Upper Room Daily Reflections from The Upper Room Ministries of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Voices of the Adult Child" for Sunday, 28 June 2015

Upper Room Daily Reflections from The Upper Room Ministries of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Voices of the Adult Child" for Sunday, 28 June 2015

Today's Reflection:
AFTER VISITING MY FATHER TODAY, I went to the car, lay my head on the steering wheel, and cried like a two-year-old child.
Ugly tears, a contorted face, and red nose.
O Lord, I’m burned out. Frazzled. I don’t even recognize myself anymore.
Today the stress just spilled out when my father complained that I bought him the wrong brand of paper towels.
I felt my blood pressure shoot up like a candy thermometer thrust into boiling water.
What about the times I raced him to the emergency room?
What about the doctor visits and grocery store runs?
I’ve cut hundreds of pills in half and organized them in daily containers.
I’ve cooked countless meals and put them in his freezer.
I’ve purged his belongings, packed up his life, and moved him to a senior community.
While squeezing in time to visit him, I have been squeezing out the joy in my own life.
There are days when he doesn’t seem to appreciate my efforts, Lord.
Days when my soup is too thick or the chicken too dry.
Other times, he seems so helpless and vulnerable.
I can’t help but feel compassion toward him.
O God, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.
Give me hope, Lord.[Missy Buchanan, Voices of Aging]
From page 60 of Voices of Aging: Adult Children and Aging Parents Talk with God by Missy Buchanan. Copyright © 2015 by Missy Buchanan. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Pray for those who are caring for aging parents.
Today’s Scripture:
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”[Mark 5:34, NRSV]

This Week: pray for people who live in fear of violence.
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Upper Room Daily Reflections from The Upper Room Ministries of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Serenity Prayer" for Saturday, 27 June 2015

Today's Reflection:
GOD, GRANT ME the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace,
taking, as he did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it,
trusting that he will make all things right
if I surrender to his will—
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with him forever. Amen![Trevor Hudson, The Serenity Prayer]
From pages 21-22 of The Serenity Prayer: A Simple Prayer to Enrich Your Life by Trevor Hudson. Copyright © 2012 by Trevor Hudson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Pray today’s Prayer. GOD, GRANT ME the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace,
taking, as he did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it,
trusting that he will make all things right
if I surrender to his will—
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with him forever. Amen!
Today’s Scripture:
Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”[Mark 5:30, NRSV]
This Week: pray for people who live in fear of violence.
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Upper Room Daily Reflections from The Upper Room Ministries of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "A Blessing" for Friday, 26 June 2015

Today's Reflection:
WHEN YOUR LIFE has become
most frantic,
when fear and worry
have made their home in you
and anxiety attends your days,
may there come
from somewhere
the scent
of pomegranate and cedar,
apple and myrrh,
cinnamon, frankincense, fig. Amen![Jan L. Richardson, In the Sanctuary of Women]
From page 286 of In the Sanctuary of Women: A Companion for Reflection and Prayer by Jan L. Richardson. Copyright © 2010 by Jan L. Richardson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Pray today’s blessing. WHEN YOUR LIFE has become
most frantic,
when fear and worry
have made their home in you
and anxiety attends your days,
may there come
from somewhere
the scent
of pomegranate and cedar,
apple and myrrh,
cinnamon, frankincense, fig. Amen!
Today’s Scripture:
As it is written, “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.”[2 Corinthians 8:15, NRSV]
This Week: pray for people who live in fear of violence.
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Upper Room Daily Reflections from The Upper Room Ministries of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Power Through Weakness" for Thursday, 25 June 2015

