Revised Common Lectionary ~ Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, November 10, 2013

Revised Common Lectionary ~ Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, 

November 10, 2013

PRAYER: Thematic

God of faithful surprises,
throughout the ages
you have made known your love and power
in unexpected ways and places.
May we daily perceive
the joy and wonder of your abiding presence
and offer our lives in gratitude
for our redemption. Amen.

Intercessory

God of life, we praise you for your abiding presence
from generation to generation,
blessing your people,
strengthening us to lives of service,
empowering us to witness.
Hear the prayers we offer on behalf of your creation.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
Grant that as we serve you now on earth,
so we may one day rejoice with all the saints
in your kingdom of light and peace,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture (Series 1)

Almighty God,
you hold all the powers of the universe within your hands,
and we are your children.
Turn us to the splendor of life in you,
transforming us through Jesus Christ our Savior,
and strengthening us in every good deed and word. Amen.

Scripture (Series 2)

Eternally righteous God,
merciful judge of all the living,
in your love you called us
to share the glory of Christ.
Strengthen our hearts in every good work and word,
that we may be steadfast in your ways
and always believe your truth. Amen.

Haggai 1:15 in the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.~2:1 In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, the LORD’s word came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Isn’t it in your eyes as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD. ‘Be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, ‘and work, for I am with you,’ says the LORD of Hosts. 5 This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. ‘Don’t be afraid.’ 6 For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ says the LORD of Hosts. 9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of Hosts; ‘and in this place will I give peace,’ says the LORD of Hosts.”(Messianic WEB)

Psalm 145:A praise psalm by David.*

1 I will exalt you, my God, the King.

I will praise your name forever and ever.

2 Every day I will praise you.

I will extol your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised!

His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation will commend your works to another,

and will declare your mighty acts.

5 Of the glorious majesty of your honor,

of your wondrous works, I will meditate.

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways,

and gracious in all his works.

18 The LORD is near to all those who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him.

He also will hear their cry, and will save them.

20 The LORD preserves all those who love him,

but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD.

Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.(Messianic WEB)

Psalm 98:A Psalm.

1 Sing to the LORD a new song,

for he has done marvelous things!

His right hand, and his holy arm, have worked salvation for him.

2 The LORD has made known his salvation.

He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

3 He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!

5 Sing praises to the LORD with the harp,

with the harp and the voice of melody.

6 With shofars* and sound of the ram’s horn,

make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.

7 Let the sea roar with its fullness;

the world, and those who dwell therein.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands.

Let the mountains sing for joy together.

9 Let them sing before the LORD,

for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness,

and the peoples with equity.(Messianic WEB)

Job 19:23 “Oh that my words were now written!

Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

24 That with an iron pen and lead

they were engraved in the rock forever!

25 But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives.

In the end, he will stand upon the earth.

26 After my skin is destroyed,

then in my flesh shall I see God,

27 Whom I, even I, shall see on my side.

My eyes shall see, and not as a stranger.

“My heart is consumed within me.(Messianic WEB)

Psalm 27:By David.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation.

Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the strength of my life.

Of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh,

even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army should encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear.

Though war should rise against me,

even then I will be confident.

4 One thing I have asked of the LORD, that I will seek after:

that I may dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life,

to see the LORD’s beauty,

and to inquire in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion.

In the covert of his tabernacle he will hide me.

He will lift me up on a rock.

6 Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me;

I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent.

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

7 Hear, LORD, when I cry with my voice.

Have mercy also on me, and answer me.

8 When you said, “Seek my face,”

my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, LORD.”

9 Don’t hide your face from me.

Don’t put your servant away in anger.

You have been my help.

Don’t abandon me,

neither forsake me, God of my salvation.(Messianic WEB)

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and our gathering together to him, we ask you 2 not to be quickly shaken in your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as from us, saying that the day of Messiah had come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. 5 Don’t you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things?13 But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth; 14 to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.

16 Now our Lord Yeshua the Messiah himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good work and word.(Messianic WEB)

Luke 20:27 Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection. 28 They asked him, “Rabbi, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. 29 There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless. 30 The second took her as wife, and he died childless. 31 The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.”

