Greater Hartford Conference

Greater Hartford Conference, New England Synod, ELCA

Pericope Study for Sunday, August 12, 2012

Lectionary 19B aka Proper 14B aka Pentecost 11B

(matches 12B lessons in LBW)

Presented Tue 8/7/12 by Richard Burgess

Lectionary 19B Pericope Studyp 1 / 5Tue 8/7/12 for Sun 8/12/12

Lesson I(linked to Gospel):1 Kings 19:4-8(NRSV)

4But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." 5Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." 6He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." 8He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

One Possible Outline / Structure:(Burgess)

1Kg 19.4Intro: Elijah goes into the wilderness and becomes despondent.

1Kg 19.5-6aEating and Drinking – Part 1

1Kn 19.5aElijah falls asleep under the broom tree

1Kg 19.5bAn angel touches Elijah and tells him to get up and eat.

1Kg 19.6aElijah eats

1Kg 19.6b-8Eating and Drinking – Part 2

1Kg 19.6bElijah “lay down again”.

1Kg 19.7An angel touches Elijah, tells him to eat, “otherwise the journey will be too much”.

1Kg 19.8aElijah eats.

1Kg 19.8bElijah went “in the strength of that food” a long time to Mt Horeb (for a theophany)

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

Movement: Israel –> wilderness –> Horeb / Sinai.

1Kg 19.4, 8Compare one day’s journey with 40 days. Significance?

1Kg 19.5broom tree “has been identified as the Heb rotem (1Kg 19.4f; Job 30.3f) which grows principally in desert, hill, and rocky areas in Israel and the neighboring lands. There it is often the only source of shade. Usually it is a bush 4 to 12 feet high with a linear shape; the twigs bear small leaves and white, pea-like, fragrant flowers in spring. The roots are long and reach deep for water. The roots were used for charcoal.” (Anchor Bible Dictionary, vol 2 p 805)

1Kg 19.5a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water This isn’t quite bread and wine. Does it matter?

1Kg 19.7eat, otherwise the journey will be too much Why will the journey be too much? What is the meaning of laying down / sleeping, eating, drinking, and the journey?

1Kg 19.8forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God= Mt Sinai. Allusion to Moses?

Some Commentary On Burnout:

“Many interpreters of this text see Elijah as discouraged, suffering burnout from his ministerial (or prophetic) duties, or even exhibiting signs of depression. Richard Nelson explains, "God's therapy for prophetic burnout includes both the assignment of new tasks and the certain promise of a future that transcends the prophet's own success or lack of it."1 But Leong Seow observes, "Given his attitude, one should expect a divine rebuke. There is not one, however. Instead, there is a series of epiphanies...Elijah's perspective is strongly challenged, and a lesson is offered to him; but he is never rebuked for showing weakness."2 What Elijah receives are practical, tangible provisions that enable him to go "in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights" (verse 8). What is given, then, is sufficient and strengthening. The gospel lectionary for today identifies Jesus as the living bread that came down from heaven (John 6:51). Certainly, the bread of Jesus gives us strength for the journeys in our lives, however difficult or overwhelming they may be.” (Koenig, “Working Preacher” 2009; 1Richard Nelson, First and Second Kings. (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1987), 129.2Leong Seow, "1 Kings." New Interpreters Bible Volume III (Nashville: Abingdon, 1999), 145. )

Lectionary 19B Pericope Studyp 1 / 5Tue 8/7/12 for Sun 8/12/12

Lesson I (Semi-continuous): 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33(NRSV)

5The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom.

6So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. 7The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 8The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.

9Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. . . .15And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him.

. . .

31Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, "Good tidings for my lord the king! For the LORD has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you." 32The king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" The Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man."

33The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

One Possible Outline / Structure:(Burgess)

2Sam 18.5The king orders J, A, & I to be gently with Absalom

2Sam 18.6-7The army slaughter’s Israel

2Sam 18.9-10Joag’s armor-bearers kill Absalom

2Sam 18.31-32The Cushite messenger tells king David of Absalom’s death

2Sam 18.33King David laments Absalom’s death

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

2Sam 12.10“Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house”.

