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The intent of Pilgrim Processing is to provide commentary on the Daily Lectionary from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The format for the comment is Old Testament Lesson first, Gospel, and Epistle with a portion of one of the Psalms for the day as a prayer at the end.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

28 June 2015


Samuel’s prophetic words concerning Saul are very specific aren’t they?  First, he will meet two men by Rachel’s tomb and they will say certain things to him then he will meet three men who are carrying very specific things and one will offer him a portion and then he will meet prophets and, “Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.”  Saul could surely have no doubt that the anointing for kingship was indeed of the Lord if all these things came to pass but what did this last word mean?  He will be turned into another man.  Saul had to have been confused about this but as he turned to leave Samuel we are told the Lord gave him another heart.  There must have been something tangible about this gift, something Saul knew had happened. Even after all these things happened, Saul was still in some disbelief, he didn’t even mention the kingship to his uncle.  It would have been strange to believe you were king under these circumstances.  Just because one man, clearly a prophet, anointed you, was it possible that this was actually the case? Have you ever had an experience where you either heard from the Lord about something or someone spoke a word to you about your life and God’s plan and are still waiting for it to happen?  Sometimes the knowledge of what is to be lags far behind the experience of it.

From whence did Jesus get the authority to do the things He was doing?  The implication is that He wasn’t taught or licensed by the leadership so where did Jesus get off doing these things like teaching in the temple and healing people.  Their failure to answer Jesus’ query in response regarding John’s ministry reveals they don’t have discernment.  They have all the evidence they need concerning the authority possessed by Jesus.  His authority is clearly from a higher source than theirs based on what He was doing in comparison with them.  The leaders failure to discern the ground of John’s ministry condemns them and favors tax collectors and prostitutes who received both John and Jesus. 

What law did Abraham have?  He had the law of circumcision but even this was preceded by the promise, it was merely the preparation to receive the promise.  The law Abraham had was the law of believing, the law of faith.  The Lord made a promise to Abraham that he would be the father of nations, that he would have countless descendants, and he believed God.  In spite of a twenty five year delay in the fulfillment of the promise, Abraham kept following God, kept believing, never chased after other gods.  Has the Lord promised something to you that you are waiting for, keep having faith, keep believing.  What He has promised, He will do.


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