34 Yeshua said to them, “The children of this age marry, and are given in marriage. 35  But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. 36  For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37  But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ ✡ 38  Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.”(Messianic WEB)

~~~

John Wesley’s Notes & Commentary for:

Haggai 1:15~2:9

Verse 14. The Lord of hosts - By which name he delights to be known among the returned captives; and it was a name best suited to their present state, compassed on all hands with enemies.

II Haggai assures the builders, that the glory of this house should exceed the glory of the former, ver. 1-9. That God would bless them and give them success, ver. 10-19. That he would peculiarly bless Zerubbabel, ver. 20-23.

Verse 3. That saw - Near fourscore years ago. This house - The temple built by Solomon.

Verse 5. My spirit - Of strength and courage, of wisdom and understanding.

Verse 6. Yet once - After many confirmations of the new covenant, one more, remains to be made. A little while - Tho' above five hundred years, yet this was but a little time compared with that between the promise to Adam and Christ's coming. I will shake - Whether it be metaphorical or literal, it was verified at the time of Christ's coming into the world. After the return of the captivity, by the commotions among the Grecians, Persians, and Romans, which began soon after this time; this was metaphorically fulfilled. And it was literally fulfilled by prodigies and earthquakes, at the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Verse 7. All nations - Which was literally fulfilled in the overthrow of the Persian monarchy by the Grecians, in the civil wars, and succeeding troubles among Alexander's successors, the growth of the Roman power by subduing their neighbours, and their dissentions and home-bred wars. The desire - Christ the most desirable, to all nations, and who was desired by all that knew their own misery, and his sufficiency to save them who was to be the light of the Gentiles, as well as the glory of his people Israel. With glory - The first temple had a glory in its magnificent structure, rich ornaments, and costly sacrifices; but this was a worldly glory; that which is here promised, is a heavenly glory from the presence of Christ in it. He that was the brightness of his father's glory, who is the glory of the church, appeared in this second temple.

Verse 8. The silver - The treasures of both: doubt not therefore but I will give enough to build this house.

Verse 9. In this place - In my house, a type of Christ. Peace - A spiritual, internal, and heavenly peace.

Verse 11. Concerning the law - What the law saith in this case.

Psalm 145:1~5,17~21

PS 145 This also is an alphabetical psalm. In it David praises God for his greatness, ver. 1-7. For his goodness and everlasting kingdom, ver. 8-13. For his providence, ver. 14-16. For his mercy to his servants, ver. 17-21. David's psalm of praise.

Verse 18. Nigh - To answer their prayers. In truth - With an upright heart.

Psalm 98:

PS 98 This psalm sets forth the glory of the Redeemer, ver. 1-3. And the joy of the redeemed, ver. 4-9. A psalm.

Verse 2. Salvation - The redemption of the world by the Messiah: which was hitherto reserved was a secret among the Jews, yea was not throughly known by the most of the Jews themselves. Righteousness - His faithfulness in accomplishing this great promise.

Job 19:23~27

Verse 23. My words - The words which I am now about to speak. And that which Job wished for, God granted him. His words are written in God's book; so that wherever that book is read, there shall this glorious confession be declared, for a memorial of him.

Verse 24. Lead - Anciently they used to grave the letters in a stone with an iron tool, and then to fill up the cuts with lead, that the words might be more plainly seen.

Verse 25. For - This is the reason of his confidence in the goodness of his cause, and his willingness to have the matter depending between him and his friends, published and submitted to any trial, because he had a living and powerful Redeemer to plead his cause, and to give sentence for him. My Redeemer - In whom I have a particular interest. The word Goel, here used; properly agrees to Jesus Christ: for this word is primarily used of the next kinsman, whose office it was to redeem by a price paid, the sold or mortgaged estate of his deceased kinsman; to revenge his death, and to maintain his name and honour, by raising up seed to him. All which more fitly agrees to Christ, who is our nearest kinsman and brother, as having taken our nature upon him; who hath redeemed that everlasting inheritance which our first parents had utterly lost, by the price of his own blood; and hath revenged the death of mankind upon the great contriver of it, the devil, by destroying him and his kingdom; and hath taken a course to preserve our name, and honour, and persons, to eternity. And it is well observed, that after these expressions, we meet not with such impatient or despairing passages, as we had before; which shews that they had inspired him with new life and comfort. Latter day - At the day of the general resurrection and judgment, which, as those holy patriarchs well knew and firmly believed, was to be at the end of the world. The earth - The place upon which Christ shall appear and stand at the last day. Hebrew. upon the dust; in which his saints and members lie or sleep, whom he will raise out of it. And therefore he is fitly said to stand upon the dust, or the grave, or death; because then he will put that among other enemies under his feet.

