Today’s Reflection:
From page 21 of The Power of a Focused Heart: 8 Life Lessons from the Beatitudes by Mary Lou Redding. Copyright © 2006 by Mary Lou Redding. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question: How do you define “poor in spirit?”
Today’s Scripture: For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7:28, NRSV)
This Week: pray for expectant parents.
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 website.
This week we remember: Howard Thurman (October 22).
Howard Thurman
October 22
Howard Thurman (1900-81), African-American preacher and mystic. A leading voice for racial justice, Thurman struggled against prejudice all his life but refused to become bitter. He enrolled in Morehouse College, became active in the YMCA, and was exposed to a brilliant sampling of African- American leaders: Franklin Frazier, Benjamin Mays, and John Hope. His acceptance at Rochester Theological School was a special distinction since the school accepted only two black applicants in any given year. Rochester was his first experience in the white world and a difficult one. After seminary he became the pastor of a Baptist church in Oberlin, Ohio, and began graduate work at the Oberlin School of Theology. He was appointed by both Morehouse and Spelman Colleges to teach religion and be chaplain. A lecture series on the spiritual insights of the African-American spiritual became his book Deep River.In 1935 Thurman was invited by the YMCA and YWCA to chair a delegation of African-Americans on a pilgrimage of friendship to India, Burma, and Ceylon. He accepted, though he was reluctant to be an apologist for segregated American Christianity. He became convinced of the distinction between the religion of Jesus and religion about Jesus. In India he met Gandhi and was quickly persuaded to imitate Gandhi's nonviolence. In 1948 he went to San Francisco, where he founded the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples. His dreams for a congregation that was both racially integrated and ecumenical came true. After nine years he became dean of the chapel and professor of spiritual disciplines at Boston University. His ministry at the university and his preaching trips around the world had a wide influence.
Among Thurman's many books are The Negro Speaks of Life and Death, The Centering Moment, Jesus and the Disinherited, Meditations of the Heart, Disciplines of the Spirit, and his autobiography, With Head and Heart.
If Howard Thurman had taken the Spiritual Types Test he probably would have been a Mystic. Thurman is remembered on October 22.
[Excerpted with permission from the entry on Howard Thurman by Howard L. Rice, from The Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe. Copyright © 2003 by Upper Room Books®. All rights reserved.]
Lectionary Readings for Sunday, 28 October 2018
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22)
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 10:46-52
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Job 42:1 Then [at last,] Iyov gave Adonai this answer:
2 “I know that you can do everything,
that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 “[You asked,] ‘Who is this, hiding counsel,
without having knowledge?’
Yes, I spoke, without understanding,
of wonders far beyond me, which I didn’t know.
4 “Please listen, and I will speak.
[You said,] ‘I will ask questions; and you, give me answers’ —
5 I had heard about you with my ears,
but now my eye sees you;
6 therefore I detest [myself]
and repent in dust and ashes.”, 10 When Iyov prayed for his friends, Adonai restored his fortunes; Adonai gave Iyov twice as much as he had had before. 11 Then all his brothers and sisters came to him, also all who had known him before, and they ate a meal with him in his house. They consoled and comforted him for all the evils Adonai had inflicted on him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. 12 Adonaiblessed Iyov’s later situation even more than his earlier one — he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 pairs of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.
13 He also had seven sons and three daughters. 14 The first he named Y’mimah; the second, K’tzi‘ah; and the third, Keren-Hapukh. 15 Nowhere in the land could women be found as beautiful as Iyov’s daughters; and their father gave them inheritances along with their brothers.
16 After this, Iyov lived 140 years, long enough to see his sons and grandsons, four generations. 17 Then, old and full of days, Iyov died.
Psalm 34:1 (0) By David, when he pretended to be insane before Avimelekh, who then drove him away; so he left:
2 (1) I will bless Adonai at all times;
his praise will always be in my mouth.
3 (2) When I boast, it will be about Adonai;
the humble will hear of it and be glad.
4 (3) Proclaim with me the greatness of Adonai;
let us exalt his name together.
5 (4) I sought Adonai, and he answered me;
he rescued me from everything I feared.
6 (5) They looked to him and grew radiant;
their faces will never blush for shame.
7 (6) This poor man cried; Adonai heard
and saved him from all his troubles.
8 (7) The angel of Adonai, who encamps
around those who fear him, delivers them., (19 (18) Adonai is near those with broken hearts;
he saves those whose spirit is crushed.
20 (19) The righteous person suffers many evils,
but Adonai rescues him out of them all.
21 (20) He protects all his bones;
not one of them gets broken.
22 (21) Evil will kill the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
23 (22) But Adonai redeems his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.)
Hebrews 7:23 Moreover, the present cohanim are many in number, because they are prevented by death from continuing in office. 24 But because he lives forever, his position as cohen does not pass on to someone else; 25 and consequently, he is totally able to deliver those who approach God through him; since he is alive forever and thus forever able to intercede on their behalf.
26 This is the kind of cohen gadol that meets our need — holy, without evil, without stain, set apart from sinners and raised higher than the heavens; 27 one who does not have the daily necessity, like the other cohanim g’dolim, of offering up sacrifices first for their own sins and only then for those of the people; because he offered one sacrifice, once and for all, by offering up himself. 28 For the Torah appoints as cohanim g’dolim men who have weakness; but the text which speaks about the swearing of the oath, a text written later than the Torah, appoints a Son who has been brought to the goal forever.
