Day 1 (Monday)
1 Kingdoms 18:1-30 (David Begins to Serve Saul, Befriends Jonathan, Marries Michal, Saul Becomes Jealous of David)
Last time, we saw David accept Goliath's challenge, fight him on behalf of the Lord, the God of Israel, defeat him with a rock from a dry stream, and then behead and kill him with the giant's own sword. We talked about how all of this is a prefigurement of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, and His defeat of our enemies, sin and death and demonic power…but for now, let's see how the story of David continues.
Jonathan’s Covenant with David
18 When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.
6 As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7 And the women sang to one another as they made merry,
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.”
8 Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 So Saul eyed David from that day on.
Saul Tries to Kill David
10 The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; 11 and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. 14 David had success in all his undertakings; for the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.
David Marries Michal
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “I will not raise a hand against him; let the Philistines deal with him.” 18 David said to Saul, “Who am I and who are my kinsfolk, my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But at the time when Saul’s daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. Saul was told, and the thing pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” 22 Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘See, the king is delighted with you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants reported these words to David in private.
And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?” 24 The servants of Saul told him, “This is what David said.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no marriage present except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 When his servants told David these words, David was well pleased to be the king’s son-in-law.
Before the time had expired, 27 David rose and went, along with his men, and killed one hundred of the Philistines; and David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. 28 But when Saul realized that the Lord was with David, and that Saul’s daughter Michal loved him, 29 Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy from that time forward.
30 Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle; and as often as they came out, David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his fame became very great.
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, although Saul is the king, David is already functioning as the leader of God's people, leading them into battle, defeating God's enemies, and bringing peace and wholeness to all. Saul is actually the beneficiary of this, and Saul's son Jonathan sees this, and has formed a close friendship with David. David is entirely committed to Saul's rule, and is a faithful and loyal servant to the king. In David, God has given Saul a second chance, a defense against evil, and defeat, and demonic attack. But Saul falls to jealousy, and is already seeking to destroy David. In this, we see the depths of Saul's fall, and the depths to which we are capable of falling, where even God's mercy to us comes to be perceived as a threat, and thus we destroy ourselves. This passage, and the continued drama of Saul’s paranoid plots against David, is one that should move us to self-examination and repentance.)
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)
Hymns for the Feast of the Meeting
On February 2nd, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Meeting, or ῾Υπαπαντή in Greek. This feast commemorates what happened on the 40th day after the birth of Jesus, when the Virgin Mary and Joseph the Betrothed brought Him to the Temple as an infant to present Him to the Lord, and to make the sacrifice to redeem Him back, in accordance with the Law of Moses. This event can be found in Luke chapter 2, verses 22 through 39. In the narrative, we see two elderly people come to meet the Lord in the Temple, the first, a righteous man named Simeon, who had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he met the Messiah, and the second, a prophetess named Anna, who recognized Him as the Messiah as well, and told everyone who was faithful in Jerusalem that He had come. We will therefore read several of the hymns from the Feast, to see how the Church celebrates this event.
Meeting Hymns
3rd Hymn of the Kekragaria
Let us also come; let us meet Christ with inspired song, and let us receive Him whose salvation was seen by Symeon. He is the One whom David proclaimed. He is the One who spoke in the Prophets; He became incarnate for us and spoke through the Law. Let us worship Him.
Idiomelon 5 of the Liti
The sacred Virgin presented her sacred Son in the sacred Temple to the sacred Priest. And Symeon opened his arms and received Him with great joy, and he cried aloud, "O Master, now You let me Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word, O Lord."
Glory Hymn of the Liti
Search the Scriptures, as Christ our God said in the Gospels, and there we find Him: that He is born and wrapped in swaddling clothes; He nurses at His Mother's breast; and He receives circumcision. He was also held by Symeon. For He came and was seen in the world, not in mere appearance nor as a phantom, but in very truth. So, let us cry out to Him, "O pre-eternal God, glory to You!"
Kathisma Hymn II of the Orthros
The One who is upon the holy throne with the Father, * has come upon the earth and was born of a Virgin. * An infant has He become who by years is uncircumscribed. * And when Symeon in his embraces received Him, * he rejoiced and said, You made me glad, now release me, * Your servant, O compassionate Lord.
Both Now Hymn of Ode 1 of the Canon
Be glad, O heavens that were made with understanding! Greatly rejoice, O earth! * For Christ, your Maker, came down from the super-divine bosom. * He who is before all others is offered to His Father and God * as a babe by His virgin Mother. For He is glorified.
Mid-Ode Kathisma of the Orthros
On Mt. Sinai long ago, Moses beheld the back of God * in His glory as He passed, and he was granted to hear * the divine voice in darkness and gloom and storm indistinctly. * But Symeon has held in his embrace God himself * incarnate now for our sake immutably. * And he rejoiced and he happily hastened * to depart for the life that never ends. * And so he said, "Now You are dismissing * Your servant in peace, O Master."
Heirmos of Ode 6 of the Canon
To You, the Elder cried out, on seeing * with his own eyes the salvation that You prepared for all people, * "God from God are You, Christ my Savior."
Hymn 1 of Ode 6 of the Canon
"You have been laid as a stone for Zion, * a rock of stumbling, a stone of offense for the unbelievers, * but the firm salvation of the faithful."