Verse 26. Though - Though my skin is now in a great measure consumed, and the rest of it, together with this body, shall be devoured by the worms, which may seem to make my case desperate. Flesh - Or with bodily eyes; my flesh or body being raised from the grave, and re-united to my soul. God - The same whom he called his Redeemer, ver. 25, who having taken flesh, and appearing in his flesh or body with and for Job upon the earth, might well be seen with his bodily eyes. Nor is this understood of a simple seeing of him; but of that glorious and beatifying vision of God, which is promised to all God's people.

Verse 27. See - No wonder he repeats it again, because the meditation of it was most sweet to him. For - For my own benefit and comfort. Another - For me or in my stead. I shall not see God by another's eyes, but by my own, and by these self-same eyes, in this same body which now I have. Though - This I do confidently expect, tho' the grave and the worms will consume my whole body.

Psalm 27:1~9

PS 27 David declares his confidence in God, ver. 1-3. His desire to be in the house of God, ver. 4-6. He prays for light and salvation, ver. 7-12. And exhorts others to wait upon God, ver. 13, 14. A psalm of David.

Verse 2. Light - My counsellor in all my difficulties, and my comforter and deliverer in all my distresses. Strength - The supporter and preserver of my life.

Verse 3. In this - That God is my light.

Verse 4. Dwell. &c. - Have opportunity of constant attendance upon God. To behold - That there I may delight myself, in the contemplation of thy amiable and glorious majesty, and of thy infinite wisdom, holiness, justice, truth, and mercy.

Verse 5. The secret - In his tabernacle, into which mine enemies cannot come. He alludes to the ancient custom of offenders, who used to flee to the tabernacle or altar. Rock - A place high and inaccessible.

Verse 9. Away - From thy face or presence, or from the place of thy worship.

2 Thessalonians 2:1~5,13~17

Verse 1. Our gathering together to him - In the clouds.

Verse 2. Be not shaken in mind - In judgment. Or terrified - As those easily are who are immoderately fond of knowing future things. Neither by any pretended Revelation from the Spirit, nor by pretense of any word spoken by me.

Verse 3. Unless the falling away - From the pure faith of the gospel, come first. This began even in the apostolic age. But the man of sin, the son of perdition - Eminently so called, is not come yet. However, in many respects, the Pope has an indisputable claim to those titles. He is, in an emphatical sense, the man of sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled, the son of perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers, destroyed innumerable souls, and will himself perish everlastingly. He it is that opposeth himself to the emperor, once his rightful sovereign; and that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped - Commanding angels, and putting kings under his feet, both of whom are called gods in scripture; claiming the highest power, the highest honour; suffering himself, not once only, to be styled God or vice-God. Indeed no less is implied in his ordinary title, "Most Holy Lord," or, "Most Holy Father." So that he sitteth - Enthroned. In the temple of God - Mentioned Rev. xi, 1. Declaring himself that he is God - Claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone.

Verse 13. God hath from the beginning - Of your hearing the gospel. Chosen you to salvation - Taken you out of the world, and placed you in the way to glory.

Verse 14. To which - Faith and holiness. He hath called you by our gospel - That which we preached, accompanied with the power of his Spirit.

Verse 15. Hold - Without adding to, or diminishing from, the traditions which ye have been taught - The truths which I have delivered to you. Whether by word or by our epistle - He preached before he wrote. And he had written concerning this in his former epistle.

Luke 20:27~38

Verse 27. Matt. xxii, 23; Mark xii, 18.

28. Deut. xxv, 5.

34. The children of this world - The inhabitants of earth, marry and are given in marriage - As being all subject to the law of mortality; so that the species is in need of being continually repaired.

Verse 35. But they who obtain that world - Which they enter into, before the resurrection of the dead.

Verse 36. They are the children of God - In a more eminent sense when they rise again.

Verse 37. That the dead are raised, even Moses, as well as the other prophets showed, when he calleth - That is, when he recites the words which God spoke of himself, I am the God of Abraham, &c. It cannot properly be said, that God is the God of any who are totally perished. Exod. iii, 6.

Verse 38. He is not a God of the dead, or, there is no God of the dead - That is, tho term God implies such a relation, as cannot possibly subsist between him and the dead; who in the Sadducees' sense are extinguished spirits; who could neither worship him, nor receive good from him. So that all live to him - All who have him for their God, live to and enjoy him. This sentence is not an argument for what went before; but the proposition which was to be proved. And the consequence is apparently just. For as all the faithful are the children of Abraham, and the Divine promise of being a God to him and his seed is entailed upon them, it implies their continued existence and happiness in a future state as much as Abraham's. And as the body is an essential part of man, it implies both his resurrection and theirs; and so overthrows the entire scheme of the Sadducean doctrine.

~~~~~~~