Today's Reflection:
WHEN WE READ the scriptures, we are introduced to a God of power. God’s power creates, redeems, liberates, and heals. I’m concerned, however, that we often speak about God’s power in a triumphalistic way. We say that when God’s power often come across like that, especially when people giving those testimonies look good, are well-dressed, and have better teeth than us.
But what do these grandiose testimonies mean to parents whose child has leukemia? What do these testimonies to God’s power mean to the thousands of young people in South Africa who are looking for a job? What do they mean to a mother of three, dying of breast cancer? What kind of God has been represented in these testimonies?
Although God is all powerful, that power is revealed in vulnerability, weakness, and suffering. That’s the gospel secret. The God we worship has come to us in Jesus.[Trevor Hudson & Stephen D. Bryant, The Way of Transforming Discipleship Participant’s Book]
From page 57 of The Way of Transforming Discipleship Participant’s Book, A Companions in Christ resource, by Trevor Hudson and Stephen D. Bryant. Copyright © 2005 by Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
In what ways have you seen God at work through vulnerability and weakness?
Today’s Scripture:
For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.[2 Corinthians 8:9, NRSV]
This Week: pray for people who live in fear of violence.
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Upper Room Daily Reflections from The Upper Room Ministries of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Heavenly Treasure" for Wednesday, 24 June 2015

Today's Reflection:
ONE DAY after school, I went to the train station to do my part-time job of passing out leaflets. In large, bold print the leaflets proclaimed, “HOW TO GATHER TREASURE!” The tract listed several means for people to make a fortune, such as trading real estate, investing in stocks, saving more and spending less and so forth.
The tract make me think about what people consider to be treasure. Many of us worry about our financial security. We save and invest for our retirement, and we may save for our children. Knowing from the very beginning that we cannot hold goods or wealth forever, we still collect and collect. We seem to forget that one day all things will decay.
The Bible tells us that God’s love is our ultimate treasure and security, a means of exchange. We possess real and lasting treasure if we truly trust God to care for us.
Prayer: Infinite God, help us to place our fear and anxiety in your hands and follow you. Help us realize that our real treasure lies in heaven. Amen.[Prayers for Hard Times (from Pocket Prayers series)]
From page 29 of Pocket Prayers for Hard Times: Words of Faith in a Financial Crisis. Copyright © 2008 by Upper Room Ministries. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Pray today’s prayer. Prayer: Infinite God, help us to place our fear and anxiety in your hands and follow you. Help us realize that our real treasure lies in heaven. Amen.
Today’s Scripture:
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications![Psalm 130:1-2, NRSV]
This Week: pray for people who live in fear of violence.
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Upper Room Daily Reflections from The Upper Room Ministries of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "The Drumbeat Must Continue" for Tuesday, 23 June 2015

Today's Reflection:
PICK UP your drum and beat the justice out of it.
Join the circle.
Don’t you hear it?
Where steady storied hands beat,
Beating to the rhythm of why and how long,
Knowing that what is, is not what has to be.
Beat on—don’t stop.
Pick up your drum and beat the mercy out of it.
Let the waves resound in the air,
‘Cause as long as there is a dance,
There is a need for the drum.
Beat on, friend.
Dance on, friend.
Don’t stop.
Pick up your drum and beat the love out of it.[“Alive Now”May/June 2015]
From page 31 of Alive Now, May/June 2015. Copyright © 2015 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
What images does today’s poem bring to your mind?
Today’s Scripture:
How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished![2 Samuel 1:27, NRSV]
This Week: pray for people who live in fear of violence.
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Upper Room Daily Reflections from The Upper Room Ministries of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Walking Meditation for Someone Who’s Seriously Ill" for Monday, 22 June 2015

Today's Reflection:

IF YOU ARE ABLE, try a walking meditation. Although we walk all the time, a walking meditation is different. Any location is good, even a hospital corridor, but, if possible walk in some beautiful place. The point is not to arrive at any specific destination, or is it to increase your heart rate. Just walk and enjoy each step.

Your pace is a little slower than your normal walk. Breathe deeply and coordinate your breathing with your steps. Recall a beloved hymn and let the rhythm of the hymn synchronize walking. A hymn like “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” works well, and can offer strong affirmations to cancer patients. With the rhythm of your steps you can repeat over and over “All I have needed, Thy hand has provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.” This becomes a walking prayer of praise.

Walk with gentleness. Walk with joy. Walk in the Spirit. Maybe during your walk you will see something inspiring, something surprising, refreshing your mind and body. …

Let go of fearful thoughts of the past and future. Become aware that life can only be found in the present moment.[Judy Gattis Smith, Fear Not: Learning from Your Cancer]

From pages 38-39 of Fear Not: Learning from Your Cancer by Judy Gattis Smith. Copyright © 2008 Discipleship Resources. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question:

Do you know someone who is seriously ill? If so, try the walk as described above.

