Community Presbyterian Church

Luke 1:26-56
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly, he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Reflection
One of the most remarkable calling stories in the Scriptures, Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel stands out as one of the most important passages in Scripture. The Annunciation (as it’s called in many circles) is one of the first signs Israel received that their Messiah was coming into this world. Perhaps, not surprisingly, God chose to use one of the most unexpected vessels to accomplish his will–a teenage girl. Then, this passage ends with the Magnificat–Mary’s song of praise. She responds to God after learning that she would bear the Christ-child. Both parts of this passage (beginning and end) offer two-sides of an important narrative that illuminates God’s majestic plan for the redemption of the world. 

In the middle of this passage, however, we find another important text that communicates so much about the nature of our world and the Holy Spirit’s presence in it. Aptly called the Visitation, the text shares a tender moment between Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist, and her cousin Mary, who  is now carrying the Messiah in her womb. When Mary entered the room and greeted her cousin, the baby inside of Elizabeth responded in an unusual way. The baby didn’t just move as would be typical for his gestation, but the little baptist leapt! (I like to imagine him like one of those Irish dancers that only kick their feet around, while the torso remains still). The baby sensed the presence of God incarnate. 

And if that wasn’t enough, the passage continues to tell us that in John the Baptist’s leap,  Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. That means that something in the intensity of the joy that the baby felt transferred and spread the presence of the Spirit from John to his mother. Though I would never claim to understand how the Spirit moves, my imagination is piqued  knowing that the joy of the Spirit in John was powerful enough to spread to Elizabeth. How much more might the Spirit spread through us, if we embrace the joy of our salvation?

Luke 1:1-16
Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I, too, decided, as one having a grasp of everything from the start, to write a well-ordered account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may have a firm grasp of the words in which you have been instructed.

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Once when he was serving as priest before God during his section’s turn of duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified, and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.

Reflection
The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is a well known biblical story, yet sometimes it’s overlooked for its theological significance. After Luke’s preamble about why he’s writing these things down, he begins his Gospel with the story of Christ’s birth. Luke, however, doesn’t start with Jesus’ genealogy or a detailed historical depiction of the event of Christ’s birth. Rather, he starts with Zechariah and Elizabeth and their miraculous pregnancy. Not only was Elizabeth past the typical childbearing years of her life, she was also unable to have children, as the text duly notes. Once again we see God using the most unassuming folks to accomplish his will. Just like Abraham and Sarah, a pregnancy seemed impossible. 

Zechariah, a priest from the line of Aaron, Israel’s first priest, was performing his regular duties in the sanctuary, when the Angel of the Lord came with this exciting news. The angel offers the standard greeting “do not be afraid,” and proceeds to proclaim the good news of the birth of Israel’s next prophet who we know as John the Baptist. For those who might have forgotten, these pregnancies–both Elizabeth’s and Mary’s–come at the end of over 400 years of silence, without any prophets, kings, or leaders in the nation of Israel acting as the voice of God. The priests and scribes were the only figures guiding the Jews and many of them had fallen prey to the corruption of the times. 

God was not only preparing to send his Son into the world, but also a prophet to prepare the way for him, and Yahweh had a few operating instructions for Zechariah. He was to name his baby boy, John. As the child grew, he was instructed to keep him from wine and strong drink. Great joy and gladness would come from his birth and he would turn many Jews back to the Lord. Then, something phenomenal happens, Zechariah was told that his baby would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. Let’s pause for a moment and consider the significance of this pronouncement. The baby, who hadn’t been conceived yet, was already promised the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In a period of our history where the Holy Spirit was not given yet to all of humanity, this baby was set apart for a specific purpose. God’s master plan of redemption and love for his people is seen once again in this miracle. 

2 Kings 2
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”

Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 

Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and the two of them crossed on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing, yet if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water. He said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? Where is he?” He struck the water again, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha crossed over.

