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August 7, 2019

Doing Good, Seeking Justice

Larry J. Peacock   |   Read Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

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Lectionary Week
August 5–11, 2019
Scripture Overview

The prophet Isaiah brings a harsh message to the Southern Kingdom of Israel. Although they are performing sacrifices and observing feasts, they have lost their heart for God. God wants no more meaningless sacrifices but instead wants the people to repent. The psalmist proclaims a similar message from God. The people’s sacrifices have become pointless because they have forgotten God. The primary offerings that God desires are thanksgiving and ethical living. The author of Hebrews sounds a note of harmony, emphasizing that Abraham’s faith in action—not his performance of religious duties—brings him favor with God. Jesus teaches that we cannot rest on our laurels of having faith. Instead we should remain vigilant and continue to perform acts of charity, including caring for the poor, as a response to our faith.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Isaiah 1:1, 10-20. Consider the author’s difficult questions: Is there blood on your hands? Does your worship lead you to acts of mercy and justice?
Read Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23. How do you offer thanksgiving as sacrifice and go in the right way?
Read Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16. How do you demonstrate faith as a verb, not just a noun?
Read Luke 12:32-40. God promises us a bountiful kingdom, but we cannot take our worldly possessions there. How do you work toward living as if you are already in God’s bountiful kingdom? How do you help to create it?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

1 From the rising of the sun to where it sets, God, the LORD God, speaks, calling out to the earth. 2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines brightly. 3 Our God is coming; he won’t keep quiet. A devouring fire is before him; a storm rages all around him. 4 God calls out to the skies above and to the earth in order to judge his people: 5 “Bring my faithful to me, those who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 6 The skies proclaim his righteousness because God himself is the judge. Selah 7 “Listen, my people, I will now speak; Israel, I will now testify against you. I am God—your God! 8 I’m not punishing you for your sacrifices or for your entirely burned offerings, which are always before me. 22 So consider this carefully, all you who forget God, or I’ll rip you to pieces with no one to deliver you: 23 The one who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving is the one who honors me. And it is to the one who charts the correct path that I will show divine salvation.”

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

On the heels of Isaiah comes a psalm of judgment. While we may prefer psalms of comfort, like Psalm 23, or psalms of praise and thanksgiving, like Psalm 8, psalms of lament and psalms of judgment give us language for our troubles. Sometimes we complain to God in colorful and...

What would be God’s court case against your faith community? How is God inviting you to live with more gratitude and more prayer?


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