Proper 25
Devotional
Streams of Living Water
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle B
Object:
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you....
-- Job 42:5
The book of Job struggles with the problem of innocent suffering. It is not uncommon when a person experiences great tragedy that the person's friends seek to comfort the individual by explaining why this tragedy came upon him. As did Job's friends, we seek explanations that will help maintain the sense of order in our universe. If suffering comes about because of ignorance, then the solution for the future is to learn from our mistakes what to avoid the next time. If we suffer because we are being punished for our sins, then the solution is to repent and be more faithful. If the cause of our pain is the evil of someone else, then the solution is to defeat the evil person. If we can discern a cause-and-effect relationship that explains the tragedy or suffering, then our universe still makes sense to us.
This is why Job and his friends struggled so hard to come to terms with Job's tragedy. If there is no rational explanation, then none of us is safe in the future. Instead of living in an ordered universe, we stare into the abyss of pure chaos, and all of us are vulnerable. Job's answer was not an explanation that restored order to his universe but rather Job discovered a relationship with the one who could "by a word" give order to chaos. Job's anger and willingness to quarrel with God was affirmed not because of his arguments but because of his trust in a God with whom he could be honest. "After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: 'My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has' " (vv. 7).
In the end, we are not given an explanation that explains the cause of innocent suffering. Rather we are offered a relationship with a God that comprehends what we can never understand who is present to us and can redeem us even from the chaos that strips us of all that we have. "And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before" (v. 10).
Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22)
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their cry.
-- Psalm 34:14-15
This psalm is a prayer of trust in the face of trouble. As Job discovered in his experience, there is no secret to life that will protect you from all trouble and suffering. There is, however, a way of life that prepares you if trouble should arise. In this psalm, you are offered a continual relationship with the one who will be present to you in times of trouble. We maintain that relationship through our continual worship of God. "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (v. 1). We build our confidence for the future by rehearsing in our prayers how God has been faithful to us in the past. "I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears" (v. 4). We develop courage for living by reminding ourselves of the character of God. "O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him" (v. 8). We seal our relationship with God by living a life that is worthy of such trust. "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."
Our relationship is with a God that we know is responsive to what is happening to us. "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry." Our hope is not in the avoidance of trouble but in a God who can save us when we encounter trouble. "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit" (vv. 17-18). Early Christians saw in this psalm help in understanding the events of the cross. John quoted a witness at the cross testifying to the fact that instead of breaking Jesus' legs to assist in his dying, the soldier pierced his side to confirm his death. John saw this as fulfilling the words of this psalm, "He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken" (v. 20 and John 19:36). Jesus, as the innocent one, did experience suffering, but he also experienced the faithfulness of God. "The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned" (v. 22). The answer to our fears of the future is not a secret to life but a relationship that we can trust.
Hebrews 7:23-28
Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.
-- Hebrews 7:27
The author of Hebrews saw in the office of Christ as high priest an answer to the uncertainties presented by the constantly changing life around us. In the face of this constant change, the church is called to be priests for the world. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Like the Levitical priests, we have the responsibility of making intercession on behalf of the world and on behalf of ourselves. Even the best of pastors or the best of lay leaders is subject to their own finitude. Church members are aware of the uncertainties that arise whenever they welcome a new pastor to lead them. Most pastors continually face the vagaries of the turnover of leadership among the lay members of the church. Even our understanding of truth is affected by the changing circumstances of our lives. What worked in the past is not necessarily good for the future. Yet, whatever else changes, Hebrews offers Christ as the constant in our life that is always available to intercede for us.
While the church continues to change in this evolving world, the head of the church remains a constant. "For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens."
While we are called to act as priests, we are subject to the high priest who understands our weaknesses and is continually available to make intercession for us. As Paul would remind us, the miracle of the church is seen in the fact that God's grace is sufficient for us, "for power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Mark 10:46-52
As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.
-- Mark 10:46b
Jesus was leaving Jericho headed for Jerusalem. His ministry was coming to a climax, and this was a significant part of his journey. He knew what was ahead of him, and he had tried three times to prepare his disciples for these events. It was a tense time, and it was important that they stay focused to what lay ahead. Suddenly there was this shouting from the side of the road. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (v. 47). Not only was this an interruption in the journey, but also the shouts were messianic claims that could easily draw a response from the Roman soldiers who were already tense because of the events of Passover. The crowd recognized the problem and tried to hush the blind beggar.
As with the entire gospel, this story is told for the sake of the church. There always seems to be a Bartimaeus interrupting the important plans of the church. The church makes plans to serve the needs of the many, and then its plans are interrupted by the cry of an insignificant beggar that is not even a part of the community of faith. Jesus, the head of the church, told his disciples to bring the blind beggar to him. He not only interrupted his very valid journey, but he paid attention to the needs of one whose cries might endanger the fulfillment of those plans. "Then Jesus said to him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' "
Despite the much larger problems that were facing Jesus, he paid direct attention to the beggar and his perceived needs. The beggar was equally direct. "My teacher, let me see again" (v. 51). Jesus did not ask for any commitments from him but simply said, "Go; your faith has made you well" (v. 52). While the church has a larger ministry of proclaiming the good news of Christ to the world, it must always be ready to respond to the direct needs of those who come to it in hope.