Today’s Scripture:

Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen![2 Samuel 1:19, NRSV]

This Week: pray for people who live in fear of violence.

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Did You Know?

In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers, call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center web site.

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Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember: Mary of Oignies (June 23).
Mary of Oignies was born to a wealthy Belgian family in 1167. Although she wished to become a nun her parents made her marry at the age of fourteen. Her husband was impressed with her piety and honored her wish for chastity. Together, they opened their home as a hospital for lepers, nursed the sick, and gave away most of their fortune.
Mary always wore white, abstained from eating meat, and had the unusual gift of tears. If she looked at a crucifix or thought about Jesus, she was so overcome with grief at Christ's suffering, she began to sob. Communion was a mystical experience for her. She sometimes fainted, or sang in verse.
As Mary's prayer life deepened, she felt a mystical union with God. She saw visions and gave spiritual guidance to pilgrims until the constant stream of people coming to her got in the way of her own spiritual practices. She left her husband and home and joined the Augustinian Monastery of Oignes where she lived in retreat until her death in 1213.
If Mary of Oignies had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she probably would have been a Mystic. Mary of Oignies is remembered on June 23.____________________________

Lectionary Readings:

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
Psalm 130
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
Lectionary Texts:
2 Samuel 1:1 Sha’ul had died, and David had been two days in Ziklag after returning from the slaughter of the ‘Amaleki.
17 Then David pronounced this lament over Sha’ul and over Y’honatan his son, 18 in order to teach the people of Y’hudah [not to underestimate] archery (the lament has been written down in the book of Yashar):
19 “Your glory, Isra’el, lies dead on your high places!
How the heroes have fallen!
20 Don’t speak of it in Gat;
don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon;
then the daughters of the P’lishtim won’t rejoice,
the daughters of the uncircumcised won’t gloat.
21 “Mountains of Gilboa — may there be on you
no dew, no rain, no fields with good crops;
because there the shields of the heroes were dishonored,
the shield of Sha’ul was no longer rubbed with oil.
22 “From the blood of the dead, from the flesh of heroes,
the bow of Y’honatan did not retreat
or the sword of Sha’ul return unsatisfied.
23 Sha’ul and Y’honatan, loved and gracious while alive,
were not separated even in death;
they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 “Daughters of Isra’el, weep over Sha’ul!
He clothed you luxuriously in scarlet
and put gold jewelry on your clothing.
25 “How the heroes have fallen in the heat of battle,
Y’honatan killed on your high places!
26 I grieve for you, my brother Y’honatan,
you meant so much to me!
Your love for me was deeper
than the love of women.
27 How the heroes have fallen
and the weapons of war perished”
Psalm 130:(0) A song of ascents. By David:
(1) Adonai, I call to you from the depths;
2 hear my cry, Adonai!
Let your ears pay attention
to the sound of my pleading.
3 Yah, if you kept a record of sins,
who, Adonai, could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that you will be feared.
5 I wait longingly for Adonai;
I put my hope in his word.
6 Everything in me waits for Adonai
more than guards on watch wait for morning,
more than guards on watch wait for morning.
7 Isra’el, put your hope in Adonai!
For grace is found with Adonai,
and with him is unlimited redemption.
8 He will redeem Isra’el
from all their wrongdoings.
2 Corinthians 8:7 Just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in diligence of every kind, and in your love for us — see that you excel in this gift too. 8 I am not issuing an order; rather, I am testing the genuineness of your love against the diligence of others. 9 For you know how generous our Lord Yeshua the Messiah was — for your sakes he impoverished himself, even though he was rich, so that he might make you rich by means of his poverty. 10 As I say, in regard to this matter I am only giving an opinion. A year ago you were not only the first to take action but the first to want to do so. Now it would be to your advantage 11 to finish what you started, so that your eagerness in wanting to commence the project may be matched by your eagerness to complete it, as you contribute from what you have. 12 For if the eagerness to give is there, the acceptability of the gift will be measured by what you have, not by what you don’t have. 13 It is not that relief for others should cause trouble for you, but that there should be a kind of reciprocity: 14 at present your abundance can help those in need; so that when you are in need, their abundance can help you — thus there is reciprocity. 15 It is as the Tanakh says,
“He who gathered much had nothing extra,
and he who gathered little had nothing lacking.”[a][Footnotes:
2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18]
Mark 5:21 Yeshua crossed in the boat to the other side of the lake, and a great crowd gathered around him. 22 There came to him a synagogue official, Ya’ir by name, who fell at his feet 23 and pleaded desperately with him, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please! Come and lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live!”
24 He went with him; and a large crowd followed, pressing all around him. 25 Among them was a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years 26 and had suffered a great deal under many physicians. She had spent her life savings; yet instead of improving, she had grown worse. 27 She had heard about Yeshua, so she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his robe; 28 for she said, “If I touch even his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Instantly the hemorrhaging stopped, and she felt in her body that she had been healed from the disease. 30 At the same time, Yeshua, aware that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 His talmidim responded, “You see the people pressing in on you; and still you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But he kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 The woman, frightened and trembling, because she knew what had happened to her, came and fell down in front of him and told him the whole truth. 34 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your trust has healed you. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house came, saying, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the rabbi any longer?” 36 Ignoring what they had said, Yeshua told the synagogue official, “Don’t be afraid, just keep trusting.” 37 He let no one follow him except Kefa, Ya‘akov and Yochanan, Ya‘akov’s brother. 38 When they came to the synagogue official’s house, he found a great commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 On entering, he said to them, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead, she’s just asleep!” 40 And they jeered at him. But he put them all outside, took the child’s father and mother and those with him, and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talita, kumi!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 At once the girl got up and began walking around; she was twelve years old. Everybody was utterly amazed. 43 He gave them strict orders to say nothing about this to anyone, and told them to give her something to eat.

