February 2, 2003
February 2 is the festival of The
Presentation of our Lord; many Lutheran congregations will observe it on
this Sunday rather than the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany.
Prayer of the Day
O God, you know that we cannot withstand the dangers which surround
us. Strengthen us in body and spirit so that, with your help, we may be able to
overcome the weakness that our sin has brought upon us; through Jesus Christ,
your Son our Lord. Amen
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
{15 The LORD your God will raise
up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a
prophet. {16} This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb on
the day of the assembly when you said: "If I hear the voice of the LORD my
God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die." {17} Then
the LORD replied to me: "They are right in what they have said. {18} I
will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will
put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything
that I command. {19} Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet
shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. {20} But any
prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my
name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak--that prophet shall
die."
15. a prophet like me: Moses is speaking. "like
me" could mean anything from "an Israelite like me," to
"an inspired prophet like me." Luke quotes this passage in Acts 3:2 and
7:37; Deuteronomy 34:10 declares that the prophet like Moses has not yet arisen
(perhaps sixth century b.c.). By putting this reading in context with Mark
1:21-28 Mark identifies Jesus as the prophet like Moses, than whom he is greater;
also Hebrews 3:3.
16. If I hear the voice of the L
ord...or ever again see this fire,
I will die: A reference back to Deuteronomy 5:25: the Israelites have Moses
go to hear Yahweh alone, so they will not be in danger of dying when they hear
Yahweh's voice.
17. They are right in what they have said: Deuteronomy 5:28: Yahweh
agreed with the people. So, Moses became an intermediary between Yahweh and the
Israelites, with Yahweh's concurrence. This introduces Yahweh's declaration that
he will provide prophets who will speak what he commands them.
19. the words that the prophet shall speak in my name: And how
shall we know that the words the prophet is speaking are truly the words of God?
"You may say to yourself, ‘How can we recognize a word that the LORD has
not spoken?’ If a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD but the thing does
not take place or prove true, it is a word that the LORD has not spoken. The
prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it"
(Deuteronomy 18:22). According to Robert Boyle the purpose of an hypothesis
in science, should be: "That it enable a skilful
Naturalist to foretell future Phenomena by their Congruity or Incongruity to it;
and especially the Events of such Experiments as are aptly devised to Examine
it; as Things that ought or ought not to be Consequent to it." [1]
In other
words the test of good prophecy and good science is the same: does what it
promises take place?
Psalm 111
{1} Praise the LORD! I will give
thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the
congregation. {2} Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who
delight in them. {3} Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his
righteousness endures forever. {4} He has gained renown by his wonderful
deeds; the LORD is gracious and merciful. {5} He provides food for those
who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. {6} He has shown his
people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
{7} The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are
trustworthy. {8} They are established forever and ever, to be performed
with faithfulness and uprightness. {9} He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name. {10} The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a
good understanding. His praise endures forever.
The Psalm is an acrostic poem, with
each half-verse beginning with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. "…the
psalm strings together stereotyped statements and maxims. The singer chooses
examples from the tradition of conventional sayings." [2] "The hymnic
praise of the singer is at the same time thanksgiving and confession." [3]
1-4: The Psalmist praises God because of his dealings with his people.
5-6: Specific works of Yahweh are noted: food, the covenant, the heritage
of the nations.
7-9: The law is to be kept faithfully.
9. holy and awesome is his name: This is in contrast with the description
in verse 4: "the Lord is gracious and merciful." The psalmist
"recognizes the gift of the divine grace and the obligatory nature of the
demand made by his holy will as the two inseparable aspects of the God who is at
once unapproachable and near.... the inscrutable greatness of the God whose
praise he wishes to proclaim." [3a] Yahweh’s name is Yahweh.
10: "In v. 10a a wisdom saying [Proverbs 9:10] is taken up which corresponds to the
actual endeavor of the psalmist to lead from formalism, traditionalism, and
dogmatism to a living encounter with the God of Israel. In the ‘fear of Yahweh’
the human being becomes aware of the reality of God. In many cases—and so in
Ps. 111:10—‘fear of Yahweh’ denotes obedience to the divine will." [4]
His praise endures forever: "The conclusion of the psalm is formed
by a hymnic half-verse, as in Ps. 15:5." [5]
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
{1} Now
concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess
knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. {2} Anyone who
claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; {3} but
anyone who loves God is known by him. {4} Hence, as to the eating of food
offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists,"
and that "there is no God but one." {5} Indeed, even though
there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as in fact there are many
gods and many lords-- {6} yet for us there is one God, the Father, from
whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through
whom are all things and through whom we exist. {7} It is not everyone,
however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols
until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and
their conscience, being weak, is defiled. {8} "Food will not bring
us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off
if we do. {9} But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow
become a stumbling block to the weak. {10} For if others see you, who
possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their
conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to
idols? {11} So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ
died are destroyed. {12} But when you thus sin against members of your
family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
{13} Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat,
so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
1. food sacrificed to idols: Christian Jews could not eat meat
that had been prepared by pagan butchers because, in the preparation, it had
been sacrificed in honor of pagan gods. According to the Jerusalem agreement (Acts 15:29) Gentile Christians were
supposed to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols. Christians in Thyatira and
Pergammum were indicted for eating such meat (Revelation 2:14, 20).
