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November 20, 2018

Soon and Very Soon

K Karpen   |   Read 2 Samuel 23:6-7

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Lectionary Week
November 19–25, 2018
Scripture Overview

Second Samuel records the final words of David. David takes comfort in the covenant that God has made with his family, which must be continued by kings who will honor God and rule justly. The psalmist sings of this same covenant with David’s family and the same necessity to follow God’s decrees in order to rule well. Revelation opens with a vision of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, the King to rule over all kings for all time. Many expected Jesus to set up a political kingdom. Yet in John, Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom is not an earthly one. This week let us thank God that the kingdom is based not on the exercise of power but on Jesus’ example of serving others.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read 2 Samuel 23:1-7. Upon your deathbed, what would you like your last words to be?
• Read Psalm 132. What is your vision of Paradise? Who will be seated around your table?
• Read Revelation 1:4b-8. How do you bear faithful witness to “the Alpha and the Omega”?
• Read John 18:33-37. To whom do you pledge allegiance? To whom do you give lip service?

Respond by posting a prayer .

2 Samuel 23:6-7

6 But despicable people are like thorns, all of them good for nothing, because they can’t be carried by hand. 7 No one can touch them, except with iron bar or the shaft of a spear. They must be burned up with fire right on the spot!

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

King David spends his last breath on those he calls godless, a word that could also be translated as “despicable.” He doesn’t spend a lot of time on them, only two verses, barely longer than a tweet. They’re not worth it. They’re like thorns—prickly, worthless.
We all have despicable people...

Lord, help me to love even the people who get in my way. Amen.


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