John Wesley's Notes-commentary for 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27
Verse 1
[1] Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
Ziklag — Which though burnt, yet was not so consumed by the fire, that David and his men could not lodge in it.
Verse 18
[18] (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher. #1#
Judah — These he more particularly teacheth, because they were the chief, and now the royal tribe, and likely to be the great bulwark to all Israel against the Philistines, upon whose land they bordered; and withal, to be the most true to him, and to his interest.
The bow — That is, of their arms, expressed, under the name of the bow, which then was one of the chief weapons; and for the dextrous use whereof Jonathan is commended in the following song: which may be one reason, why he now gives forth this order, that so they might strive to imitate Jonathan in military skill, and to excel in it, as he did.
Jasher — It is more largely and particularly described in the book of Jasher.
Verse 19
[19] The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
Beauty — Their flower and glory. Saul and Jonathan, and their army.
High places — Heb. upon thy high places; that is, those which belong to thee, O land of Israel.
How — How strangely! How suddenly! How universally!
Verse 20
[20] Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
Tell it not — This is not a precept, but a poetical wish; whereby he doth not so much desire, that this might not be done, which he knew to be impossible; as, express his great sorrow, because it would be done, to the dishonour of God, and of his people.
The daughters — He mentions these, because it was the custom of women in those times and places to celebrate those victories which their men obtained, with triumphant songs and dances.
Verse 21
[21] Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
Let there be, … — This is no proper imprecation; but a passionate representation of the horror which he conceived at this publick loss; which was such, as if he thought every person or thing which contributed to it, were fit to bear the tokens of divine displeasure, such as this is, when the earth wants the necessary influences of dew and rain.
Fields of offerings — That is, fruitful fields, which may produce fair and goodly fruits fit to be offered to God.
Vilely — Dishonourably: for it was a great reproach to any soldier, to cast away or lose his shield.
Cast away — By themselves, that they might flee more swiftly as the Israelites did, and Saul with the rest.
As though, … — As if he had been no more, than a common soldier: he was exposed to the same kind of death and reproach as they were.
Verse 22
[22] From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
Not back — Without effect: their arrows shot from their bow, and their swords did seldom miss, and commonly pierced fat, and flesh, and blood, and reached even to the heart and bowels.
Returned not, … — But filled and glutted with blood: for the sword is metaphorically said to have a mouth, which we translate an edge; and to devour. And this their former successfulness is mentioned as an aggravation of their last infelicity.
Verse 23
[23] Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant #1# in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
Lovely — Amiable, and obliging in their carriage and conversation, both towards one another, and towards their people: for, as for Saul's fierce behaviour towards Jonathan, it was only a sudden passion, by which his ordinary temper was not to be measured; and for his carriage towards David, that was from that jealousy and reason of state which usually engageth even well-natured princes, to the same hostilities. But it is observable, that David speaks not a word here of his piety; but only commends him for those things which were truly in him. A fit pattern for all preachers in their funeral commendations.
Swifter, … — Expeditious in pursuing their enemies, and executing their designs; which is a great commendation in a prince, and in a soldier.
Stronger, … — In regard of their bodily strength, and the courage of their mind.
Verse 24
[24] Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
Daughters — These he mentions; because the women then used to make songs both of triumph, and of lamentation, and, because they usually are most delighted with the ornaments of the body here following.
Clothed you — This he did, because he procured them so much peace as gave them opportunity of enriching themselves: and, because he took these things as spoils from the enemies, and clothed his own people with them.
Verse 25
[25] How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