When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. They said to him, “See now, we have fifty strong men among your servants; please let them go and seek your master; it may be that the spirit of the Lord has caught him up and thrown him down on some mountain or into some valley.” He responded, “No, do not send them.” But when they urged him to the point of embarrassment, he said, “Send them.” So they sent fifty men who searched for three days but did not find him. When they came back to him (he had remained at Jericho), he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

Now the people of the city said to Elisha, “The location of this city is good, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.” He said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it and said, “Thus says the Lord: I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.

He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!” When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. From there he went on to Mount Carmel and then returned to Samaria.

Reflection
There are a lot of things going on in this passage that have the potential to distract from the larger theological claim. It starts by foreshadowing Elijah’s impending departure from this earth and how his protégée, Elisha, was handling it. Three times Elijah tried to leave Elisha behind: before his trips to Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan. Three times, Elisha insisted that he would not leave Elijah. He knew his teacher was departing soon and he was going to remain with him. 

Then, we see God’s power in Elijah as he parted the Jordan, a miracle akin to the parting of the Red Sea by Moses. After crossing, Elijah asked Elisha if he had any last requests. Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. A tall order indeed, which comes with some strange conditions. Elijah said that if Elisha sees him taken away by God that his double portion will be granted, but if he doesn’t that it won’t. No wonder Elisha wasn’t going to let his mentor out of his sight. His timing appears to be perfect as, not long after, Elijah was taken from this earth in one of the most spectacular ways possible and Elisha was there to witness it. The double portion was his. 

After Elijah’s ascension, Elisha went to try out the new powers of the spirit by attempting the same miracle that Elijah did earlier in the text–parting the waters of the Jordan. When it doesn’t go down as expected, Elisha questioned where God was in that moment. God does empower him to perform the miracle and make his way to Jericho where the other prophets could tell, even from a distance, that God’s Spirit now resides with Elisha. 

The other prophets are determined to find Elijah, should God have dropped him off in some remote location. Then, after three days of searching they return satisfied that Elijah was taken. This narrative is followed by another miracle purifying the city’s water and then we come to perhaps my most favorite part of the passage and the symbol we remember Elisha by during our Jesse Tree devotionals. The story of the bears. 

After everything Elisha had been through and the incredible miracles performed at the Jordan and on behalf of the city’s water supply, he decided to head back to Bethel. On his way, some young boys started mocking him and ridiculing him for his baldness. Clearly sensitive about his receding hairline, Elisha cursed them. What happened next is absolutely baffling to me. The power of his curse brought about a couple of female bears who proceed to, not just chase the boys off and scare them for their disrespect, but “maul” forty-two of them. Forty-two boys were mauled by two bears for making fun of the newly empowered prophet’s bald head.

Even as I type this, I’m amazed by this text and find myself wondering what the point is. We witness several miracles, one of the most dramatic ascensions in the Scriptures, and a pretty confusing slaughter of a bunch of rowdy young boys. So what are we left with? In the end, I think the real theological point of the text is not found in the details of the passage, but in the 50,000 foot view. God did not leave Israel when He took Elijah from this earth.  Through Elisha he empowered another to continue guiding Israel.

1 Kings 17
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” The word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the wadi. But after a while the wadi dried up because there was no rain in the land.

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there, for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.” As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 

Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said, but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” But he said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” 

The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

Reflection
There are a number of Old Testament prophets that are featured in their own books of the Bible, but Elijah is not one of them. He lived and prophesied in the 9th century BC during reign of King Ahab, the seventh king of the northern kingdom of Israel. He is known as the unrighteous king who found himself in a battle with Elijah over whose god was more powerful–Baal or Yahweh. That story ends with fire reigning down from the heavens to ignite Elijah’s water drenched altar, confirming for all of Israel, that Yahweh truly was the Living God. 

While that narrative can be found in 1 Kings 18 (and is well worth the read), our text for today contains far less drama and excitement. What it does contain, however, is the odd story of how God provided for Elijah during the drought they were facing.

