Lectionary Reading October 4
The heavens tell out the glory of God, and proclaim God’s handiwork; the decrees of the Lord are sure, and make the simple wise. Psalm 19:1,
Reading. Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Reading this selection of verses from Exodus it is easy to think, “Yes, the ten commandments! I know about them” But if we think a little deeper about the passage there are a few more things going on. The opening verse says “Then God spoke all these words:” Here at this time God is speaking directly to the people, so what is being spoken is of great importance. However, when we look at verse 18 we read that the people were most uncomfortable being able to hear from God directly. God was too awesome, too threatening and the people were intimidated: So with that in mind they said to Moses, “You can hear God on our behalf and then pass the message on to us.” Moses had been chosen by God to lead and here the people are also endorsing Moses as their leader of choice. Moses was to be the intermediary who stood between God and the people. This installs Moses as the great leader, the one who delivered the Law to the people. It also reminds us how awesome and powerful God is. This God, who is giving the Law, is not benign nor easily ignored: This is a God to be held in the greatest of respect and subsequently obeyed! So this passage emphasises the importance of Moses’ leadership, and also emphasises the importance of the Ten Commandments. These “Words” are not simply commands but lay out a way of life that leads to fulfilment and purpose for the nation’s future.
Whenever we have a set of rules, almost inevitably we begin to work out either how to get round them or how little needs to be done in order to not let them impinge on our desired way of life! (Just think about how you approach the speed limits when you are in a hurry to get to a meeting!) The passage envisions a way of life where all levels of society would be secure and even strangers would find a welcome and a place. That would be like heaven on earth and perhaps that is echoed in the prayer our Lord taught his disciples in the gospels. “Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. Luke 11:2
Prayer. Gracious God, our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the world that you have created, filling it with all manner of good things for us to admire and enjoy; We thank you for the boundless love the creation presents, reminding us of your mercies, which are ever new. Today we thank you for home and family, colleagues and friends; for work and the strength to do it; for hopes and dreams and holy purposes that reflect your will for us; we thank you for the church of our Lord Jesus Christ, filled with his presence may it shine out as a light in the world, that your glory may be seen, and all humanity rejoice in the salvation that has been won for us and all creation. This we pray in his most precious Name. Amen
Reading. Psalm 19 C S Lewis said of this psalm that it was the finest poem ever written. In the psalm the Law is like the sun which brings light to the whole creation. Indeed the Law radiates wonderful life into every part of the creation with great celebration. That celebration reflects the glory of God’s presence. The Law celebrates God’s presence and it is God’s presence that sustains the whole created order, “Nothing is hidden from the heat of this radiance!” Using this psalm in temple worship would have given the worshippers the understanding that God was not only with them but was also upholding everything. Imagine the great confidence this would have transferred to the people. God, their God was in charge and not only that, this God had their best interests at heart. If we think again about the Ten Commandments presenting a blue-print for a just and peaceful community, then this psalm expands that blue-print across the whole world. It projects a future hope for when God’s rule is established and the whole creation will be living in complete harmony. The theme of this psalm reinforces the prophetic message long held in Israel’s history, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands”. Isaiah 55:10-12 (NRSV) To that we can only say. “Hallelujah!”
Prayer. “Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live”. Psalm 116:2 (NRSV) You Lord are our light and our strength, to you alone we offer our prayers, thanking you for all the wonders that you have in store for all those who love and serve you. Help us to walk in your ways and give to us the eyes to see you at work in our world, renewing and reviving that which is in need. Help us not to be careless of the needs of those around us but by serving you give help and comfort without fear or favour. Trusting in your guiding grace, grant that we will be true ambassadors of Jesus Christ, who gave his life as a sacrifice for many and ushered in your new dispensation of light and truth. To you be all praise and glory now and always. Amen
Collect. Almighty God, you have built your Church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Join us together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may become a holy temple, acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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