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September 19, 2020

Worthy of the Gospel

David Rensberger   |   Read Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

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Lectionary Week
September 14–20, 2020
Scripture Overview

The psalmist recounts many of God’s glorious deeds. The escape from Egypt features prominently, including the Exodus story we are reading this week. God knows that the people need food and provides both meat and bread. Unfortunately, the people do not have the perspective of the psalmist, so God’s miraculous provision does not stop their grumbling. In Philippians, Paul reflects on Christian suffering. Although he would rather be with the Lord, he endures suffering so that he may help others. Other believers should expect to suffer as well. Jesus tells a parable about a landowner. No matter what time the workers go out, they are all equally paid. Likewise, those who follow Jesus their entire lives and those who meet the Lord late in life will partake equally in glory.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Exodus 16:2-15. When have you been confident of God’s love and presence? When have you been uncertain?
Read Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45. When do you smooth over the “bumps” in the stories of your family, your church, or your faith? When is it important to recount the complaining or mistakes along the way?
Read Philippians 1:21-30. When has the “good news to the poor” challenged you? When you feel challenged by it, how do you seek to live “worthy of the gospel”?
Read Matthew 20:1-16. How does Jesus’ idea of equality surprise you? How might a posture of generosity change your concept of fairness?

Respond by posting a prayer .

Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

1 Give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make his deeds known to all people! 2 Sing to God; sing praises to the Lord; dwell on all his wondrous works! 3 Give praise to God’s holy name! Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the LORD! 4 Pursue the LORD and his strength; seek his face always! 5 Remember the wondrous works he has done, all his marvelous works, and the justice he declared 6 you who are the offspring of Abraham, his servant, and the children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 37 Then God brought Israel out, filled with silver and gold; not one of its tribes stumbled. 38 Egypt celebrated when they left, because the dread of Israel had come upon them. 39 God spread out clouds as a covering; gave lightning to provide light at night. 40 The people asked, and God brought quail; God filled them full with food from heaven. 41 God opened the rock and out gushed water flowing like a river through the desert! 42 Because God remembered his holy promise to Abraham his servant, 43 God brought his people out with rejoicing, his chosen ones with songs of joy. 44 God gave them the lands of other nations; they inherited the wealth of many peoples 45 all so that they would keep his laws and observe his instructions. Praise the LORD!

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

This selection from Psalm 105 includes the story of “bread from heaven” that we read in Exodus. When comparing this psalm to the version of the story in Exodus, the differences are striking: In the psalm the Israelites do not grumble about food and water; they only “ask,” and God...

God of truth, help us to discern with clear but gentle insight the time to confess our faults, to you and to ourselves, and the time to remember your faithfulness and our desire to respond in faith. Amen.


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