Upper Room Daily Reflections from The Upper Room Ministries of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Hope, Anger, Courage, and Patience" for Tuesday, 4 August 2015Today's Reflection:
HOPE demands that we notice our world, and that we take responsibility for it and for each other. Saint Augustine suggested poetically that hope has two beautiful daughters: anger at the way things are, and courage to see to it they do not remain the way they are.It is a healthy thing to get angry, to be outraged — and then to get busy working for something just because it is good and needed. With courage we embrace a very long-term task with energy and patience. As Reinhold Niebuhr said, “Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime.”[James C. Howell, Yours Are the Hands of Christ]
From page 42 of Yours Are the Hands of Christ by James C. Howell. Copyright © 1998 by James C. Howell. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Have you thought before of the relationship between anger, courage, and patience as they relate to hope?
Today’s Scripture:
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.[Psalm 130:1, NRSV]
This Week: pray for someone moving to new surroundings.
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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.
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: Dominic (August 8).Dominic
August 08
Dominic (1170-1221) is best known for founding the Dominicans, also known as the Order of Preachers or the Black Friars. He was born in Spain, received an extensive education, and joined the Augustinians. While traveling on a diplomatic mission to France as a Bishop's Chaplain he was introduced to the Albigensians, or Cathari, individuals who were considered heretics. The priest dedicated the next period of his life to educate these people on true Christianity and change their beliefs. His missionary model sought to emulate the original twelve disciples, walking everywhere they went, preaching as often as possible, living in charity and faith.
In 1215 Dominic created a new order that traveled to wherever there was need, focused on intellectual studies of doctrine and theology and met their needs by begging.
On his death bed, Dominic exhorted his fellow priests to practice charity, be humble, and continue to live in voluntary poverty. When he was declared a saint in 1234, the pope called him "a man of the gospel in the footsteps of the Redeemer."
Dominic is the patron saint of the Dominican Republic and astronomers.
If Dominic had taken the Spiritual Types Test, he probably would have been a Sage. Dominic is remembered on August 8.
On his death bed, Dominic exhorted his fellow priests to practice charity, be humble, and continue to live in voluntary poverty. When he was declared a saint in 1234, the pope called him "a man of the gospel in the footsteps of the Redeemer."
Dominic is the patron saint of the Dominican Republic and astronomers.
If Dominic had taken the Spiritual Types Test, he probably would have been a Sage. Dominic is remembered on August 8.
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Lectionary Readings:
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Psalm 130
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
John 6:35, 41-51
Lectiionsry Scripture:
2 Samuel 18:5 The king gave orders to Yo’av, Avishai and Ittai, “For my sake, deal gently with young Avshalom.” All the people were listening when the king gave all the commanders this order concerning Avshalom.
6 So the people went out into the field against Isra’el; the battle took place in the forest of Efrayim. 7 The people of Isra’el were defeated there by David’s servants; there was a terrible slaughter that day of 20,000 men. 8 For the battle there was spread all over the countryside; the forest devoured more people that day than did the sword.
9 Avshalom happened to meet some of David’s servants. Avshalom was riding his mule, and as the mule walked under the thick branches of a big terebinth tree, his head got caught in the terebinth, so that he was left hanging between earth and sky, as the mule went on from under him.
15 Then Yo’av’s ten young armor-bearers surrounded Avshalom, struck him and killed him.
31 Then up came the Ethiopian, and the Ethiopian said, “There’s good news for my lord the king, for Adonai has judged in your favor and rid you of all those who rebelled against you.” 32 The king asked the Ethiopian, “Is everything all right with young Avshalom?” The Ethiopian answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you in order to harm you be as that young man is.”
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.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, stripping off falsehood, let everyone speak truth with his neighbor,[Ephesians 4:25 Zechariah 8:16] because we are intimately related to each other as parts of a body. 26 Be angry, but don’t sin[Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:5(4)] — don’t let the sun go down before you have dealt with the cause of your anger; 27 otherwise you leave room for the Adversary.
28 The thief must stop stealing; instead, he should make an honest living by his own efforts. This way he will be able to share with those in need.
29 Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them. 30 Don’t cause grief to God’s Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.
5:1 So imitate God, as his dear children; 2 and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance.
John 6:35 Yeshua answered, “I am the bread which is life! Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever trusts in me will never be thirsty.