In reference to our ornament for today, we see God cared for Elijah through the ravens that brought him bread and meat. Next, through an encounter with a poor widow and her son, God continues to care for both Elijah as well as the hosts he foisted himself upon. Every day, when the widow went to gather the meal and the oil, both were sufficient to feed all three. Through these examples, we see God use unusual means to care for the prophet and a widow, who was ready to accept death for herself and her son. And, later in the story when the son actually dies, Elijah is there to call upon God for a miracle, and the son is raised back to life. It makes me wonder if that was why God directed Elijah to the widow in the first place. 

Although we can wonder about a number of facets of this text, what is clear is that God loves the prophet Elijah and wasn’t about to let him die. Perhaps God was keeping him around for all of his exploits in chapter 18. Once again, we see God’s loving and faithful hand guiding the people of Israel. 

1 Kings 3
Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt; he took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord.

Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you, and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?”

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or for the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you, and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”

Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem, where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being and provided a feast for all his servants.

Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. The one woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth while she was in the house. Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house; only the two of us were in the house. Then this woman’s son died in the night because she lay on him. She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast and laid her dead son at my breast. When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead, but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne.” But the other woman said, “No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours.” The first said, “No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine.” So they argued before the king.

Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son who is alive, and your son is dead,’ while the other says, ‘Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’ ” So the king said, “Bring me a sword,” and they brought a sword before the king. The king said, “Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one and half to the other.” But the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because compassion for her son burned within her, “Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!” The other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.” Then the king responded, “Give her the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother.” All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to execute justice.

Reflection
It’s not surprising that people have difficulty with this passage. Directly after the narrative of Solomon’s dream in which he asks God for wisdom and understanding above all else, he’s put to the test. He’s faced with a decision that seems almost impossible to resolve. Most are familiar with the scene between King Solomon and the two women, both of whom are claiming a baby was hers. Solomon’s judgement and pronouncement, at first glance don’t seem quite right. Chop the baby in half? Those in the courtroom must have thought that Solomon had lost his mind. Where was his compassion? How could that solution bring about justice?

As we know, it did. The real mother, not wanting her baby to be killed would have rather given him to the other mother than see her child die. No doubt only a mother’s true love could make such a sacrifice. Fortunately, she didn’t have to, as Solomon appeared only to be bluffing, or at least that’s what we chalk it up to when it comes to this story. Did Solomon know that the true mother would step up in this way? Was he counting on one of them to call his bluff? If neither woman spoke up, would he have gone through with it? It’s a horrid thought indeed, yet these are questions that will always remain around this text. 

Did God use Solomon’s deception to bring about justice? For some in Christian ethics, this is an example of how an ethic of “the end justifies the means is supported. Solomon used deception and trickery to bring about a response that allowed him to ascertain the truth. Does that mean the passage supports lying or bluffing just because it brings about a good result. Was God’s wisdom in that story seen in Solomon’s choices? Even more, the fact that this story is used as an illustration for the newfound wisdom of King Solomon makes the whole judgement seem even more challenging. 

In the end, I’m not sure I have answers to these questions, but I do have one assurance. Prior to this passage and in dozens of stories prior to this one, we witness again and again, humans failing only to be rescued and restored by God. In my reconciliatory mindset, I, too, am left trusting that Solomon’s deception, seemingly harsh judgment, and general manipulation were the best that he could come up with in the moment. And, like so many earlier stories, God was there to take our broken human efforts and turn them into something that glorifies God. 

Hey Everyone,

I hope you are all well and in blessed Advent spirits. I’m really struggling to believe that we’re almost through the holy season. It’s gone fast. I’m looking forward to celebrating the Fourth Sunday of Advent in a couple of days. As we join together to light the Love candle, we’ll consider what love looks like through God’s eyes and thus through our own. This Sunday, December 18, I’ll be preaching from Matthew 1:18-25. You can read the Gospel text and the other lectionary texts in the online order of worship below.