4. we know that "no idol in the world really exists":
Enlightened Gentile Christians also knew that idols had no real existence, so
meat could not be sacrificed to them, and there was no religious reason for not
eating it. On the other hand, though they knew that no idol had real existence
(see Isaiah 44:8ff; 45:5ff.), for Christian Jews the question was not the reality
of idols, but the appearance of idolatrous behavior by some Christians. It was a
problem that continued to trouble the early church until the church was
primarily Gentile and butchers no longer sacrificed to pagan gods.
7-13. It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge: Christian
Jews, who had resisted pagan influences continued to "think of the food
they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is
defiled." So Paul counseled concern for the weak, and committed himself to
such a course: "if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat,
so that I may not cause one of them to fall."
Two principles are in conflict here. First, since the gods of
the pagans do not exist, activities their worshippers participate in as
religious exercises have no religious meaning to Christians and can be engaged
in for non-religious reasons. Second, if by insisting on our freedom to do what
we want in such cases, we cause Christians who are not as sophisticated as we
are to lose faith, then we sin against our brothers and sisters in Christ. The
resolution? "Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other" (1
Corinthians 10:24). A third aspect must also be remembered and considered. Those
who were concerned with this matter were in the minority, and whatever they did
did not effect those of the public for whom it was not an issue. We may need to
be reminded that we are, even now, a minority, and should be concerned with
harmony among believers rather than the imposition of our enlightened morality on
others, lest our discord be the cause of spiritual damage to others.
Mark 1:21-28
{21} They went to Capernaum; and
when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. {22} They
were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and
not as the scribes. {23} Just then there was in their synagogue a man
with an unclean spirit, {24} and he cried out, "What have you to do
with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the
Holy One of God." {25} But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be
silent, and come out of him!" {26} And the unclean spirit,
convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. {27} They
were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new
teaching--with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey
him." {28} At once his fame began to spread throughout the
surrounding region of Galilee.
21. They went to Capernaum: According to Matthew 4:13 (Mark 2:1),
Jesus made his home in Capernaum. In Luke 4:23 Jesus points to the desire of the
people of Nazareth to share in the same benefits as Capernaum did. On the other
hand, in Matthew 11:23 Jesus prophesies a dismal end for Capernaum.
22. he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes: The
teaching of the scribes was to quote the authorities of the past, to arrange
them according to their different ideas, and to leave a decision between them up
in the air. One can view this kind of teaching in the Mishneh. The son of a
carpenter would be expected to keep his place and not speak in public, so Jesus
behavior surprises and shocks those who were present.
23. a man with an unclean spirit: In Mark it is the unclean spirits,
demons and Gentiles who recognize who Jesus is.
24. the Holy One of God: This phrase is used only here, in Luke 4:34, the
parallel to this passage, and in John 6:69 where Peter, speaking for the
disciples, says, "We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy
One of God." In Psalm 106:16 Aaron is called "the holy one of the
LORD." Otherwise, the phrase "the Holy One of Israel" is a fairly
frequent designation for Yahweh. The demons acknowledge Jesus power over them
and invoke his identity for protection.
25. Jesus does not hurt the demons, but he does silence them and expels
them from their host.
27: Again those who are present are astonished by his authority over
unclean spirits.
What is this?…He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him:
"Who then is this that even the wind and sea obey him?" (Mark 4:41).
Reflection
Jesus came speaking with
authority, and with authority he spoke on behalf of the stranger, the powerless,
the oppressed. Though his teachings contradicted the traditions of his people,
even demons and Gentiles recognized him for who he was. Prophets speak with the
authority of God. Often what they say is surprising and disconcerting. Often the
words of prophets require us to surrender desirable positions and principles, to
relinquish comfortable opinions and points of view. They may even require us to
give way when we are right and know it.
For Christians
it is not being right that counts. What is important is our love and concern for
others, especially others who do not share our values and perspectives. God
deals graciously with us; we are to be gracious toward others, even to the
extent of loving our enemies (Matthew 5:55; Luke 6:27, 35).
Hymns
[6]
With One Voice (e.g. 762v), Hymnal Supplement 1991
(e.g. 725s) and LBW (e.g. 32).
E=Entrance; D=Hymn of the Day; I=First Lesson, P=Psalm; II=Second
Lesson; G=Gospel
