July 10, 2018

Connecting with God

Gordon A. R. Edwards | Read 2 Samuel 6:12-19

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David retrieves the ark from Obed-edom before recommencing the celebration. Elaborate celebrations accompany the journey to Jerusalem: David dances “with all his might” and dresses the part too. He engages fully in praising God. His linen ephod signals that the ark’s procession is not only a celebration but a ritual act, an act of worship. And as the ark enters Jerusalem, David ritualizes the event, offering sacrifice, blessing the people, and feeding them.
The entire city turns out for the celebration, but one lone person stands apart: Michal, Saul’s daughter and David’s wife. She herself serves as another piece of David’s consolidation of his kingdom—a wedding of convenience. That bit of information may justify our raised eyebrows at David’s religious fervor and cause us to doubt his motives.
Yet David’s celebration can teach us how to connect with God and one another. It may call us to assess our own religious fervor. When has our love of God resulted in actions of wild abandon? When has our zeal isolated others from worship?
David’s actions after arriving in Jerusalem show us that we can extend God’s blessing to others through word and compassionate action. How do we expand our thanksgiving for God’s presence to all?
After the blessing and food distribution, the people return to their homes. After we worship God and bless others with God’s blessing, we also return home—to the places where we live out our stories and our relationship with God.

Lord, teach me how to celebrate you, share your blessings with others, and carry my faith into my daily life. Amen.

Pray the Scriptures Using Audio Lectio
Read Mark 6:14-29

Mark 6:14-29

¹⁴ Herod the king heard about these things, because the name of Jesus had become well-known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and this is why miraculous powers are at work through him.” ¹⁵ Others were saying, “He is Elijah.” Still others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the ancient prophets.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard these rumors, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised to life.” ¹⁷ He said this because Herod himself had arranged to have John arrested and put in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. Herod had married her, ¹⁸ but John told Herod, “It’s against the law for you to marry your brother’s wife!” ¹⁹ So Herodias had it in for John. She wanted to kill him, but she couldn’t. ²⁰ This was because Herod respected John. He regarded him as a righteous and holy person, so he protected him. John’s words greatly confused Herod, yet he enjoyed listening to him. ²¹ Finally, the time was right. It was on one of Herod’s birthdays, when he had prepared a feast for his high-ranking officials and military officers and Galilee’s leading residents. ²² Herod’s daughter Herodias came in and danced, thrilling Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the young woman, “Ask me whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ Then he swore to her, “Whatever you ask I will give to you, even as much as half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ She left the banquet hall and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” Herodias replied. ²⁵ Hurrying back to the ruler, she made her request: “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a plate, right this minute.” ²⁶ Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. ²⁷ So he ordered a guard to bring John’s head. The guard went to the prison, cut off John’s head, ²⁸ brought his head on a plate, and gave it to the young woman, and she gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came and took his dead body and laid it in a tomb.

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Lectionary Week

July 9–15, 2018

Scripture Overview

Two readings this week focus on welcoming God’s presence. David does this by bringing the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. As the ark arrives, David dances with all his might, worshiping God with reckless abandon. In Psalm 24, the author poetically calls a city to open its gates and welcome the great king. These passages invite us to consider how willingly we receive God into our lives. The reading from Ephesians speaks of God’s eternal plan. While circumstances may seem chaotic from our perspective, God holds an eternal perspective and has sealed us with the Holy Spirit. Mark tells us the sad story of the execution of John the Baptist, yet another example of a righteous person experiencing persecution.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19. How do you bless others in your daily life?
• Read Psalm 24. How do you evidence your willingness to be a steward of God’s creation?
• Read Ephesians 1:3-14. When have you experienced a “hiccup” on your journey and found God ready and willing to assist? How did that help come?
• Read Mark 6:14-29. When have you experienced a guilty conscience? What triggered it?

Respond by posting a prayer.

I join many of those who will pray for you as you seek to discern what you are called to be at this moment. May God grant you the courage to fulfill that calling. May we all open our eyes and see the misery, open our ears and hear the cries of God’s people, and, like God through the Lord Jesus Christ, be incarnate amongst them.”

View a growing list of resources for the spiritual work of overcoming racism.

—Rev. Sidwell Mokgothu, Limpopo Synod Bishop of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and board member for Africa Upper Room Ministries

Connecting with God

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2 Samuel 6:12-19

Mark 6:14-29

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