Creating, collecting, and sharing thoughts and ideas. And learning along the way.
The Cadillac Room: A Great Venue in REO Town
1 SAMUEL 10:1-11:15 | JOHN 6:43-71 | PSALM 107:1-43 | PROVERBS 15:1-3
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“This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ 19 But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”
These are Samuel’s words to the people just before he prepares to formally anoint Saul as king. The very first king of Israel, Saul is a young man from the tribe of Benjamin who to begin with is a good young man heeding the advice of his elders—first his fathers, then Samuel’s. But not everyone is happy for there were some naysayers as well.
Saul, however, proves himself as a worthy king when he commands a large army of people, and goes out to battle with the Ammonites, and emerges a victor. This seals the deal, and following this victory, Saul’s kingship is confirmed by the people.
Turning now to our reading in the gospel of John, we find Jesus speaking to the people. He says, 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
These appear to be strange and tough words to swallow, incomprehensible at best, and so many of the faithful begin to desert Jesus. Jesus asks his inner core of twelve disciples—the twelve—if they also wish to leave him. And Peter answers with these famous words “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Turning our attention now to the book of psalms, we find in our psalm for the day a very detailed reckoning of the great history of the children of Israel, and throughout this lengthy telling, David interjects the exhortation to give praise to the Lord for his “unfailing love” and“loving deeds of the Lord.”
Some of the verses from the psalm, I wish to reproduce here for our benefit:
8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
43 Let the one who is wise heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD.
Finally, a few verses from the book of Proverbs. Verses that we would serve us well to recount everyday of our lives:
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.
Mediterranean Mint Gelato with Berries and a Pizelle: Almost Too Pretty to Eat
Seared Swordfish: Almost Stealing the Spotlight Next to the Great Northern Beans and Paratha
“Daddy, I miss my Mommy!”
How to Make a Snack of Substance
Lunch in a Flash
1 SAMUEL 8:1-9:27 | JOHN 6:22-42 | PSALM 106:32-48 | PROVERBS 14:34-35
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There now appears to be some stability in the affairs of the people of Israel, and Samuel continues to lead them even as he is fast becoming old. Samuel does have two sons, but they are not worthy of inheriting their father’s mantle, and the people also seem to know this.
And so, the people clamor for a king. They pray for one. They tell Samuel they want one. And they will not be satisfied without one.
The Lord accedes to this request, and things begin to roll into motion. Out of the tribe of Benjamin—the smallest tribe, and the one that was recently chastised for their disobedience—comes a young man by the name of Saul. Saul is a strapping young man, and while he is doing his father’s bidding, he comes with his servant to the town that Samuel resides in. Saul believes he is approaching Samuel in order to gain guidance on his efforts at finding his father’s missing donkeys. Little does he know that before he leaves he will be anointed king of Israel!
Isn’t that just like the mysterious ways of God? He selects the least among us and exalts us. Even before we ask, we receive. And he has a plan when we might not. Ponder now these words of Jesus:
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
Jesus is revealing a great truth to the people, and while many do believe, there are still others who don’t. Instead, they snicker and say, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
Woe is unto them because they will know soon enough who this Jesus really is. Not only did he come down from heaven, he will defy death by rising up from the grave, and then physically rise up into the heavens.
Our psalm for the day is one in which David continues to recount the great exodus of his ancestors from Egypt, and the long history of his people in turning away from their God. David says this:
43 Many times he delivered them,
but they were bent on rebellion
and they wasted away in their sin.
44 Yet he took note of their distress
when he heard their cry;
45 for their sake he remembered his covenant
and out of his great love he relented.
46 He caused all who held them captive
to show them mercy.
Finally, a couple of verses from the book of Proverbs worthy of our consideration:
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin condemns any people.
35 A king delights in a wise servant,
but a shameful servant arouses his fury.
May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word. Amen.