Glory Hymn of Ode 6 of the Canon
"You bear the very stamp of the One who before all time has begotten You; * now in Your compassion, * You have assumed our human frailty."
Both Now Hymn of Ode 6 of the Canon
"Son of the Most High, Son of the Virgin, * You are my God and I worship You, * who became a Child. * Now dismiss me in peace, I pray You."
Heirmos of Ode 8 of the Canon
Unharmed were the young men, who were champions * of belief in God, when they were thrown into the furnace * and they faced unbearable fire; and they sang a hymn to God: * "All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages."
Hymn 1 of Ode 8 of the Canon
O people of Israel, seeing * your glory, Emmanuel, the child of the Virgin, * come and dance for joy before her who is the holy ark. * All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages.
Glory Hymn of Ode 8 of the Canon
"Behold," said Symeon, "this Child * is God and is set for a sign that is spoken against and destined to be opposed. * Let us praise Him faithfully. * All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages."
Both Now Hymn of Ode 8 of the Canon
"This Child is indeed God the Logos, * who is life inherently, the fall of unbelievers, * and the resurrection of all who praise Him faithfully. * All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord, * and exalt Him beyond measure unto all the ages."
Hymn 1 of the Ainoi
He who loves humanity fulfills the Law that was writ of old* and is brought to the Temple now.* And elderly Symeon heartily receives Him* in his old embraces,* and cries, You now let me depart* unto the blessedness of eternity.* Today I laid my eyes on You who now have put on our mortal flesh,* and I know You, O Lord my God,* as the Master of life and death.
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 name of this feast is Υπαπαντή, which means "Meeting," although it is often "glossed" rather as the Lord's Presentation in the Temple, which is what we actually see happening. However, the title "Meeting" is important, as an exegesis, an interpretation, of what is happening here. There are, in fact, multiple levels of "meeting" present here. On the most direct narrative level, the people in the Temple – Symeon, Anna, the priests, etc – are meeting their Savior, and we stand with them to meet the Lord. On another level, the Lord our God is meeting with His Faithful people, who have been awaiting Him, and yet, at the same time, the Son and Logos of God the Father is meeting with His Father in the human nature that He has assumed at His birth, coming to the Temple of the Law in accordance with the Law. Beyond that, all of us who come to celebrate the Feast are meeting with the Lord our Savior, not in an accidental or incidental way, but with purpose and intent, laying aside the things of this world and going up to the Church to encounter the Lord, Who has come to meet with us, and in this way, the Feast is a template for our entire life in Christ. It is more than just a commemorative observance of a historical occasion, which is what the term Presentation would imply; it is a true encounter, a real meeting, with God, within the sacred precincts of the Temple, and simultaneously within the sacred precincts of our own heart.)
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)
John 8:39-59 (Jesus & Abraham)
Last week we saw the Lord tell the people listening to Him in the Temple that anyone who hears Him and continues in His word will be His disciple, and will know the Truth, and the Truth will set them free. They replied that they were Abraham’s descendants, and were not slaves to anyone, and the Lord replied that everyone who sins is indeed a slave to sin. He points out to them the incongruity of the matter, that they, who are indeed descendants of Abraham, are trying to kill Him, and thus, although they are called to freedom, they have given themselves over to slavery, and therefore reject the good word that the Father has sent to them in Him, the Lord Jesus Christ. In their response, as we will see, they simply reiterate that they are descendants of Abraham…they are not understanding or accepting what the Lord is saying to them.
Jesus and Abraham
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, 40 but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. 44 You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.”
48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and he is the judge. 51 Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ 55 though you do not know him. But I know him; if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
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 a few important moments in this text. First, we need to remember that Jesus KNOWS Abraham; Jesus, the Word and Son of God, is the One that revealed Himself to Abraham. So when Jesus says to these descendants of Abraham that they are not behaving like Abraham their father, this is specific, and not general. When the Lord came to Abraham, Abraham believed Him, and followed Him, and trusted Him. The response of his descendants here is very different. Second, the reply “we are not illegitimate children” is not just a denial of the Lord’s accusation, but is likely an accusation itself. The story that Jesus was illegitimate Himself, that His mother Mary became pregnant from someone else, was floating around, and at this point, as the conversation becomes more intense, they throw this accusation in the Lord’s face. His reply is that they are simply telling lies, and are showing themselves to be children of the devil, rather than of Abraham. Their reply to Him makes further accusations, which are not grounded in any rumor or reality, and are just libel, that He has a demon, or is a Samaritan. His reply to them is that He has no demon, that He speaks the truth, and, importantly, that He is the source of life everlasting, as a warning and plea to them to not reject this gift. They reply that everyone else has died, even Abraham and the prophets, and ask Him, incredulous, if He is claiming to be greater than Abraham and the prophets. He finally replies with a clear yes, affirming that Abraham rejoiced to see Him, and concluding with the shocking statement that: “Before Abraham was, I AM,” which is nothing less than a simple, frank statement that He Himself is Yahweh, the God of Israel, the very same Eternal Creator and Lord Who revealed Himself to Abraham and to the Prophets. This is why they pick up stones to kill Him…but the time has not yet come for that, so He departs through their midst.)
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?