Sunday, July 31, 2016: “Today’s Scripture Readings”

 

Old Testament: Hosea (11:1-11)

 

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols.  Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.  They shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. The sword rages in their cities, it consumes their oracle-priests, and devours because of their schemes. My people are bent on turning away from me. To the Most High they call, but he does not raise them up at all.  How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim?  My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.  They shall go after the Lord, who roars like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west. They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will return them to their homes, says the Lord.

 

  • Takes place in Israel’s late history of the northern kingdom.
  • But, before the fall of Samaria (733-721 BCE)
  • Israel is seen as God’s child (God is the mother or father)
  • God speaks directly in these verses (“I”)
  • God is angry with them but still loves them and ends with a message of promise.

 

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The Response:  Psalm (107:1-9, 43)

 

1   Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, *

     and his mercy endures for ever.

2   Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim *

     that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.

3   He gathered them out of the lands; *

     from the east and from the west,

    from the north and from the south.

4   Some wandered in desert wastes; *

     they found no way to a city where they might dwell.

5   They were hungry and thirsty; *

     their spirits languished within them.

6   Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *

     and he delivered them from their distress.

7   He put their feet on a straight path *

     to go to a city where they might dwell.

8   Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy *

     and the wonders he does for his children.

9   For he satisfies the thirsty *

     and fills the hungry with good things.

43  Whoever is wise will ponder these things, *

     and consider well the mercies of the Lord

 

  • These verses are a call to praise for the God who has delivered them in past history.
  • The situations tend to repeat:  God delivers;  the congregation gives thanks.
  • This pattern actually repeats throughout all of Psalm 107.
  • It is also known as a liturgical Psalm.

 

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The Epistle: Colossians (3:1-11)

 

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.  Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

 

  • The first few verses can be used on Easter morning.
  • It developed that the children of God almost became a hidden thing.
  • These verses are “Deutero-Paul” written by one of his followers.
  • The clues to this are there are general exhortations and not specific ones.
  • The verses lead into the concept of “house rules.”
  • The message is one of general moral encouragement.

 

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The Gospel: Luke (12:13-21)

 

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”  But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

 

  • This story is unique to Luke.
  • It was the tradition in the Old Testament days that the eldest son got two portions of everything.
  • At the time these verses were written, that tradition was no longer practiced
  • In some Biblical context the term “rich man” denoted one who does not care for others.
  • Of course, we do not know who “they” are!

 

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