41 At this the Judeans began grumbling about him because he said, “I am the bread which has come down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Yeshua Ben-Yosef? We know his father and mother! How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Yeshua answered them, “Stop grumbling to each other! 44 No one can come to me unless the Father — the One who sent me — draws him. And I will raise him up on the Last Day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘They will all be taught by Adonai.’[John 6:45 Isaiah 54:13] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God — he has seen the Father. 47 Yes, indeed! I tell you, whoever trusts has eternal life: 48 I am the bread which is life. 49 Your fathers ate the man in the desert; they died. 50 But the bread that comes down from heaven is such that a person may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that has come down from heaven; if anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. Furthermore, the bread that I will give is my own flesh; and I will give it for the life of the world.”
John Wesley's Notes-commentary for 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Verse 5
[5] And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
Deal gently — If you conquer (which be presaged they would by God's gracious answer to his prayer for the turning of Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness,) take him prisoner, but do not kill him. Which desire proceeded, from his great indulgence towards his children: from his consciousness that he himself was the meritorious cause of this rebellion, Absalom being given up to it for the punishment of David's sins; from the consideration of his youth, which commonly makes men foolish, and subject to ill counsels: and from his piety, being loth that he should be cut off in the act of his sin without any space for repentance. But ''what means, says Bp. Hall, this ill-placed mercy? Deal gently with a traitor? Of all traitors with a son? And all this for thy sake, whose crown, whose blood he hunts after? Even in the holiest parents nature may be guilty of an injurious tenderness. But was not this done in type of that unmeasurable mercy, of the true King of Israel, who prayed for his murderers, Father, forgive them! Deal gently with them for my sake!" Yea, when God sends an affliction to correct his children, it is with this charge, deal gently with them for my sake: for he knows our frame.
Verse 8
[8] For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
The wood — More people died in the wood, either through hunger, and thirst, and weariness: or, by the wild beasts, whereof great numbers were there, which, though they were driven away from the place of the main battle, yet might easily meet with them when they fled several ways: or, by falling into ditches and pits, which were in that place, verse 17, and probably were covered with grass or wood, so that they could not see them till they fell into them: and especially by David's men, who pursued them, and killed them in the wood: and the wood is rightly said to have devoured them, because it gave the occasion to their destruction, inasmuch as the trees, and ditches, and pits, entangled them, and stopped their flight, and made them an easy prey to David's men, who followed them, and slew them in the pursuit.
The sword — In the main battle: the sword being put for the battle, by a common figure.
Verse 9
[9] And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
The servants of David — Who, according to David's command, spared him, and gave him an opportunity to escape.
His head — In which probably he was entangled by the hair of the head, which being very long and thick, might easily catch hold of a bough, especially when the great God directed it. Either he wore no helmet, or he had thrown it away as well as his other arms, to hasten his flight. Thus the matter of his pride was the instrument of his ruin.
Verse 15
[15] And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
Slew him — The darts did not dispatch him, and therefore they smote him again, and killed him.
Verse 33
[33] And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Over the gate — Retiring himself from all men and business, that he might wholly give up himself to lamentation.
My son — This he might speak from a deep sense of his eternal state, because he died in his sins, and because David himself had by his own sins been the occasion of his death. But it seems rather to be the effect of strong passion, causing him to speak unadvisedly with his lips.
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.Ephesians 4:25-5:2
Verse 25
[25] Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Wherefore — Seeing ye are thus created anew, walk accordingly, in every particular.
For we are members one of another — To which intimate union all deceit is quite repugnant.
Verse 26
[26] Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Be ye angry, and sin not — That is, if ye are angry, take heed ye sin not. Anger at sin is not evil; but we should feel only pity to the sinner. If we are angry at the person, as well as the fault, we sin. And how hardly do we avoid it.
Let not the sun go down upon your wrath — Reprove your brother, and be reconciled immediately. Lose not one day. A clear, express command. Reader, do you keep it?
Verse 27
[27] Neither give place to the devil.
Neither give place to the devil — By any delay.
Verse 28
[28] Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
But rather let him labour — Lest idleness lead him to steal again. And whoever has sinned in any kind ought the more zealously to practise the opposite virtue.
That he may have to give — And so be no longer a burden and nuisance, but a blessing, to his neighbours.
Verse 29
[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
But that which is good — Profitable to the speaker and hearers.
To the use of edifying — To forward them in repentance, faith, or holiness.
That it may minister grace — Be a means of conveying more grace into their hearts. Hence we learn, what discourse is corrupt, as it were stinking in the nostrils of God; namely, all that is not profitable, not edifying, not apt to minister grace to the hearers.
