Day 1 (Monday)
1 Kingdoms 7:3 – 17 (Israel Repents Under Samuel)
The last two weeks, we have taken a break from our journey through Samuel’s time as judge of the Israelites in the Promised Land, and have instead read two psalms that are significant to the Holy Week and Bright Week celebrations that we have just completed. This week, we will return to the story, after the Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant to Israel, and many Israelites ended up dying because of their carelessness and faithfulness in welcoming it back. The last thing that we saw were the first two verses of I Kingdoms/I Samuel chapter 7, in which the Ark ended up in the care of a certain Abinadab, and the Israelites began to “lament after the Lord.” We will re-read these verses, and then continue the rest of the chapter.
Israel Repents Under Samuel
7 1 And the people of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord, and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. They consecrated his son, Eleazar, to have charge of the ark of the Lord.
2 From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.
Samuel as Judge
3 Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the Lord only.
5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6 So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and said, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.
7 When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 The people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.
10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the Lord thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as beyond Beth-car.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel; the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.
15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there; he administered justice there to Israel, and built there an altar to the Lord.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that this is the first victory that we have seen the Israelites win against the Philistines; or rather, this is the first time that they have actually turned to the Lord, and therefore, the Lord Himself now fights for Israel, and drives the Philistines before them. This is the same pattern as in the book of Judges, and it makes the same important point; Israel is God’s people, and He gives them victory when they are faithful, and withdraws His protection when they are unfaithful. The pattern, however, is about to change, as when Samuel becomes old, the people will ask for a king, and this sets in motion the chain of events that ends with the anointing of King David. We will read from the book of Proverbs next time, and then will resume with that story.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Day 2 (Wednesday)
Epistle of St. Clement to the Corinthians (translated by Roberts-Donaldson)
As we begin the final third of this year, as we have before, we will select a longer text from the Church’s tradition to read through. In the first year, we read the Didache & Epistle of St. Ignatius to the Ephesians, and in the second year, we read the 1st Apology of St. Justin Martyr. This year, we will read the Epistle of St. Clement to the Church in Corinth, which is a letter from one of the early leaders of the Church in Rome to the Church in Corinth on the occasion of a disruption in church order and unity in Corinth. It is generally dated to the last 20 years of the 1st century, and is a window for us into the actual life of the first generation of Christians after the death of the Apostles. The translation is taken from the following website: http://earlychristianwritings.com/text/1clement-roberts.html
Letter of Clement to the Corinthians: Chapters 1-3
CHAPTER 1 — SALUTATION, AND PRAISE FOR THE CORINTHIANS BEFORE SCHISM BROKE FORTH AMONG THEM.
The Church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the Church of God sojourning at Corinth, to those who are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied.
Owing, dear brethren, to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to ourselves, we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the points respecting which you consulted us; and especially to that shameful and detestable sedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy, that your venerable and illustrious name, worthy to be universally loved, has suffered grievous injury.
For who ever dwelt even for a short time among you, and did not find your faith to be as fruitful of virtue as it was firmly established? Who did not admire the sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ? Who did not proclaim the magnificence of your habitual hospitality? And who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge? For you did all things without respect of persons, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who had the rule over you, and giving all fitting honour to the presbyters among you.
You enjoined young men to be of a sober and serious mind; you instructed your wives to do all things with a blameless, becoming, and pure conscience, loving their husbands as in duty bound; and you taught them that, living in the rule of obedience, they should manage their household affairs becomingly, and be in every respect marked by discretion.
CHAPTER 2 — PRAISE OF THE CORINTHIANS CONTINUED.
Moreover, you were all distinguished by humility, and were in no respect puffed up with pride, but yielded obedience rather than extorted it, and were more willing to give than to receive? Content with the provision which God had made for you, and carefully attending to His words, you were inwardly filled with His doctrine, and His sufferings were before your eyes. Thus a profound and abundant peace was given to you all, and you had an insatiable desire for doing good, while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all. Full of holy designs, and with true earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, you stretched forth your hands to God Almighty, beseeching Him to be merciful to you, if you had been guilty of any involuntary transgression.
Day and night you were anxious for the whole brotherhood, that the number of God's elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience. You were sincere and uncorrupted, and forgetful of injuries between one another. Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight. You mourned over the transgressions of your neighbours: their deficiencies you deemed your own. You never grudged any act of kindness, being "ready to every good work." Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, you did all things in the fear of God. The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts.
CHAPTER 3 — THE SAD STATE OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH AFTER SEDITION AROSE IN IT FROM ENVY AND EMULATION.
Every kind of honour and happiness was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, "My beloved ate and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked” (Deuteronomy 32:15, a reference to Israel). Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honoured, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years. For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith, neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian, but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that the Church in Corinth had experienced great difficulty previously, during the life of St. Paul, and it was because of this that he had written two substantial letters to them. Apparently the issue had been resolved at that time (probably sometime between A.D. 40 & 60), but another problem has arisen, and seems to involve younger members of the community. The Church in Corinth had apparently written to the Church in Rome, asking for guidance and assistance in resolving the conflict, but the response was delayed, due to an intensification of persecution in Rome itself. This introduction is setting the stage for what Clement has to say to the Corinthians, so we will see more in weeks to come.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Day 3 (Friday)
Matthew 12:22-37 (Jesus Accused of Alliance with Satan)
Back in week 24, in mid-February, we saw Jesus in conflict with the Pharisees, who criticized His disciples for plucking stalks of grain to eat on the Sabbath, and then criticized Jesus for healing the man with the withered hand in the synagogue. Jesus therefore went away from there, and the crowds followed Him; what we will see here is that, although He was not seeking conflict with the Pharisees, but rather avoiding it by leaving the place where they had criticized Him, they are now following Him, and continuing to find fault with Him, regardless of the good that He was doing. This process will, of course, culminate in His confrontation with and denunciation of them in the Temple, as we read a few weeks ago, but for now, He is still avoiding this conflict.
Jesus and Beelzebul
12:22 Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23 All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.” 25 He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
A Tree and Its Fruit
33 “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out Jesus is showing them that they are calling what is clearly a good thing, clearly from God, an evil, rejecting God’s very presence among them, and denouncing the miracles as the work of demons. His point to them, about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, is simply saying that, if we as human beings reject God’s work of salvation in us, we cannot expect some other salvation to come to us afterward. There is no other hope left to us. Such rejection is difficult, perhaps impossible, to accomplish in a single moment, with a single sin; it is rather a matter of habitual, consistent rejection of the Lord and His mercy and love. It is to such a rejection that the demons tempt us, to such a rejection that our sins tend, if we refuse to repent and to turn toward the Lord. But it is not easily done. We should not give in to despair of God's ever forgiving us…the ability to regret our sins by itself shows that we are not lost. But neither should we become complacent, and simply plan to repent at a later date, after we have "enjoyed" whatever sins seem to appeal to us. The danger is strong that, when the time comes to repent, we will no longer desire to do so.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?