Eighth Sunday After Pentecost | Lessons & Meditation
FIRST READING: 1 Kings 3:5-12
Every other nation had one – why not Israel? The twelve tribes that had been delivered out of slavery in Egypt to live in Palestine had operated as a loose confederation – coming together only during emergencies – but they so longed to have a king. Against God’s own will, God granted their request. Israel’s first king was Saul; he rather quickly disobeyed God, was rejected, and was later replaced by David. King David, who would be treasured in its historical memory and its hopes for the future as Israel’s greatest king, had a passionate trust in God, and he helped lead Israel into becoming a wealthy and secure kingdom… but he was also rebuked and punished by God. He was not without flaws, he was not a perfect model of strength and character. David, for example, could lead a nation but not his own children. And he was a murderer, an adulterer, and a leader capable of cruelty.
So now the third king to rule over those twelve tribes that became the nation of Israel is introduced. Solomon, the second son born to King David and his recently acquired wife Bathsheba (the first son was taken away by God as punishment – read all about it in 2 Samuel 11:1 – 12:25) has life handed to him on a silver platter. He had grown up in the royal palace; he was selected over other possibilities by an aging and deteriorating King David; and Israel was seemingly strong and secure among the other nations. In today’s reading Solomon has a dream or vision about God asking him what he wants from God. Solomon, showing early some of the wisdom he was reputed to have, unselfishly requests “an understanding mind to govern your people.” God would give King Solomon the wisdom that he asked for, plus so much more that he hadn’t requested! He was called the wisest man in the world, and kings and queens traveled hundreds of miles to meet him. He was celebrated for the songs he composed and the proverbs he spoke. Under his reign Israel reached its “Golden Age” of prosperity and peace and pleasure and prestige.
But he wouldn’t stay “wise” all the time. King Solomon would also become known for his excesses – too much luxury at too high a cost of taxes and slave labor… too much extravagance in his love life with 700 wives and 300 girlfriends… so many altars built for the gods of his wives… a misplaced trust in military alliances with other nations instead of trust in God. This king who spent seven years building a great Temple to worship God and fourteen years to build himself a fabulous palace would end up abandoning the God before whom he initially humbled himself… would end up bringing discontent and disruption to his people whom he had prayed to wisely govern… and would end up being the final king of a united nation of twelve tribes.
The best leaders in the world are truly following God! King Solomon started out that way, with humility before God as well as every advantage of wealth, power, and wisdom. But then it all went to his head, and he even made himself the unofficial religious leader of the nation. Solomon’s heart would turn away from God, and this great wise man would lose his understanding. Do you think our political leaders are humble before God and have our best interest at heart? Why or why not?
According to Proverbs 2:9, wisdom is a necessity for leading an ethical life, in which one understands “righteousness and justice and equity”. This wisdom begins with “the fear of the Lord”. How wise have you been… in other words, how is your relationship toward God?
SECOND READING: Romans 8:26-39
Chapter 8 is sometimes called one of the greatest chapters in the Bible. And this particular portion of that chapter offers a moving personal testimony of Paul’s faith, his confidence in God no matter what. Paul asks rhetorically “who (or what) will separate us from the love of Christ?” Paul’s answer is that NOTHING can separate us when we hold on to GOD’S LOVE… NOTHING can overwhelm us when we lean on GOD’S LOVE… NOTHING can destroy us when we trust in the power of GOD’S LOVE! GOD’S LOVE has a way,
Paul is saying in Romans 8, of embracing and sustaining us through ALL KINDS OF BURDENS… ALL KINDS
OF SORROWS… ALL KINDS OF EVIL… no matter
how high,
how heavy,
how long,
or how deep our problems get.
Paul proclaims in Romans 8 his faith… his confidence… his certainty… THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS!
When Pastors Neil and Gwen conduct funerals, this text often appears as a lesson or as part of a funeral sermon. Can you share Paul’s faith, confidence, and certainty in times of tragedy, trouble, trial, and turmoil?
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
At the end of Chapter 13 Jesus tells several more parables or word pictures, everyday images of the reign of God’s kingdom: tiny seed growing into magnificent shelter, small measure of yeast penetrating and expanding flour in sustaining abundance, everything boldly sold to obtain the most precious treasure or the shiniest of pearls, a fishing net cast out to bring in a great catch. In the ordinariness of our daily lives, we might see and sense signs of God’s presence and action among us.
What treasures are you seeking in life?
A MEDITATION
In a world of seductive whispers, glittering treasures, and titillating pleasures, we pray for
ourselves, we pray for one another, that we might always seek out and long for God’s love and God’s grace…
that we might always value and hold onto God’s love and God’s grace…
that we might always trust and place our ultimate hope only in God’s love and God’s grace,
no matter what comes our way or gets in our way.
There is nothing better than God’s love and grace!
There is nothing stronger or more secure than God’s love and grace!
There is nothing that will last longer – yes, even beyond this life – than God’s love and grace!
Do I hear this? Do I believe this? Will it be the very foundation and direction of my life?
Solomon had this treasure as a new king, then lost it in the pursuit of personal privilege.
Paul discovered this treasure only when he stopped depending on his own pedigree and power.
Jesus offers this treasure through his words and deeds, through his death and resurrection.
Even as we seek the riches of God’s reign, the great surprise is that God’s grace finds us first!