Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 13: Year 1
Morning, Psalm 34; Evening, Psalms 85 and 86;
2nd Samuel 11:1 to 27; Acts 19:11 to 20; Mark 9:2 to 13:
“In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, so that he may be struck down and die:” (2nd Samuel 11:14 and 15)
What an evil sandwich this is. Because of the lust he had for a woman, and her subsequent pregnancy, the almost honorable David, king of all Israel, has stooped to the betrayal and murder of one of his own.
And, if this was not bad enough, he has enlisted the aid of Joab his commander, to assist him in this sinful act. In this case, the bottom and top pieces of bread for this sandwich are the evil parts. In the center, between the bread, is the honorable lamb, Uriah, who would not comfort himself while Joab and all his military peers were waging war and sleeping when, and where they could, on the ground. I have to say, as a U. S. Marine, a military man of thirty active years, I have the utmost respect and admiration for Uriah. And I recall from this scripture, they were fighting for God’s desires as they understood it.
I can remember when President Bush (41) was told by someone during the Liberation of Kuwait, that “God was on our side”: the President responded, “I pray that we are on God’s side.” I don’t think David was on God’s side in his self-serving lust and sinful murder of Uriah. I also hold Joab equally as guilty for his participation in the killing of Uriah. It’s too late for me now, but I pray that if I had any ungodly proposition presented to me while in uniform, I would do the honorable thing, and also, that if witnessing immoral and ungodly acts, that I would give it all up for the sake of decency and morality. As far as I can recall, no such dilemmas occurred with me during the time and places I served.
There is heavy sadness in this story. Uriah is given his own death certificate unknowingly. I ponder if any eye-contact was made between Joab and Uriah as Joab read the letter ordering him to leave Uriah unprotected. What kind of sick allegiance would have Joab follow this sinful betrayal of his subordinate? Did he not love his troops as he did his king? Real love forbids such acts of betrayal. I hope that if I was in Joab’s place, I would have hidden the letter and later faced David with it. The Love for those placed in our charge must be a greater priority than the love of those in whose charge we have been placed. We must love down in order to be lifted up.
Today we remember John Mason Neale, Priest, Scholar and Translator (August 7, 1866) and his information may be found at John Mason Neale. We also remember Catherine Winkworth, Poet (August 7, 1878) and her information may be found at: Catherine Winkworth.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: Let us confess our own sins against God and our neighbor. (BCP p.358)
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
onewhoponders 