Other than the men’s prayer breakfast, all systems are ago for our weekly offerings. So please consider joining us for games on Monday night or our study of the Apocrypha on Wednesday. And, don’t forget Christmas Eve. For the fourth year, we’ll gather in the CPC yard for an outdoor candle lit service of song and Scripture. Details can be found below.

Here are your announcements for this week:

Intergenerational Study of the Bible for Youth
Our intergenerational study of the Bible will be looking at the Biblical narratives between the Fall and Abraham’s call tonight Sunday, December 18th from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. All are welcome (especially those between the ages of 10 to 18 years old).

Games Up Here
Join us for “Games up here” on Monday, December  19th at the Presbyterian Annex at 7:00pm. 

Wednesday Bible Study
Join us this Wednesday, December 21st at 5:00pm online and in Darley Hall as we explore the Apocryphal book the Sirach.

Christmas Eve Service
Join us on Saturday, December 24th for our ecumenical Christmas Eve Service in the yard of CPC. With a liturgy of Scripture and song, we’ll usher in Christmas by lifting our voices and candles to welcome in the new born King. Service will begin at 5:30pm and last around 30 minutes.

Men’s Prayer Breakfast
No Men’s Prayer Breakfast until 2023.

And, here are your links for the week ahead:

Sunday Worship Service:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489308747?pwd=RHVFY1BybkU0a1RXZE9GRlBZWWpNUT09

Wednesday Evening Bible Study:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83431443393

2 Samuel 7
Now when the king was settled in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ 

Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel, and I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and be disturbed no more, and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel, and I will give you rest from all your enemies. 

Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings. But I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.” In accordance with all these words and with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God; you have spoken also of your servant’s house into the distant future. May this be instruction for the people,O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise and according to your own heart, you have wrought all this greatness so that your servant may know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God, for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. Who is like your people, like Israel? Is there another nation on earth whose God went to redeem it as a people and to make a name for himself, doing great and awesome things, driving out nations and their gods before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt? 

And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever, and you, O Lord, became their God. And now, O Lord God, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, confirm it forever; do as you have promised. Thus your name will be magnified forever in the saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; now, therefore, may it please you to bless the house of your servant so that it may continue forever before you, for you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.”

Reflection
We find an interesting exchange between God and David through the prophet Nathan in this passage from 2 Samuel. Notably, there are two theologically significant points that I’d like to highlight as we consider David’s kingship and his role in Yahweh’s plan for redemption. First, the text portrays David’s earnest desire to build a temple for God. He recognizes that he, a human king, was living in a permanent abode, constructed and built to honor is kingship, but God only dwelled in the tent of the tabernacle. Recognizing that God has blessed him with so much, David desires to return the favor. At first, Nathan encourages David to go ahead with his plan, but then God steps in and tells Nathan that David isn’t the servant that will construct him a dwelling place on this earth. 

Can you imagine that, David wanted to do something great for God and Yahweh was like, “Ehhh… maybe… but you’re not going to be the one to build it.” David had made a plan, but God had someone else in mind (David’s son, Solomon). As I ponder this exchange, I can’t help but question my own journey. Were there times that I wanted to do something I thought was good for God’s kingdom, but God had other plans? I do recall times I thought a ministry opportunity sounded perfect, but doors mysteriously closed. Although things appeared perfect to me, God had other ideas. It’s a great reminder that though we make plans (even in God’s interest), it is God who orders our steps.  

Second, one of the main reasons this passage is a part of our Jesse Tree devotions each year, is that it contains one of the most important covenants God made with Israel–the Davidic Covenant. When David voiced his desire to build God a temple, Yahweh said that He would  establish a house for David as well. David’s desire for an earthly temple would come to fruition (through his offspring), but God was going to establish David’s kingdom forever. Then, the most incredible thing happened–God also promised that he’ll never take his love away from this offspring and that the kingdom would remain “sure” before God until the end of the ages. What David wanted to establish in the material world, God was going to establish until eternity.

