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Lectionary Notes - Sixth Sunday after
Pentecost
(view sermon
or sermon
for this text)
Readings for
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost, 7/16/06:
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19, Psalm 24, Ephesians 1:3-14,
Mark 6:14-29
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19:
- This is a strange passage, and in it, Michal, one of David's wives, and
daughter of deceased King Saul, comes out looking whiny and moody. But make
sure you know her whole story. She was in love with David, and he married her,
but eventually when he and Saul came into conflict, Saul gave Michael to
another man to be married. When David wanted Michal back, he had to tear her
away from her new husband, who followed after them crying. It is not
surprising that she isn't thrilled to see David prancing around in his ephod
(decorative ritual underwear!) Chapter six unfortunately ends with noting that
Michal remains barren, not able to continue her family bloodline. I think she
gets a bad deal.
- That aside, the heart of the text today is in David's full body, soul, and
heart dance before the Lord. He literally puts his whole self into giving
thanks to God, dancing "with all his might." We are rarely so free and
uninhibited when it comes to putting ourselves before God. What's holding you
back?
Psalm 24:
- What belongs to God in this psalm isn't limited to humankind - we too
often act like that's all that's meant by God's creation!
- Check out
Chris
Haslam's notes for background on this psalm.
- "clean hands and pure hearts" - A mix of motherly and godly advice?
- This psalm ties directly to the Advent hymn, "Lift Up Your Heads, Ye
Mighty Gates." The psalmist prepares for a triumphant arrival of the deity.
Ephesians 1:3-14:
- "adoption as his children through Jesus Christ" - The
language of adoption in terms of our relationship to God stirs mixed emotions
for me. On the one hand, it is such a loving image of God choosing to make us
part of God's family - going out of the way to make us children of God's own.
On the other hand, I hear a lot of the biblical witness saying that as
creatures of God, created by God's hand, that fact alone makes us God's
children. Are we or aren't we all God's children? I think we are…
- "The Beloved" from the Greek agapema, meaning,
an object of love. Here Christ is called the beloved, the same word God speaks
to Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan. Elsewhere in the scriptures, we are
called beloved. My bishop, Bishop Violet Fisher, always opens her letters by
addressing as The Beloved. Amazing comfort in little words.
- "having been destined according to the purpose of him
who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will" - predestined,
from the Greek prooristhentes, meaning "to determine beforehand". Are
we predestined to be adopted or not adopted by God? To heaven or hell? If we
believe that God has plans for our lives, which I do, how is that different
than believing that God has determined already our final
salvation/non-salvation, which I don't believe?
Mark 6:14-29:
- This text is another one that has dancing in it - a strange connection for
texts.
- Foolishness - King Herod, walking the line with a chance of making a right
or at least better decision, perhaps even somewhat intrigued by John, winds
up, as the result of a drunken promise, beheading him. What is the most
foolish thing you've ever done? How might things have been different in the
long run if Herod had not been so foolish?
- How do you think John's disciples felt? The gospels tell us that they
interacted, of course, with Jesus' disciples - do you think they were
disillusioned? Went to follow Jesus? What do you think they did?
- Following news of these events, Jesus tries to withdraw from the crowds,
but that's the text for another Sunday...
Pastor’s Note: (I use the Greek-English
Lexicon from Liddell and Scott, the “little Liddell”
and the Metzger et. al Greek New Testament in my translation work.)
Lectionary
Notes are from Rev. Beth Quick.
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