I.Theme – Resting and Living a life without worry
The lectionary readings are here
Creation Week 5. The scriptures for the last Sunday in the Season of Creation about how to return the Lord and more particularly about resting or changing your pattern of life away from worrying so we can return
“The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” In the reading from Leviticus, God has Moses instruct the Israelites to observe every 50th year as a jubilee year. They are to rest and return to their property, and to let the land rest: “you shall not sow, or reap the aftergrowth, or harvest the unpruned vines. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you: you shall eat only what the field itself produces.” This jubilee year is a year of rest and return. How do we rest in the steadfast love of the Lord? In the gospel, Jesus turns to nature to describe the rest of one who waits on the Lord rather than worrying about what to eat or drink or wear. How does honoring God’s work as Creator help us rest and return to the Lord? As Isaiah says, “in returning and rest we shall be saved.”
II. Summary
Old Testament – – Leviticus 25:8-19
This is a continuation of last week’s Old Testament.
The entire chapter deals with the sabbath year (7th year) and the super-sabbath, the year of Jubilee, which comes every 50th year. What’s the importance ?
1. The sabbath and super-sabbath were a reminder of the fact that God owned the land.
2. It made it possible for the people of Israel to become the recipients of divine blessing. To be a recipient of God’s blessing, one must have his own land by which means he will be benefited
3. The commands related to the observance of the sabbath and Jubilee years were tests of the Israelite’s faith and obedience, and the basis for God’s blessings or discipline
4. The regulations regarding the use of the land were a provision for the poor, providing them with food in times of need and with the possibility of a new beginning.
5.The “laws of the land” were designed to hinder materialism and to keep in check those who would try to accumulate vast land holdings, at the expense of others
The scope of the Sabbath year is part of the verses before this reading According to the instructions God gave in Leviticus 25 the observance of the Sabbath year involved several things. First, the land must lie fallow and given its rest (v. 2). The seventh year, crops could not be planted, and those crops which were permanent (e.g. grapes, olive trees) were not to be pruned or cared for as they were the other six years (v. 3). The annual crops would re-seed themselves and thus there would be grain, and the perennial plants would continue to bear fruit. No harvests were allowed during the sabbath year (v. 5). By this, I understand that the crops were not to be harvested for sale. This did not prohibit the people from eating the crops, however. In fact, all the people, especially the poor (and even the animals) could eat in the fields (vv. 6-7). Rather than having the corners of the fields in which to glean, the poor could eat from any portion of the field.
The way to find the jubilee year was to number seven sabbaths of years, that is, seven weeks of years (Leviticus 22:15), seven times seven years. So far as the tillage of the land went, the jubilee year was to have the same effect as a sabbatical year. However, it went futher – the land was to come back to him to whom the Lord had assigned it, or to his representative. Slaves and prisoners would be freed and debts forgiven.
Psalm – Psalm 33
The central part of Psalm 33 into tw o divisions, (1) praise for the creative power of God as Creator of all things, and (2) His creative power with reference to salvation.
We as God’s people are called to rejoice in the Lord, and in nothing else. God regards worship from His people (both upright in a relative sense and declared to be upright) as beautiful. It pleases Him and creates the sense of appreciation for beauty. Music was important and expressing rejoicing based on the “new song” This means that every praise song should emerge from a fresh awareness of God’s grace.”
In addition, God does His work in truth – not with deceit or manipulation.
The greatness of God expressed in His creation, especially in water The Psalmist looked at the mighty oceans and understood that they reflected God’s power and wisdom in creation.
People should set themselves in a state of humble awe before Him. The Psalmist praised God for His active, guiding hand through human history. God moves among the Gentile nations as he pleases to accomplish His counsel and the plans. Blessed are nations which live according to God . Those who truly fear the Lord find their hope in His mercy. The Psalmist understood that human effort alone does not determine events. God’s work and plan in and beyond and sometimes instead of human effort accomplishes His purpose
Having praised Him and considered God’s greatness from many angles, it was then appropriate to simply wait for the Lord; for His guidance, His word, His deliverance, looking to Him as our help and shield.