What a promise! God won’t ever take his love away and he would establish David’s kingdom until the end of the world. This Davidic Covenant is the last of the promises God made to Israel in terms of their earthly kingdom. Through the covenants, God established his people and promised to remain with them. He orders their lives with the Law, and despite their unfaithfulness, God still promised to faithfully care for them. His presence on earth would be established through the line of David, and God’s steadfast love would remain with them forever.

1 Samuel 17
Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. Saul and the Israelites gathered and encamped in the valley of Elah and formed ranks against the Philistines. The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was four cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 

He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron, and his shield-bearer went before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants, but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. The three eldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle; the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. David was the youngest; the three eldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.

Jesse said to his son David, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers; also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them.”

Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel were in the valley of Elah fighting with the Philistines. David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.

All the Israelites, when they saw the man, fled from him and were very much afraid. The Israelites said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. The king will greatly enrich the man who kills him and will give him his daughter and make his family free in Israel.” David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” The people answered him in the same way, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.”

His eldest brother Eliab heard him talking to the men, and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David. He said, “Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down just to see the battle.” David said, “What have I done now? It was only a question.” He turned away from him toward another and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.

When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father, and whenever a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock,  I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth, and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. Your servant has killed both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” David said, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you!”

Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. David strapped Saul’s sword over the armor, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I am not used to them.” So David removed them. Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in his shepherd’s bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.

The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.” But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head, and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine; he grasped his sword, drew it out of its sheath, and killed him; then he cut off his head with it.

When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. The troops of Israel and Judah rose up with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. The Israelites came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” The king said, “Inquire whose son the young man is.” On David’s return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

Reflection
I absolutely loved this story as a child. Not that I didn’t like the other Biblical stories, but there was something about the narrative of David and Goliath that struck a cord in my young heart. As I consider why I was drawn to it, I’m certain my affection was influenced by the underdog motif. The ruddy little shepherd takes down the big bully Philistine with just one little pebble. Who wouldn’t like that?

The passage sets up the dramatic event so well. The antagonist is introduced in all of his physical glory. Goliath is painted as a giant behemoth who taunts the Lord’s army and defiles God, and he serves as a serious threat to Israel’s army. The plot thickens as a challenge is issued by the Philistines. They wanted to make it interesting, so they turned it into almost a game. One battle between Goliath and any Israelite brave enough to face him. The army of the loser would be the slaves of the victor. As I think about this challenge, I wonder if they Philistines really expected that the Israelites would send anyone. The almost impossible feat of defeating Goliath sets the stage for God’s faithful intervention through a young shepherd boy. 

The narrative leads us through the events that brought David to the Israelite army’s camp. He’s not only an unlikely candidate to face Goliath, he’s not even supposed to be near the battle field. When he learns about the challenge and that no one was willing face the giant, he is almost insulted that no one in the army had faith in God’s power and might. They were trying to win the battle by their own prowess and strength. David sees this, names it, and without batting an eyelash, volunteers to take on the Philistine. What was no doubt viewed as youthful naïveté, God used for his glory. David makes his case to King Saul and the king, so impressed by the young shepherd boy, is willing to let him go. 

Rejecting the battle implements of King Saul, David takes his staff, his sling (the ornament for today) and a handful of stones smoothed by the current of the stream, and heads out to face Goliath. As the story reveals, one well aimed stone guided by God’s hand gave us one of the most beloved underdog stories of all times. David defeats Goliath, chops off his head (another part of the story that I loved as a kid), and the Philistine army flees. The Israelites pursue them, raid their camp, and David takes Goliath’s head to Jerusalem. (But strangely enough he decided to keep Goliath’s armor and put them in his own tent).

A happy ending for all (except the Philistines) and one more story about how God uses the least suspecting folks to do his work. It’s an incredible story of God’s might, but also a great reminder that in times where we think God would never use us… you never know, he just might. 🙂

Ruth 3
Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”

So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk and was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his feet and lay down. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.” He said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not be afraid, I will do for you all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people know that you are a worthy woman. But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I. Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin for you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to act as next-of-kin for you, then, as the Lord lives, I will act as next-of-kin for you. Lie down until the morning.”