Mark 10:46 They came to Yericho; and as Yeshua was leaving Yericho with his talmidim and a great crowd, a blind beggar, Bar-Timai (son of Timai), was sitting by the side of the road. 47 When he heard that it was Yeshua from Natzeret, he started shouting, “Yeshua! Son of David! Have pity on me!” 48 Many people scolded him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the louder, “Son of David! Have pity on me!” 49 Yeshua stopped and said, “Call him over!” They called to the blind man, “Courage! Get up! He’s calling for you!” 50 Throwing down his blanket, he jumped up and came over to Yeshua. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” asked Yeshua. The blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me be able to see again.” 52 Yeshua said to him, “Go! Your trust has healed you.” Instantly he received his sight and followed him on the road. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Verse 2
[2] I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Thou canst, … — Job here subscribes to God's unlimited power, knowledge and dominion, to prove which was the scope of God's discourse out of the whirlwind. And his judgment being convinced of these, his conscience also was convinced, of his own folly in speaking so irreverently concerning him.
No thought can be withholden from thee — No thought of ours can be withholden from thy knowledge. And there is no thought of thine, which thou canst be hindered from bringing into execution.
Verse 3
[3] Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Who — What am I that I should be guilty of such madness! Therefore - Because my mind was without knowledge.
Knew not — I have spoken foolishly and unadvisedly of all things far above my reach.
Verse 4
[4] Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Hear — Hear and accept my humble confession.
Enquire — I will no more dispute the matter with thee, but beg information from thee. The words which God had uttered to Job by way of challenge, Job returns to him in way of submission.
Verse 5
[5] I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Seeth thee — The knowledge which I had of thy nature, perfections and counsels, was hitherto grounded chiefly, upon the instructions of men; but now it is clear and certain, as being immediately inspired into my mind by this thy glorious apparition and revelation, and by the operation of thy holy spirit; which makes these things as evident to me, as if I saw them with my bodily eyes. When the mind is enlightened by the spirit of God, our knowledge of Divine things as far exceeds what we had before, as knowledge by ocular demonstration, exceeds, that by common fame.
Verse 10
[10] And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Captivity — All his bodily distempers were thoroughly healed, and probably in a moment. His mind was calmed, his peace returned, and the consolations of God were not small with him.
Prayed — Whereby he manifests his obedience to God and his true love to them.
Verse 11
[11] Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
Then — When Job had humbled himself, and God was reconciled to him.
Sisters — His kindred.
Eat — Feasted with him, to congratulate with him God's great and glorious favour.
Bemoaned — They declared the sense which they had of his calamities while they were upon him, although they had hitherto wanted opportunity to express it.
Verse 12
[12] So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
Blessed — Not only with spiritual, but also with temporal blessings. Just double to what they were, chap. 1:3. This is a remarkable instance of the extent of the Divine providence, to things that seem minute as this, the exact number of a man's cattle; as also of the harmony of providence, and the reference of one event to another: for known unto God are all his works, from the beginning to the end.
Verse 14
[14] And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.
Jemima — The day, either because of her eminent beauty, or because she was born in the day of his prosperity, after a dark night of affliction. Kezia is the name of a spice of a very fragrant smell, commonly called Cassia. Keren-happuch signifies plenty restored.
Verse 15
[15] And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
So fair — In the Old Testament we often find women praised for their beauty, but never in the New, because the beauty of holiness is brought to a much clearer light by the gospel.
Verse 16
[16] After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.
After this, … — Some conjecture, that he was seventy when his trouble came. If so his age was doubled, as his other possessions.
Verse 17
[17] So Job died, being old and full of days.
Full of days — So coming to his grave, as Eliphaz had spoken, like a ripe shock of corn in its season.
Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22)
Verse 2
[2] My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
Shall boast — Shall glory in this, that I have so powerful and so gracious a master.
The humble — The righteous.
Verse 3
[3] O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Together — Not in place, for David was now banished from the place of God's publick worship, but in affection: let our souls meet, and let our praises meet in the ears of the all-hearing God.
Verse 5
[5] They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
Lightened — Comforted and encouraged.
Ashamed — They were not disappointed of their hope.
Verse 6
[6] This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
This man — David.
Verse 7
[7] The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
The angel — The angels, the singular number being put for the plural.
Verse 8
[8] O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
O taste — Make trial, of it by your own experience of it.
Good — Merciful and gracious. (Verse 20
[20] He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
Bones — All the parts and members of their bodies.).
Hebrews 7:23-28
Verse 23
[23] And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
They were many priests — One after another.
Verse 24
[24] But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
He continueth for ever — In life and in his priesthood.
That passeth not away — To any successor.
Verse 25
[25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost — From all the guilt, power, root, and consequence of sin.
Them who come — By faith.
To God through him — As their priest.
Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession — That is, he ever lives and intercedes. He died once; he intercedes perpetually.
Verse 26
[26] For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
For such an high priest suited us — Unholy, mischievous, defiled sinners: a blessed paradox! Holy - With respect to God.
Harmless — With respect to men.
Undefiled — With any sin in himself.
Separated from sinners — As well as free from sin. And so he was when he left the world.
And made — Even in his human nature.
Higher than the heavens — And all their inhabitants.
Verse 27
[27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Who needeth not to offer up sacrifices daily — That is, on every yearly day of expiation; for he offered once for all: not for his own sins, for he then offered up himself "without spot to God."
Verse 28
[28] For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
The law maketh men high priests that have infirmity — That are both weak, mortal, and sinful.
But the oath which was since the law — Namely, in the time of David.
Maketh the son, who is consecrated for ever — Who being now free, both from sin and death, from natural and moral infirmity, remaineth a priest for ever.
Mark 10:46-52
Verse 46
[46] And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
Matthew 20:29; Luke 18:35.
Verse 50
[50] And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
Casting away his garment — Through joy and eagerness. (John Wesley's Explanatory Notes).
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