Verse 30
[30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Grieve not the Holy Spirit — By any disobedience. Particularly by corrupt discourse; or by any of the following sins. Do not force him to withdraw from you, as a friend does whom you grieve by unkind behaviour.
The day of redemption — That is, the day of judgment, in which our redemption will be completed.
Verse 31
[31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Let all bitterness — The height of settled anger, opposite to kindness, verse 32.
And wrath — Lasting displeasure toward the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, opposite to tenderheartedness.
And anger — The very first risings of disgust at those that injure you, opposite to forgiving one another.
And clamour — Or bawling. "I am not angry," says one; "but it is my way to speak so." Then unlearn that way: it is the way to hell.
And evil speaking — Be it in ever so mild and soft a tone, or with ever such professions of kindness. Here is a beautiful retrogradation, beginning with the highest, and descending to the lowest, degree of the want of love.
Verse 32
[32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
As God, showing himself kind and tenderhearted in the highest degree, hath forgiven you.
Verse 1
[1] Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Be ye therefore followers — Imitators.
Of God — In forgiving and loving. O how much more honourable and more happy, to be an imitator of God, than of Homer, Virgil, or Alexander the Great!John 6:35, 41-51
Verse 35
[35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
I am the bread of life — Having and giving life: he that cometh - he that believeth - Equivalent expressions: shall never hunger, thirst - Shall be satisfied, happy, for ever.
Verse 44
[44] No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Christ having checked their murmuring, continues what he was saying, John 6:40.
No man comes to me, unless my Father draw him — No man can believe in Christ, unless God give him power: he draws us first, by good desires. Not by compulsion, not by laying the will under any necessity; but by the strong and sweet, yet still resistible, motions of his heavenly grace.
Verse 45
[45] It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Every man that hath heard — The secret voice of God, he, and he only believeth. Isaiah 54:13.
Verse 46
[46] Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
Not that any one — Must expect him to appear in a visible shape.
He who is from or with God — In a more eminent manner than any creature.
Verse 50
[50] This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Not die — Not spiritually; not eternally.
Verse 51
[51] I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
If any eat of this bread — That is, believe in me: he shall live for ever - In other words, he that believeth to the end shall be saved.
My flesh which I will give you — This whole discourse concerning his flesh and blood refers directly to his passion, and but remotely, if at all, to the Lord's Supper.
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Psalm 130
Ephesians 4:25-5:2
John 6:35, 41-51
Lectiionsry Scripture:
2 Samuel 18:5 The king gave orders to Yo’av, Avishai and Ittai, “For my sake, deal gently with young Avshalom.” All the people were listening when the king gave all the commanders this order concerning Avshalom.
6 So the people went out into the field against Isra’el; the battle took place in the forest of Efrayim. 7 The people of Isra’el were defeated there by David’s servants; there was a terrible slaughter that day of 20,000 men. 8 For the battle there was spread all over the countryside; the forest devoured more people that day than did the sword.
9 Avshalom happened to meet some of David’s servants. Avshalom was riding his mule, and as the mule walked under the thick branches of a big terebinth tree, his head got caught in the terebinth, so that he was left hanging between earth and sky, as the mule went on from under him.
15 Then Yo’av’s ten young armor-bearers surrounded Avshalom, struck him and killed him.
31 Then up came the Ethiopian, and the Ethiopian said, “There’s good news for my lord the king, for Adonai has judged in your favor and rid you of all those who rebelled against you.” 32 The king asked the Ethiopian, “Is everything all right with young Avshalom?” The Ethiopian answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you in order to harm you be as that young man is.”
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.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, stripping off falsehood, let everyone speak truth with his neighbor,[Ephesians 4:25 Zechariah 8:16] because we are intimately related to each other as parts of a body. 26 Be angry, but don’t sin[Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:5(4)] — don’t let the sun go down before you have dealt with the cause of your anger; 27 otherwise you leave room for the Adversary.
28 The thief must stop stealing; instead, he should make an honest living by his own efforts. This way he will be able to share with those in need.
29 Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them. 30 Don’t cause grief to God’s Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.
5:1 So imitate God, as his dear children; 2 and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance.
John 6:35 Yeshua answered, “I am the bread which is life! Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever trusts in me will never be thirsty.