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you....
-- Job 42:5
The book of Job struggles with the problem of innocent suffering. It is not uncommon when a person experiences great tragedy that the person's friends seek to comfort the individual by explaining why this tragedy came upon him. As did Job's friends, we seek explanations that will help maintain the sense of order in our universe. If suffering comes about because of ignorance, then the solution for the future is to learn from our mistakes what to avoid the next time. If we suffer because we are being punished for our sins, then the solution is to repent and be more faithful. If the cause of our pain is the evil of someone else, then the solution is to defeat the evil person. If we can discern a cause-and-effect relationship that explains the tragedy or suffering, then our universe still makes sense to us.
This is why Job and his friends struggled so hard to come to terms with Job's tragedy. If there is no rational explanation, then none of us is safe in the future. Instead of living in an ordered universe, we stare into the abyss of pure chaos, and all of us are vulnerable. Job's answer was not an explanation that restored order to his universe but rather Job discovered a relationship with the one who could "by a word" give order to chaos. Job's anger and willingness to quarrel with God was affirmed not because of his arguments but because of his trust in a God with whom he could be honest. "After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: 'My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has' " (vv. 7).
In the end, we are not given an explanation that explains the cause of innocent suffering. Rather we are offered a relationship with a God that comprehends what we can never understand who is present to us and can redeem us even from the chaos that strips us of all that we have. "And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before" (v. 10).
Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22)
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their cry.
-- Psalm 34:14-15
This psalm is a prayer of trust in the face of trouble. As Job discovered in his experience, there is no secret to life that will protect you from all trouble and suffering. There is, however, a way of life that prepares you if trouble should arise. In this psalm, you are offered a continual relationship with the one who will be present to you in times of trouble. We maintain that relationship through our continual worship of God. "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (v. 1). We build our confidence for the future by rehearsing in our prayers how God has been faithful to us in the past. "I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears" (v. 4). We develop courage for living by reminding ourselves of the character of God. "O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him" (v. 8). We seal our relationship with God by living a life that is worthy of such trust. "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."
Our relationship is with a God that we know is responsive to what is happening to us. "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry." Our hope is not in the avoidance of trouble but in a God who can save us when we encounter trouble. "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit" (vv. 17-18). Early Christians saw in this psalm help in understanding the events of the cross. John quoted a witness at the cross testifying to the fact that instead of breaking Jesus' legs to assist in his dying, the soldier pierced his side to confirm his death. John saw this as fulfilling the words of this psalm, "He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken" (v. 20 and John 19:36). Jesus, as the innocent one, did experience suffering, but he also experienced the faithfulness of God. "The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned" (v. 22). The answer to our fears of the future is not a secret to life but a relationship that we can trust.
Hebrews 7:23-28
Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.
-- Hebrews 7:27
The author of Hebrews saw in the office of Christ as high priest an answer to the uncertainties presented by the constantly changing life around us. In the face of this constant change, the church is called to be priests for the world. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Like the Levitical priests, we have the responsibility of making intercession on behalf of the world and on behalf of ourselves. Even the best of pastors or the best of lay leaders is subject to their own finitude. Church members are aware of the uncertainties that arise whenever they welcome a new pastor to lead them. Most pastors continually face the vagaries of the turnover of leadership among the lay members of the church. Even our understanding of truth is affected by the changing circumstances of our lives. What worked in the past is not necessarily good for the future. Yet, whatever else changes, Hebrews offers Christ as the constant in our life that is always available to intercede for us.
While the church continues to change in this evolving world, the head of the church remains a constant. "For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens."
While we are called to act as priests, we are subject to the high priest who understands our weaknesses and is continually available to make intercession for us. As Paul would remind us, the miracle of the church is seen in the fact that God's grace is sufficient for us, "for power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Mark 10:46-52
As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.
-- Mark 10:46b
Jesus was leaving Jericho headed for Jerusalem. His ministry was coming to a climax, and this was a significant part of his journey. He knew what was ahead of him, and he had tried three times to prepare his disciples for these events. It was a tense time, and it was important that they stay focused to what lay ahead. Suddenly there was this shouting from the side of the road. "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (v. 47). Not only was this an interruption in the journey, but also the shouts were messianic claims that could easily draw a response from the Roman soldiers who were already tense because of the events of Passover. The crowd recognized the problem and tried to hush the blind beggar.
As with the entire gospel, this story is told for the sake of the church. There always seems to be a Bartimaeus interrupting the important plans of the church. The church makes plans to serve the needs of the many, and then its plans are interrupted by the cry of an insignificant beggar that is not even a part of the community of faith. Jesus, the head of the church, told his disciples to bring the blind beggar to him. He not only interrupted his very valid journey, but he paid attention to the needs of one whose cries might endanger the fulfillment of those plans. "Then Jesus said to him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' "
Despite the much larger problems that were facing Jesus, he paid direct attention to the beggar and his perceived needs. The beggar was equally direct. "My teacher, let me see again" (v. 51). Jesus did not ask for any commitments from him but simply said, "Go; your faith has made you well" (v. 52). While the church has a larger ministry of proclaiming the good news of Christ to the world, it must always be ready to respond to the direct needs of those who come to it in hope.
