The Bible Challenge, Day 111: 2 Samuel 7-9, Psalm 92 and Acts 7
Thank you for taking the time to look back at my reflections on the readings from Saturday. I am limping late once again, this time because of travel to a second funeral in five weeks. Easter Life has graced this fragile time for me.
In these readings I am struck by the human need to respond to the grace of God manifest in our lives. David wants to honor God by building the Lord a magnificent palace, since palaces are the proper homes for kings. God’s response is, “No, thank you.” God prefers a mobile home – a tent that can move around with the people. “I AM where I AM” [one legitimate translation of the Hebrew in Exodus 3] is even God’s identity, and we are glad indeed that God is wherever we are. However, God is flexible, and if a palace for God helps people feel close to the divine Holy One, then David’s heir can build it. God adds one more detail to the message for David: “Your dynasty will
endure forever.” Christians recognize the line of David’s kingship to last forever in Jesus. But for David the words were a precious gift, sign of God’s approval of him and love for him. David praises God for this gift and proceeds to take action in response to the grace. As leader of God’s people, David expands Israel’s homeland and its security. On a personal level, David extends kindness to the heir of Saul because of David’s precious friendship with Saul’s son Jonathan. David gives Saul’s property to Saul’s crippled grandson Mephibosheth and his family and welcomes Mephibosheth as a guest at his own dinner table for the rest of the younger man’s life. God’s generosity inspires David’s generosity.
Psalm 92 exudes joyful energy. The psalmist praises God with words and
music. God’s loyal love in action draws us into God’s presence, where we
are revived. God is our strength. Praise overflows from our hearts.
Stephen the Deacon shares the passion for God of his spiritual forebears
David and the author of Psalm 92. But Stephen’s passion erupts in rebuke,
as he desperately attempts to wake up his hostile audience to their many
missteps in their walk with God. Stephen recounts God’s love in action for
Abraham and his descendants to the time of Solomon. He berates the mob for
their deaf ears in response to God’s challenging messages, relayed by prophets
and the Holy Spirit. His audience, too, has a passion for God and for
God’s integrity. Stephen’s new Word from God is so non-traditional that it
sounds unfaithful. They stone Stephen in order to silence what they
believe is blasphemy. But even here we encounter a glimpse of God’s
grace. Stephen dies in the fashion of Jesus, with forgiveness on his
lips. Witnessing Stephen’s faithfulness and courage is Saul, a man whom
God is about to transform into Jesus’ preeminent missionary to the Gentiles.
How have you responded to God’s grace with action?
Dean Jennie Lou Reid
St. Faith's Episcopal Church
Cutler Bay, FL
Thank you for taking the time to look back at my reflections on the readings from Saturday. I am limping late once again, this time because of travel to a second funeral in five weeks. Easter Life has graced this fragile time for me.
In these readings I am struck by the human need to respond to the grace of God manifest in our lives. David wants to honor God by building the Lord a magnificent palace, since palaces are the proper homes for kings. God’s response is, “No, thank you.” God prefers a mobile home – a tent that can move around with the people. “I AM where I AM” [one legitimate translation of the Hebrew in Exodus 3] is even God’s identity, and we are glad indeed that God is wherever we are. However, God is flexible, and if a palace for God helps people feel close to the divine Holy One, then David’s heir can build it. God adds one more detail to the message for David: “Your dynasty will
endure forever.” Christians recognize the line of David’s kingship to last forever in Jesus. But for David the words were a precious gift, sign of God’s approval of him and love for him. David praises God for this gift and proceeds to take action in response to the grace. As leader of God’s people, David expands Israel’s homeland and its security. On a personal level, David extends kindness to the heir of Saul because of David’s precious friendship with Saul’s son Jonathan. David gives Saul’s property to Saul’s crippled grandson Mephibosheth and his family and welcomes Mephibosheth as a guest at his own dinner table for the rest of the younger man’s life. God’s generosity inspires David’s generosity.
Psalm 92 exudes joyful energy. The psalmist praises God with words and
music. God’s loyal love in action draws us into God’s presence, where we
are revived. God is our strength. Praise overflows from our hearts.
Stephen the Deacon shares the passion for God of his spiritual forebears
David and the author of Psalm 92. But Stephen’s passion erupts in rebuke,
as he desperately attempts to wake up his hostile audience to their many
missteps in their walk with God. Stephen recounts God’s love in action for
Abraham and his descendants to the time of Solomon. He berates the mob for
their deaf ears in response to God’s challenging messages, relayed by prophets
and the Holy Spirit. His audience, too, has a passion for God and for
God’s integrity. Stephen’s new Word from God is so non-traditional that it
sounds unfaithful. They stone Stephen in order to silence what they
believe is blasphemy. But even here we encounter a glimpse of God’s
grace. Stephen dies in the fashion of Jesus, with forgiveness on his
lips. Witnessing Stephen’s faithfulness and courage is Saul, a man whom
God is about to transform into Jesus’ preeminent missionary to the Gentiles.
How have you responded to God’s grace with action?
Dean Jennie Lou Reid
St. Faith's Episcopal Church
Cutler Bay, FL
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