I would think I’d had enough of Bob, he would give me a hug and remind me that I was loved. During a rough passage in my life, Bob said, “God is going to take care of you.” No one had said anything like that to me before, but outspoken Bob did.
Ephesians tells us to keep unwholesome talk to ourselves and to speak words that give grace to those who hear them. In his outspoken way, Bob did just that. Mixed with his unfiltered opinions were the words he wanted me to hear above all others: that I was loved and valued by God and by him. In the end, the words of love were the ones I heard. I hope that I, like Bob, will not be shy about speaking words of grace. by Jason Jones (Indiana, USA)
4th Thought for the Day: Everyone needs to be reminded that they are loved by God.
Prayer: Dear God, may our words reflect your grace today. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Those who need to know God’s love today
The scripture quotation, unless otherwise indicated, is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2012 by The Upper Room, a ministry of GBOD. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or redistribute without written permission from the publisher.
Daily Meditation: Living a Whole Life — January 29, 2012
Center for Action and Contemplation
LIVING A WHOLE LIFE
The first half of life is invariably about creating identity, finding some boundary markers (traditions, trustworthy authorities and structures), making some money, getting an education, marrying, and raising children—which we then must defend for the rest of our lives. Most of us are so invested in these first answers by the age of 40, that we can’t imagine anything more—not realizing that “It’s still all about me!”
Christians in the first half of life became obsessed with dying a happy death and going to heaven. Even religion became a rather privatized evacuation plan for the next world, and the clergy seldom recognized that much of religion was trapped at the individualistic and egocentric level. No actual love of neighbor, outsider, the poor, or even God was really necessary. This is “garden variety” first half of life religion, and it has passed for the real thing for much of the Christian era. Adapted from Loving the Two Halves of Life: The Further Journey
(CD/DVD/MP3). See also Fr. Richard’s latest book,
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life
Starter Prayer:
Help me grow up by going down. by Father Richard Rohr
