week 7

Psalm: Psalm 85
Old Testament : 2 Samuel 6:1-19
Gospel : Mark 6:14-29
Epistle : Ephesians 1:3-14

Well another week has passed us by and we have had quite the full weekend. But no doubt very few are concerned with my personal life, so let’s jump in to the text.  The story of David continues this week with the moving of the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem.  If you remember from the life of David, David captured the city of Jerusalem earlier and declared that this would be the capital city of Israel.  This week that idea of David’s is brought to fruition with the presence of the Lord, the Ark, being brought into the city.   

The Ark has a long and strange history.  After its use in the desert and the conquest of Canaan it actually ended up in the hands of the Philistines.  It brought misfortune to the Philistines so they returned it to the Israelite where it kind of fell out of importance during the reign of Solomon.  David is initially terrified of the power of the Ark; it did after all kill Uzzah when he touched it.  (vs. 6-10)This is not something you just leave around the house.  So, David brings the Ark to somebody else’s house to deal with.  But after that house is blessed David decides that maybe he does want the Ark after all.

We can’t really say that David actually had pure motives in bringing the Ark to Jerusalem.  He really wanted the Lord’s blessing or we might say good luck.  But despite the motives, David realized that the Ark brought the Lord’s blessing and for that he rejoiced and danced.  With the Arc in Jerusalem the presence of the Lord was there.

What can I say about the reading from Mark?  It’s a sad story about a man being fooled by a beautiful young woman.  John the Baptist is beheaded because the daughter of Herodias puts on a good show and Herod promises to give her anything she asks.  If this story teaches us nothings else it, reminds us to be careful what we promise.  It actually reminds me of what Jesus says in Matt 5:33-37 about not swearing.  We are not to make any oaths, but simple let our yes be yes and no, no.  If we don’t promise something beforehand we won’t be stuck doing something we know is bad to save our own face. I’ll keep this a story about wisdom and oaths and avoid where some might go about being tempted by a beautiful women.  

We finally move out of Corinthians this week and into Ephesians.  Unfortunately this letter is just as hard to understand. What I have been coming to understand is that Paul’s letters can’t just be read piecemeal every Sunday.  They need to be read in context and straight through.  The Lectionary has made it difficult I feel to really get into what Paul is saying.  But if you’re reading Ephesians 1 one this week, as I hope you do, I want you to notice that every time the word “he” or “him” is used it refers to God the Father.  Originally I was thinking it was Christ, but if you notice when Paul is referring to Christ he just says “Christ.” This can actually change our understanding of the text and reminds us that Jesus is pointing us to the Father.  If anything it reminds us to always keep the mystery of the Trinity in mind.  Too often we fall into the trap of sloppy thinking and language about God and end up with a god who is nothing like the Triune God we worship who is the Father, Son, and Spirit.  It is the mystery of our faith, but one we must hold.

Let me just end with the words from our Psalm today.  They were beautiful and a great example of praise to the God we serve:

I will hear what God the Lord will say;

For He will speak peace to His people,to His godly ones;

But let them not turn back to folly.

Surely His salvation is near to those whofear Him,

That glory may dwell in our land.

Lovingkindness andtruth have met together;

Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth springs from the earth,

And righteousness looks down from heaven.

Indeed, the Lord will give what is good,

And our land will yield its produce.

Righteousness will go before Him

And will make His footsteps into a way.

Ps. 85:8-13