Psalm 45:
10 (9) Daughters of kings are among your favorites;
at your right stands the queen in gold from Ofir.
11 (10) Listen, daughter! Think, pay attention!
Forget your own people and your father’s house,
12 (11) and the king will desire your beauty;
for he is your lord, so honor him.
13 (12) Then the daughter of Tzor, the richest of peoples,
will court your favor with gifts.
14 (13) Inside [the palace], the king’s daughter looks splendid,
attired in checker-work embroidered with gold.
15 (14) In brocade, she will be led to the king,
to you, with the virgins in her retinue.
16 (15) They will be led in with gladness and joy,
they will enter the king’s palace.
17 (16) You will have sons to succeed your ancestors;
you will make them princes in all the land.
18 (17) I will make your name known through all generations;
thus the peoples will praise you forever and ever.
[Complete Jewish Bible]
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The mention of the "daughter" in today's lectionary reading seems to invite thoughts of a connection with Rebekah from yesterday's reading. That seems to me to be a bit of a stretch. But this idea of leaving your family and your father's house is definitely challenging--what an extreme faith! It helps to emphasize what the psalmist is telling us, that our identity comes from God alone. Safety, socioeconomic status, future success and self-consciousness are a few things that many of us--and probably also most characters in the biblical narrative--may attribute to our family trees. To find our identities in God levels the playing field. Instead of being separated into human families, we are all being invited into God's family. What would it mean for us to fully believe this? What would it look like to put this great trust in God? What would it mean for us and what would it mean for our neighbors?
Faithful God, you never abandon us. Inspire us with your consistent compassion. Allow us to see each other as brothers and sisters instead of opponents or enemies. Amen.
Joshua Kestner, '17
Admissions Counselor, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
Psalm 45:10 Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him;
12 the people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people
13 with all kinds of wealth. The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
14 in many-colored robes she is led to the king; behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.
16 In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever. [New Revised Standard Version]
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
The mention of the "daughter" in today's lectionary reading seems to invite thoughts of a connection with Rebekah from yesterday's reading. That seems to me to be a bit of a stretch. But this idea of leaving your family and your father's house is definitely challenging--what an extreme faith! It helps to emphasize what the psalmist is telling us, that our identity comes from God alone. Safety, socioeconomic status, future success and self-consciousness are a few things that many of us--and probably also most characters in the biblical narrative--may attribute to our family trees. To find our identities in God levels the playing field. Instead of being separated into human families, we are all being invited into God's family. What would it mean for us to fully believe this? What would it look like to put this great trust in God? What would it mean for us and what would it mean for our neighbors?
Faithful God, you never abandon us. Inspire us with your consistent compassion. Allow us to see each other as brothers and sisters instead of opponents or enemies. Amen.
Joshua Kestner, '17
Admissions Counselor, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
Psalm 45:10 Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him;
12 the people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people
13 with all kinds of wealth. The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
14 in many-colored robes she is led to the king; behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.
16 In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever. [New Revised Standard Version]
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55108, United States
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