41 At this the Judeans began grumbling about him because he said, “I am the bread which has come down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Isn’t this Yeshua Ben-Yosef? We know his father and mother! How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Yeshua answered them, “Stop grumbling to each other! 44 No one can come to me unless the Father — the One who sent me — draws him. And I will raise him up on the Last Day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘They will all be taught by Adonai.’[John 6:45 Isaiah 54:13] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God — he has seen the Father. 47 Yes, indeed! I tell you, whoever trusts has eternal life: 48 I am the bread which is life. 49 Your fathers ate the man in the desert; they died. 50 But the bread that comes down from heaven is such that a person may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that has come down from heaven; if anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. Furthermore, the bread that I will give is my own flesh; and I will give it for the life of the world.”
John Wesley's Notes-commentary for 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Verse 5
[5] And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
Deal gently — If you conquer (which be presaged they would by God's gracious answer to his prayer for the turning of Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness,) take him prisoner, but do not kill him. Which desire proceeded, from his great indulgence towards his children: from his consciousness that he himself was the meritorious cause of this rebellion, Absalom being given up to it for the punishment of David's sins; from the consideration of his youth, which commonly makes men foolish, and subject to ill counsels: and from his piety, being loth that he should be cut off in the act of his sin without any space for repentance. But ''what means, says Bp. Hall, this ill-placed mercy? Deal gently with a traitor? Of all traitors with a son? And all this for thy sake, whose crown, whose blood he hunts after? Even in the holiest parents nature may be guilty of an injurious tenderness. But was not this done in type of that unmeasurable mercy, of the true King of Israel, who prayed for his murderers, Father, forgive them! Deal gently with them for my sake!" Yea, when God sends an affliction to correct his children, it is with this charge, deal gently with them for my sake: for he knows our frame.
Verse 8
[8] For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
The wood — More people died in the wood, either through hunger, and thirst, and weariness: or, by the wild beasts, whereof great numbers were there, which, though they were driven away from the place of the main battle, yet might easily meet with them when they fled several ways: or, by falling into ditches and pits, which were in that place, verse 17, and probably were covered with grass or wood, so that they could not see them till they fell into them: and especially by David's men, who pursued them, and killed them in the wood: and the wood is rightly said to have devoured them, because it gave the occasion to their destruction, inasmuch as the trees, and ditches, and pits, entangled them, and stopped their flight, and made them an easy prey to David's men, who followed them, and slew them in the pursuit.
The sword — In the main battle: the sword being put for the battle, by a common figure.
Verse 9
[9] And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
The servants of David — Who, according to David's command, spared him, and gave him an opportunity to escape.
His head — In which probably he was entangled by the hair of the head, which being very long and thick, might easily catch hold of a bough, especially when the great God directed it. Either he wore no helmet, or he had thrown it away as well as his other arms, to hasten his flight. Thus the matter of his pride was the instrument of his ruin.
Verse 15
[15] And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
Slew him — The darts did not dispatch him, and therefore they smote him again, and killed him.
Verse 33
[33] And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Over the gate — Retiring himself from all men and business, that he might wholly give up himself to lamentation.
My son — This he might speak from a deep sense of his eternal state, because he died in his sins, and because David himself had by his own sins been the occasion of his death. But it seems rather to be the effect of strong passion, causing him to speak unadvisedly with his lips.
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.Ephesians 4:25-5:2
Verse 25
[25] Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Wherefore — Seeing ye are thus created anew, walk accordingly, in every particular.
For we are members one of another — To which intimate union all deceit is quite repugnant.
Verse 26
[26] Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Be ye angry, and sin not — That is, if ye are angry, take heed ye sin not. Anger at sin is not evil; but we should feel only pity to the sinner. If we are angry at the person, as well as the fault, we sin. And how hardly do we avoid it.
Let not the sun go down upon your wrath — Reprove your brother, and be reconciled immediately. Lose not one day. A clear, express command. Reader, do you keep it?
Verse 27
[27] Neither give place to the devil.
Neither give place to the devil — By any delay.
Verse 28
[28] Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
But rather let him labour — Lest idleness lead him to steal again. And whoever has sinned in any kind ought the more zealously to practise the opposite virtue.
That he may have to give — And so be no longer a burden and nuisance, but a blessing, to his neighbours.
Verse 29
[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
But that which is good — Profitable to the speaker and hearers.
To the use of edifying — To forward them in repentance, faith, or holiness.
That it may minister grace — Be a means of conveying more grace into their hearts. Hence we learn, what discourse is corrupt, as it were stinking in the nostrils of God; namely, all that is not profitable, not edifying, not apt to minister grace to the hearers.
