Light on the Lessons s2

Light on the Lessons

Isaiah 55:1-5; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Lectionary 18, Proper 13); Cycle A; August 6, 2017

Participant Guide

I Getting Started

1. The Bible contains many promises which God made to people in the past. What sort of influence do those promises of old have on your faith today?

2. What does the phrase “thirsting for God” mean for you?

3. Of the many challenges facing our world, where would you place hunger, and why?

II Check the Texts

1. Isaiah 55:1-5

The writer addresses the exiles in Babylon.

A. Compare Isaiah 55:1 with Proverbs 9:1-6 and Luke 22:28-29. What is the common theme of these passages? Who is the “host” of each? What does this image intend to convey to the reader?

B. Compare verse 1 with verse 2a. How does the tone of verse 2a differ from that of verse 1? What is the contrast the writer intends to make?

C. In verse 2b, we find images of food, but the images are not literal. What do you think the food images represent?

D. Read 2 Samuel 7:4-17. What is the main point of that passage, as you read it? Could the “everlasting covenant” mentioned in verse 3b be the covenant with David and his dynasty, suggesting that a king of David’s line would emerge in the future? Or could it apply to the people of Israel as a whole? (Clue: Who is God addressing in verse 3b?) Check two passages about covenants: Psalm 89:3-4 and Isaiah 54:9-10. Which, in your judgment, comes closer to verses 3-5?

E. How would you describe the blessing that is to come in verse 5?

2. Romans 9:1-5

A. What is the issue Paul wrestles with in this passage? Why was this issue such a problem?

B. Though very many early Christians were Jews, not all Jews accepted Jesus as Messiah. This hurt Paul, who was a faithful Jew, but he still mentions many spiritual blessings belonging to the Jews. What are they?

C. Based on this passage, where would Gentiles be without the Jews?

D. In verse 4, we read of covenants, in the plural. Read Genesis 9:8-17 and 17:1-8. With whom were these two covenants made? From the human side, what benefits did these covenants promise? What covenant did we read in the First Lesson?

E. Check the footnotes for verse 5. This is a difficult verse to interpret. NT Greek does not include punctuation. We have to make judgments when we punctuate our translations. The original Greek ran like this: thechristaccordingto thefleshwhoisoverallgodblessedforever. Why not try your own hand at punctuation. (The issue: Does Paul here equate Jesus with God – not Son or Lord, but God – which he does not do elsewhere?)

3. Matthew 14:13-21

A. What connection do you find between this Gospel Lesson and the First Lesson?

B. This is the only miracle story that appears in all four of our Gospels: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:32-44, Luke 9:10b-17, and John 6:1-15. Find answers to these questions: (1), Which versions have the people sitting in military formation, platoons and companies? (2), Which Gospel mentions a specific source for the loaves and fishes? (3), Which versions mention the cost of buying enough bread in town? (4), Which Gospel suggests that there were more than 5,000 persons involved?

C. This miracle of feeding reminded the early church (and us) of another miracle of feeding in which they participated regularly. What is it? (Clue: See Matthew 26:26-29.) What actions does Jesus do in feeding the 5,000 which are done in this other meal?

D. John frequently follows an incident with an explanation. How does he interpret the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6:22-40?

E. The fish was an important Christian symbol. In times of persecution, Christians could identify themselves to each other secretly by drawing a fish symbol, The Greek word for fish is “ichthus.” The five letters (i-ch-th-u-s) stood for the full title given to Jesus by the church. Use this vocabulary to figure out that title: Theou=God’s; Iesous=Jesus; Soter=savior; Christos=Christ; Uios=son.

F. Read two similar feeding stories: Exodus 16:2-12 and 2 Kings 4:42-44. Based on those earlier events, what is Jesus saying about himself in feeding the 5,000?

III What Does It All Mean?

1. How have you experienced God’s activity in your life this week?

2. Someone says, “God made a lot of promises, but the world is still a mess. So what are all the promises worth?” How would you reply?

3. Where are food banks in your community? Who sponsors them? Whom do they serve? If not already involved, what could you and your congregation do to support these banks?

4. Ours is a free-spending, consumer-oriented society. What might Isaiah 55:2 say to us?

5. The feeding of the 5,000 took place in a deserted or lonely place, a place of withdrawal. What spiritual value do you find in withdrawing sometimes to a “lonely place”? If this is part of your spiritual discipline, share how you do it.

IV Into the Week

1. You go home and someone asks, “What did you learn today?” What do you reply?

2. Skip a lunch or coffee breaks this week and with the money saved make a special gift to your denomination’s world hunger appeal or to a local food bank.

3. Try to claim at least 10 minutes each day exclusively for refreshing your spiritual life. Find a space by yourself. Close your eyes and relax. Let your imagination play with images of banquets and God’s many blessings.