Epistle – 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Today’s readings call us to use our resources—financial and otherwise—for justice and compassion. They reflect on the social consequences of turning away from God and the possibility that prayer and God-centered values can be a source of health in our personal and corporate lives. A transformed mind may lead over the long haul to transformed social systems.
Today’s reading begins a section on Church order (2:1–3:15), focusing on prayer.
The author of this letter had to remind Timothy (a community leader whose office evolved into the modern office of bishop) and his congregation that God’s concern extends to all people, not just themselves. Some scholars think some early Christians may have refused to pray for pagans, and this passage means to correct that. And the author insists again that he was called to take the gospel to all peoples, so refusing to pray for them is hardly right.
There are 4 parts
1 the first order for prayers for the world
2 backing up that order with a statement about the mission of Jesus
3 a statement about the worldwide character of the apostle’s mission
4 repetition of the order for prayers.
First, prayer is to be offered for all people. The assertion of the universality of God’s grace may be aimed at those who taught that only the enlightened few would be saved. The prayers themselves can ask and give thanks, speak for the well being of others and give a good word for the stranger. There is a universalism here.
Second, prayer is to be offered for civil leaders. Prayer for pagan authorities was part of Jewish worship and the early Church prayed for the civil authorities as guarantors of the social structure within which the Church’s mission could be pursued in tranquility. Finally, prayer is to be offered as an outgrowth of unity in the community.
In this passage, we see a church concerned with getting along in the larger pagan society. The earliest Christians expected Jesus to return in glory very soon, and to bring history to its climax. This reading is clearly composed later, after that expectation had changed.
Gospel – Matthew 6:25-33
The Gospel concentrates on Jesus thoughts on worrying:
1. Worry is an exercise in futility. (6:26-30) Jesus wants His followers to stop worrying over food, drink, and clothes and provides 4 reasons why worry is an exercise in futility
a. God will ensure your survival
b. He will meet their basic material needs and worrying doesn’t extend your life. He cites the birds as example. Birds expend energy in doing what is natural, such as building nests and collecting food for their young, yet it is actually God who feeds and clothes them. The point is that when Jesus’ disciples are responsible to carry out the proper ways of life as ordained by God, God is faithful to carry out His responsibilities
c. Worrying doesn’t extend your life and might actually shorten it.
d. God will cover your external appearance. With clothing Matthew cites the lilies and “not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.”
2 Going further Worry is a demonstration of faithlessness (6:31-34)
In Jesus’ day, the pagans pursued food, drink, and clothing because they didn’t know God as a loving Father. They were tormented by anxiety because they believed their future was in the hands of Fate and Fortune. When you and I worry, we are behaving just like unbelievers.
After providing two reasons not to worry, Jesus gives a command in 6:33a. Jesus says, “But seekfirst His kingdom and His righteousness. Just as a bird hunter makes birds the center of his attention, you are to make God’s kingdom your top priority. This means if you are to be anxious about anything, it should be the affairs of God’s kingdom
In 6:33b, Jesus now moves from a command to a promise. He states that if you fulfill the condition of seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness “all these things [material necessities] will be added to you.”Jesus specifically limits this promise to those who obey. . Those committed to building their own temporary financial kingdom receive no such assurances. This promise is hopeful upon seeking first God’s kingdom
For the third and final time in 6:34 He says: “So do not worry about tomorrow.” Jesus then gives two reasons you should not worry. First, “tomorrow will care for itself” (6:34b). The problem with worrying about tomorrow is you never run out of tomorrows. You must learn to live life one day at a time. God only gives you help you need for today. He doesn’t give you tomorrow’s help today. So don’t worry about what you are going to do tomorrow, because when you get to tomorrow, God’s grace will be there to meet you and give you what you need
A second reason not to worry is: “Each day has enough trouble of its own” (6:34c). Jesus is saying something quite interesting: You won’t sink under the burden of today’s crisis, but tomorrow’s agenda puts you over the weight limit