So she lay at his feet until morning but got up before one person could recognize another, for he said, “It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” Then he said, “Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her back; then he went into the town. She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, saying, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ” She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

Reflection
The story of Ruth is such a rich one that it is often overlooked for its significance. At first glance, one might assume it’s simply a lovely Biblical story about how God cared for Naomi and Ruth, two widows who journeyed from Moab (southeast of Jerusalem) back to Bethlehem (northwest of Jerusalem). These were courageous women who stand out in the history of Israel. Ruth in particular, in her willingness to leave her people, culture, and gods in order to assimilate and become part of the nation of Israel. 

Some look at this book as an allegory for God’s provision for other nations though Israel. In this way, Naomi is the faithfulness of Israel, returning to Israel (Bethlehem) and remaining with her people. Ruth, in this way, represents those nations that both fear Yahweh and are willing to turn from their foreign ways to worship him. Not surprisingly, Boaz embodies the figure of God, who is benevolent, loving, and receptive. He is the savior hero figure in this narrative. 

Next, many Biblical scholars will argue that this is a passage that points toward God’s ultimate plan to reconcile all people. Although this broader vision of humanity’s salvation can clearly be noted throughout the Old Testament in God’s admonitions to the people of Israel, it’s perhaps most dramatically seen in Biblical figures like Rahab, Jonah, and our story for today, Ruth. God used Rahab, a Gentile, to help the Israelites conquer Canaan. God called Jonah to warn Nineveh, a Gentile city, about God’s wrath. And God used Ruth, a widowed Moabite, to demonstrate God’s love for those outside of Israel. In all these passages (and others) we see God’s broader plan for the redemption of the world. 

Finally, and perhaps most relevant for our Advent season, this story’s significance lies in the fact that not only did God show favor to Ruth through Boaz’s love and protection, but God used her in one of the most important lineages in all of human history. If you’re not aware, Boaz and Ruth eventually had a child, whom they named Obed. Then, Obed fathered Jesse, the very same Jesse of our Jesse Tree devotions! And as we know, Jesse, was the father of David, who eventually became God’s chosen King over Israel

1 Samuel 3 
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!”and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Then the Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.” 

Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” He said, “Here I am.” Eli said, “What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.” So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, “It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.”

As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

Reflection
Many folks imagine Samuel in this passage as a young child. This doesn’t come as a surprise to me considering much of the religious art from the history of the church portrays a young child being given to the priest Eli for service in the tabernacle. Scholars believe he was about three years old, when his mother Hannah offered him to Eli. Moreover, some rabbinic scholars argue he could have been as young as twenty-two months, about the time when she would have weaned him. Although Samuel was a young child when he was offered, by the time this passage took place, he was likely around twelve or thirteen years old. Through our modern lens, this is quite young to assume a role of such responsibility. 

That said, I felt a call to ministry when I was fourteen years old, not far from Samuel’s age when God audibly spoke to him. So I know that it’s not impossible for a boy to understand the idea of being called by God. He wasn’t called to youth ministry, however. His role in the nation of Israel was not a small one. Can you imagine that? Samuel was barely into his adolescence and God called him to be a prophet for God’s chosen people. He would be the voice of God. As the text reveals, hearing Yahweh’s voice in those days wasn’t common, but in this case, God spoke to Samuel several times. In the midst of the unrighteousness of Eli’s house, God was going to raise up a leader. Out of the humility and innocence of a child, God would lead the people of Israel. We shouldn’t be surprised by this somehow, in particular since we know this isn’t the first time God used someone who felt less than, under equipped, or on the fringe of society. God has a knack for using the least expected people. 

Samuel was one of the last judges of Israel and one of the first prophets after Moses. He would be a key figure in helping bring a King-based government to Israel, and in the anointing of David as God’s chosen king. This passage not only highlight the value God places on those often unsuspecting vessels God, but also marks a transition in our story as we move toward the final covenant God makes with one of Israel’s leaders–King David.