Thine — Which were in thy country, and (had not thy father disinherited thee by his sins) in thy dominions.
Verse 26
[26] I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
Distressed — That is, for the loss of thee. For, besides the loss of a true friend, which is inestimable; he lost him who both could, and undoubtedly would have given him a speedy, and quiet, and sure possession of the kingdom, whereas now, he met with long and troublesome interruptions.
Of women — That is, that love wherewith they love their husbands, or children for their affections are usually more ardent than mens.
Psalm 130
Verse 3
[3] If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
Mark — Observe them accurately and punish them as they deserve.
Stand — At thy tribunal.
Verse 4
[4] But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Forgiveness — Thou art able and ready to forgive repenting sinners.
Feared — Not with a slavish, but with a childlike fear. This mercy of thine is the foundation of all religion, without which men would desperately proceed in their impious courses.
Verse 5
[5] I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
I wait — That he would pardon my sins.
Verse 6
[6] My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
They — Whether soldiers that keep the night-watches in an army, or the priests or Levites who did so in the temple.
Verse 7
[7] Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
Israel — Every true Israelite.
Plenteous — Abundantly sufficient for all persons who accept it upon God's terms.2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Verse 9
[9] For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
For ye know — And this knowledge is the true source of love.
The grace — The most sincere, most free, and most abundant love.
He became poor — In becoming man, in all his life; in his death.
Rich — In the favour and image of God.
Verse 12
[12] For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
A man — Every believer.
Is accepted — With God.
According to what he hath — And the same rule holds universally. Whoever acknowledges himself to be a vile, guilty sinner, and, in consequence of this acknowledgment, flies for refuge to the wounds of a crucified Saviour, and relies on his merits alone for salvation, may in every circumstance of life apply this indulgent declaration to himself.
Verse 14
[14] But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
That their abundance — If need should so require.
May be — At another time.
A supply to your want: that there may be an equality — No want on one side, no superfluity on the other. It may likewise have a further meaning:-that as the temporal bounty of the Corinthians did now supply the temporal wants of their poor brethren in Judea, so the prayers of these might be a means of bringing down many spiritual blessings on their benefactors: so that all the spiritual wants of the one might be amply supplied; all the temporal of the other.
Verse 15
[15] As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
As it is written, He that had gathered the most had nothing over; and he that had gathered the least did not lack — That is, in which that scripture is in another sense fulfilled. Exodus 16:18Mark 5:21-43
Verse 21
[21] And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
Luke 8:40.
Verse 22
[22] And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
One of the rulers of the synagogue — To regulate the affairs of every synagogue, there was a council of grave men. Over these was a president, who was termed the ruler of the synagogue. Sometimes there was no more than one ruler in a synagogue. Matthew 9:18; Luke 8:41.
Verse 25
[25] And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
Matthew 9:20; Luke 8:43.
Verse 37
[37] And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
John, the brother of James — When St. Mark wrote, not long after our Lord's ascension, the memory of St. James, lately beheaded, was so fresh, that his name was more known than that of John himself.
Verse 40
[40] And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
Them that were with him — Peter, James, and John.
Verse 43
[43] And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
He charged them that no man should know it — That he might avoid every appearance of vain glory, might prevent too great a concourse of people, and might not farther enrage the scribes and Pharisees against him; the time for his death, and for the full manifestation of his glory, being not yet come.
He commanded something should be given her to eat — So that when either natural or spiritual life is restored, even by immediate miracle, all proper means are to be used in order to preserve it.

