Proper 6/Ordinary 11 2016 – 1 Kings 21:2-3

Monday, June 6, 1016

Jezebel has someone falsely accused and stoned to death over a vineyard, King David has Uriah killed and a woman who is a “sinner” anoints Jesus’ feet with her tears in the lectionary selections for this week.  Those passages include: 1 Kings 21:1-10, (11-14), 15-21a and Psalm 5:1-8, 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15 and Psalm 32, Galatians 2:15-21, and Luke 7:36-8:3.

1 Kings 21:2-3 – And Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.”  But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance.”

This refusal by Naboth will not end well for him.  For me, the passage asks us to consider the non-negotiables of our faith.  What are those beliefs for which we will stand firm regardless of the personal consequences?

God of unwavering love, grant us the courage to be faithful to you at all costs.  Amen.

Proper 14/Ordinary 19 2015 – 1 Kings 19:4

Monday, August 3, 2015

David mourns the death of his son Absalom, and Elijah asks God to take his life after he flees in fear from Jezebel and King Ahab.  The passages for this week include: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 and Psalm 130, 1 Kings 19:4-8 and Psalm 34:1-8, Ephesians 4:25-5:2 and John 6:35, 41-51.

1 Kings 19:4 – Elijah went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”

Today’s English Version has Elijah saying, “It’s too much, Lord.”  Tired, scared and exasperated, Elijah begins a conversation with God rather than cutting God off from his life.

Awesome God, help us to live our lives in an ongoing conversation with you so that we can discern your will for us.  Amen.