Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 13: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 88; Evening, Psalms 91 and 92;
2nd Samuel 12:1 to 14; Acts 19:21 to 41; Mark 9:14 to 29:
“You are the man!” (2nd Samuel, 12:7)
When Nathan, the Prophet of God, came and told David the metaphor about the rich man who took a poor man’s only little lamb to slaughter for his guest rather than slaughtering one from his own of many sheep, David was furious and said, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity:” (2nd Samuel 12:5 and 6).
This is when Nathan breaks out of the metaphor and informs David that, “He is the man!” and then explains how God has looked after him all his life and has given him much including many wives and yet he saw fit to go and take Uriah’s only wife to bed, and then have him killed. So after hearing Nathan’s story, David realized he passed judgment on himself.
David was sorry for what he had done and said to Nathan, “‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan said to David, ‘Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child that is born to you shall die:” (2nd Samuel 12: 13 and 14). The child dies. I have learned not to try to hold God in judgment. God will do what God will do. This is what it means to be the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.
Perhaps the biggest take-away for me is not to put David, or any mortal on a pedestal. We all fall short, all that is except our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And it is our Lord Jesus whom we go to for forgiveness for he is our Redeemer and Advocate. Thank you Jesus.
Today (August 6) is the Day of the Transfiguration of our Lord.
“Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:28 to 31)
Through Peter, John and James, we all get to see who Jesus really is. Today is also Friday.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done”( Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends; Shabbat Shalom.
Let us live to love, rather than just live to live, listening to what the Spirit is saying to, and through the saints of God, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 