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Upper Room Ministries, a ministry of Discipleship Ministries

PO Box 340004

Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004 United States
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Sermon Story "Mourning or Lamenting" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday,  28 June 2015 with Scripture: 2 Samuel 1:1 Sha’ul had died, and David had been two days in Ziklag after returning from the slaughter of the ‘Amaleki.
17 Then David pronounced this lament over Sha’ul and over Y’honatan his son, 18 in order to teach the people of Y’hudah [not to underestimate] archery (the lament has been written down in the book of Yashar):
19 “Your glory, Isra’el, lies dead on your high places!
How the heroes have fallen!
20 Don’t speak of it in Gat;
don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon;
then the daughters of the P’lishtim won’t rejoice,
the daughters of the uncircumcised won’t gloat.
21 “Mountains of Gilboa — may there be on you
no dew, no rain, no fields with good crops;
because there the shields of the heroes were dishonored,
the shield of Sha’ul was no longer rubbed with oil.
22 “From the blood of the dead, from the flesh of heroes,
the bow of Y’honatan did not retreat
or the sword of Sha’ul return unsatisfied.
23 Sha’ul and Y’honatan, loved and gracious while alive,
were not separated even in death;
they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 “Daughters of Isra’el, weep over Sha’ul!
He clothed you luxuriously in scarlet
and put gold jewelry on your clothing.
25 “How the heroes have fallen in the heat of battle,
Y’honatan killed on your high places!
26 I grieve for you, my brother Y’honatan,
you meant so much to me!
Your love for me was deeper
than the love of women.
27 How the heroes have fallen
and the weapons of war perished”
As we read about Kingd David coming back from a victory against one of his enemies, we read of his mourning and grieiving for the death of King Saul and his son Jonathan. Yes, King Saul on several occassions wanted to kill David, but David would not lay a hand upon King Saul because of King Saul being God's anointed. Yes, David was anointed by Samuel, God's Prophet, to replace King saul, David refused to kill King Saul. David lamenting for the death of Saul and Jonathan saying that the might have fallen and how he loved Jonathan as a brother even greater than any women. David even shared that King Saul disinherited Jonathan from his rightful inheritance because of King Saul's sin against God. The lesson we have from this lamenting of David is that never be joyous over the death of one's enemies because they could have returned to God and become friends rather than enemies. We see the call of God for reconciliation and retstorative justice, not retributive justice where we take revenge and gloat over our enemies death. Yes, this is hard speicfically if there are deaths of people who are innocent and people kill them because they are the wrong king of people we should seek restorative justice. As we seek to live out God's Holiness for all people, we come to take and eat the Body of Jesus and drink His Blood through the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist to receive God's merciful grace to give to all other people. We come to receive singint the Hymn "Ready to suffer grief or pain" by Author: A. C. Palmer
1. Ready to suffer grief or pain,
Ready to stand the test;
Ready to stay at home and send
Others if He sees best.
Refrain:
Ready to go, ready to stay,
Ready my place to fill;
Ready for service lowly or great,
Ready to do His will.
2. Ready to go, ready to bear,
Ready to watch and pray;
Ready to stand aside and give
Till He shall clear the way.
Refrain:
Ready to go, ready to stay,
Ready my place to fill;
Ready for service lowly or great,
Ready to do His will.
3. Ready to speak, ready to think,
Ready with heart and mind;
Ready to stand where He sees fit,
Ready HIs will to find.
Refrain:
Ready to go, ready to stay,
Ready my place to fill;
Ready for service lowly or great,
Ready to do His will.
4. Ready to speak, ready to warn,
Ready o’er souls to yearn;
Ready in life or ready in death,
Ready for His return.
Refrain:
Ready to go, ready to stay,
Ready my place to fill;
Ready for service lowly or great,
Ready to do His will.
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Gary Lee Parker

4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1

San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States
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