Verse 30
[30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Grieve not the Holy Spirit — By any disobedience. Particularly by corrupt discourse; or by any of the following sins. Do not force him to withdraw from you, as a friend does whom you grieve by unkind behaviour.
The day of redemption — That is, the day of judgment, in which our redemption will be completed.
Verse 31
[31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Let all bitterness — The height of settled anger, opposite to kindness, verse 32.
And wrath — Lasting displeasure toward the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, opposite to tenderheartedness.
And anger — The very first risings of disgust at those that injure you, opposite to forgiving one another.
And clamour — Or bawling. "I am not angry," says one; "but it is my way to speak so." Then unlearn that way: it is the way to hell.
And evil speaking — Be it in ever so mild and soft a tone, or with ever such professions of kindness. Here is a beautiful retrogradation, beginning with the highest, and descending to the lowest, degree of the want of love.
Verse 32
[32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
As God, showing himself kind and tenderhearted in the highest degree, hath forgiven you.
Verse 1
[1] Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Be ye therefore followers — Imitators.
Of God — In forgiving and loving. O how much more honourable and more happy, to be an imitator of God, than of Homer, Virgil, or Alexander the Great!John 6:35, 41-51
Verse 35
[35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
I am the bread of life — Having and giving life: he that cometh - he that believeth - Equivalent expressions: shall never hunger, thirst - Shall be satisfied, happy, for ever.
Verse 44
[44] No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Christ having checked their murmuring, continues what he was saying, John 6:40.
No man comes to me, unless my Father draw him — No man can believe in Christ, unless God give him power: he draws us first, by good desires. Not by compulsion, not by laying the will under any necessity; but by the strong and sweet, yet still resistible, motions of his heavenly grace.
Verse 45
[45] It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Every man that hath heard — The secret voice of God, he, and he only believeth. Isaiah 54:13.
Verse 46
[46] Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
Not that any one — Must expect him to appear in a visible shape.
He who is from or with God — In a more eminent manner than any creature.
Verse 50
[50] This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Not die — Not spiritually; not eternally.
Verse 51
[51] I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
If any eat of this bread — That is, believe in me: he shall live for ever - In other words, he that believeth to the end shall be saved.
My flesh which I will give you — This whole discourse concerning his flesh and blood refers directly to his passion, and but remotely, if at all, to the Lord's Supper.
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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 "The Death or Disability of a Child" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 9 August 2015 with Scripture: 2 Samuel 18:5 The king gave orders to Yo’av, Avishai and Ittai, “For my sake, deal gently with young Avshalom.” All the people were listening when the king gave all the commanders this order concerning Avshalom.
6 So the people went out into the field against Isra’el; the battle took place in the forest of Efrayim. 7 The people of Isra’el were defeated there by David’s servants; there was a terrible slaughter that day of 20,000 men. 8 For the battle there was spread all over the countryside; the forest devoured more people that day than did the sword.
9 Avshalom happened to meet some of David’s servants. Avshalom was riding his mule, and as the mule walked under the thick branches of a big terebinth tree, his head got caught in the terebinth, so that he was left hanging between earth and sky, as the mule went on from under him.
15 Then Yo’av’s ten young armor-bearers surrounded Avshalom, struck him and killed him.
31 Then up came the Ethiopian, and the Ethiopian said, “There’s good news for my lord the king, for Adonai has judged in your favor and rid you of all those who rebelled against you.” 32 The king asked the Ethiopian, “Is everything all right with young Avshalom?” The Ethiopian answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you in order to harm you be as that young man is.”