David’s family has already had a violent history, some of it centering around Absalom, eg, Absalom’s killing avenging of the rape of Tamar (2 Sam 13) and Absalom’s usurping David’s throne (2 Sam 15). Dying at the hands of David’s men kind of follows the pattern.

2Sam 18.10-14, 16-30Why are these verses cut? Pros & cons of putting them back in?

2Sam 18.5David’s orders are not clear. He leaves room for punishing Absalom and also remaining guiltless. Plausible deniability.

2Sam 18.8the forest claimed more victims that day than the swordDavid’s army was seasoned guerillas, used to fighting in the forest. Absalom’s was not.

2Sam 18.9The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai“king” = the king David; Joab and Abishai and Ittai = David’s three generals

2Sam 18.31the Cushite = the unnamed messenger sent to tell king David of Absalom’s death.

2Sam 18.33 Is David simply grieving his lost son, or is there guilt involved too?

Lectionary 19B Pericope Studyp 1 / 5Tue 8/7/12 for Sun 8/12/12

Lesson II: Ephesians 4:25–5:2

4.25So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not make room for the devil. 28Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5.1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

One Possible Outline / Structure (Burgess)

Eph 4.25-32Don’t do thisdo this.

Eph 4.25No falsehood; speak the truthfor we are members of one another

Eph 4.26-27Be angry, but do not sindo not let sun go down on anger or make room for devil

Eph 4.28No stealing; work honestlyso can share with the needy

Eph 4.29No evil talk; only what builds upso words may give grace

Eph 4.30Not grieve HSwere marked for day of redemption

Eph 4.31-32No bitterness, wrath, etc; be kind, etcAs God in Christ has forgiven you

Eph 5.1-2Therefore imitate God, live in loveas Christ loved and gave himself up

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

Eph 4.25-32“Not . . . but . . .” brings to mind the Prayer of St Francis: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is ____, ____; etc”.

Eph 4.25speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another How are “speaking the truth” and being “members of one another” related?

Eph 4.28Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Stewardship implications?

Eph 4.30 do not grieve the Holy Spirit of GodWhat does “grieve the Holy Spirit” mean? When might we have done this?

Eph 5.1-2Therefore be imitators of God . . . and live in love, as Christ loved us.Is there a point to this passage beyond the moralizing? Does this last sentence give a different spin to what preceded it?

Eph 5.1be imitators of God What are the implications of this?

Lectionary 19B Pericope Studyp 1 / 5Tue 8/7/12 for Sun 8/12/12

Gospel: John 6.35, 41–51

35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. . . .

41Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43Jesus answered them, "Do not complain among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

One Possible Outline / Structure (Burgess)

Jn 6.35Jesus: I am the bread of life

Jn 6.41-42“The Jews” complain

Jn 6.43-51Jesus answers

Jn 6.43Jesus: don’t complain amongst yourselves

Jn 6.44come to Jesus, then drawn by Father; Jesus will raise that person up “on the last day”

Jn 6.45a“and they shall all be taught by God

Jn 6.45bheard and learned from the Father => come to Jesus

Jn 6.46Only Jesus has seen the Father

Jn 6.47believe => have eternal life

Jn 6.48Jesus: “I am the bread of life.”

Jn 6.49-51Israelites ate manna and died; eat Jesus => will not die

Jn 6.51aJesus: “I am the living bread that came down from haven.”

Jn 6.51beat Jesus and live forever

Jn 6.51cthat bread is Jesus’ flesh

Notes, Observations, and Thought Questions:

“I am” in Jn 6:

Jn 6.20It is I; do not be afraid. (eimi egō)

Jn 6.35I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry / thirsty.

Jn 6.41I am the bread that came down from heaven.

Jn 6.48I am the bread of life.

Jn 6.51I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

Jn 6.35“I am the bread of life.” How is this related to Christ’s presence in the Eucharist?

Jn 6.44 I will raise that person up on the last day. What does this mean? How does it fit with John’s view of realized eschatology?

Jn 6.47whoever believes has eternal life What is “eternal life”? How do your parishioners hear this?

Jn 6.51Whoever eats of this bread will live forever What does “live forever” mean?

Jn 6.51the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. Is this referring to the cross? Eucharist? Incarnation?

Lectionary 19B Pericope Studyp 1 / 5Tue 8/7/12 for Sun 8/12/12