Here we have David running for his life from someone who set him up as the King of Israel instead of King David. This person happens to be his son, Absalom, as it was told to David by Nathan the Prophet from God after David sinned by committing adultery with a married woman, Bthsheba, and kiling her husband, Uriah, to had the fact that she was made pregnant by David. Now, David still loved all his children and asked his troops to be gentle with his son, Absalom, because he was a son of his whom he loved like any oher of his children. Now, when Absalom was rding his mule apparently his long hair got caught in the trees where his mule went on, but he hung from the tree. The commander of David, Joab, was told even though David's men did not want to kill Absalom, but Joab did. When the news of his son, Absalom, was dead, David grieved as any parent would at the loss of his child through death even though David's army was the victorious one where David regained his kingdom. What character in this story do you relate to or not relate to? How do you understand David's grieving response while his soldiers felt defeated, not victorious? How do you understand this story in today's happenings? We have seen the death of many children thorugh war, disease, or accident as well as children being born with disbilities at no fault of their parents, but the grief is similar to David's grief for his son, Absalom. The hopes and dreams a parent has for their child is strong because whether it is death or a disability, the child no lnger can fulfill their parents hopes for them to make them a grandparent or being successful. Too often, the church knows how to grieve with the parents when their child dies, but they do not know how to cope with parents who have children who have disabilities. For whatever reason, the church appears to be distant from these parents and sometimes even suggesting the parents place their child into a government run institution or even send them out in the wilderness to die from the elements. How do we really need to embrace these parents whose child has a disability and still is made in God's Image and still has God-given gifts and graces to contribute to the building up of God's Kingdom? Where e have sinned against God and these parents as well as heir children, we come to seek God's mercy, grace and forgiveness through our repentance. We come to receive God's grace through the eating of the body of Jesus and drinking of the His blood in the participation of the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. We come to receive from God singing the Hymn "Angel" by SARAH MCLACHLAN
1. Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memories seep from my veins
let me be empty
and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
Chorus:
in the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
2. so tired of the straight line
and everywhere you turn
there's vultures and thieves at your back
and the storm keeps on twisting
you keep on building the lies
that you make up for all that you lack
it don't make no difference
escaping one last time
it's easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees
Chorus:
in the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
3. in the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
Chorus:
in the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
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6 So the people went out into the field against Isra’el; the battle took place in the forest of Efrayim. 7 The people of Isra’el were defeated there by David’s servants; there was a terrible slaughter that day of 20,000 men. 8 For the battle there was spread all over the countryside; the forest devoured more people that day than did the sword.
9 Avshalom happened to meet some of David’s servants. Avshalom was riding his mule, and as the mule walked under the thick branches of a big terebinth tree, his head got caught in the terebinth, so that he was left hanging between earth and sky, as the mule went on from under him.
15 Then Yo’av’s ten young armor-bearers surrounded Avshalom, struck him and killed him.
31 Then up came the Ethiopian, and the Ethiopian said, “There’s good news for my lord the king, for Adonai has judged in your favor and rid you of all those who rebelled against you.” 32 The king asked the Ethiopian, “Is everything all right with young Avshalom?” The Ethiopian answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you in order to harm you be as that young man is.”
Here we have David running for his life from someone who set him up as the King of Israel instead of King David. This person happens to be his son, Absalom, as it was told to David by Nathan the Prophet from God after David sinned by committing adultery with a married woman, Bthsheba, and kiling her husband, Uriah, to had the fact that she was made pregnant by David. Now, David still loved all his children and asked his troops to be gentle with his son, Absalom, because he was a son of his whom he loved like any oher of his children. Now, when Absalom was rding his mule apparently his long hair got caught in the trees where his mule went on, but he hung from the tree. The commander of David, Joab, was told even though David's men did not want to kill Absalom, but Joab did. When the news of his son, Absalom, was dead, David grieved as any parent would at the loss of his child through death even though David's army was the victorious one where David regained his kingdom. What character in this story do you relate to or not relate to? How do you understand David's grieving response while his soldiers felt defeated, not victorious? How do you understand this story in today's happenings? We have seen the death of many children thorugh war, disease, or accident as well as children being born with disbilities at no fault of their parents, but the grief is similar to David's grief for his son, Absalom. The hopes and dreams a parent has for their child is strong because whether it is death or a disability, the child no lnger can fulfill their parents hopes for them to make them a grandparent or being successful. Too often, the church knows how to grieve with the parents when their child dies, but they do not know how to cope with parents who have children who have disabilities. For whatever reason, the church appears to be distant from these parents and sometimes even suggesting the parents place their child into a government run institution or even send them out in the wilderness to die from the elements. How do we really need to embrace these parents whose child has a disability and still is made in God's Image and still has God-given gifts and graces to contribute to the building up of God's Kingdom? Where e have sinned against God and these parents as well as heir children, we come to seek God's mercy, grace and forgiveness through our repentance. We come to receive God's grace through the eating of the body of Jesus and drinking of the His blood in the participation of the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. We come to receive from God singing the Hymn "Angel" by SARAH MCLACHLAN
1. Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memories seep from my veins
let me be empty
and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
Chorus:
in the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
2. so tired of the straight line
and everywhere you turn
there's vultures and thieves at your back
and the storm keeps on twisting
you keep on building the lies
that you make up for all that you lack
it don't make no difference
escaping one last time
it's easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees
Chorus:
in the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
3. in the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
Chorus:
in the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
____________________________
Gary Lee Parker
4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1
San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States
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