The four horsemen

Good afternoon sisters and brothers,

When we read Revelation it is important to remember that it is a vision. The language is symbolic and sometimes, like in today's reading, the symbolism isn't quite clear. I don't exactly see what the individual riders and horses symbolize, but the effect of the "four horsemen of the apocalypse," is that many of the earth's inhabitants die as history moves towards the end. That's a disturbing thing to think about, and at the same time we know that people die every day due to human and natural disaster. The interesting thing is that Jesus, the Lamb, opens the seals, revealing (as in Revelation) the events of the end. Somehow, through all the trouble in the world and at the world's end, God's love will shine through.

God bless,

Sam

Revelation 6: 1-8

Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” ²I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer.

³When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, “Come!” ⁴And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword. ⁵When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, “Come!” I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, ⁶and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s pay, and three quarts of barley for a day’s pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!” 

⁷When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, “Come!” ⁸I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.

study war no more

Good evening friends,

Today's reading is a truly beautiful image of God's coming kingdom. One day the nations of the world will seek peace in God. Instead of fighting over borders or power or religion, all peoples will seek peace and the knowledge of God. It's true that religion, like any powerful idea has often been the cause of war and other kinds of evil, but true faith in God is about love for others. One day that love will free us all from hatred and war. O come Emmanuel: God with us, and save us from our evil ways.

God bless,
Sam

Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. ²In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. ³Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. ⁴He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. ⁵O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

into battle

Good morning friends,
As David's son Absolom's conspiracy gained strength, David and his court fled from Jerusalem along with many others. Today's reading leads us to the battle between David's troops and Absolom's troops. Like any civil war, there's heartbreak in the battle as people fight against those they have grown up with. David's heart is torn too; he must fight to preserve his rule, but he also feels the fear of a father as he sends men into battle against his son. I can't imagine how painful that must have been.

Blessings,
Sam

2 Samuel 18:1-8

Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. ²And David divided the army into three groups: one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.” ³But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.”

⁴The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands. 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.

"How the mighty are fallen"

Good afternoon brothers and sisters,
We're skipping ahead a good bit in our story of David and Saul. In yesterday's reading David and Jonathan find out that Saul definitely wants to kill David, so Jonathan and David say their good byes and David leaves. He spends some time on the run with a couple of momentary reconciliations with Saul. During that time people from all over Israel who were in trouble came to stay with David. This motley crew became the core of David's power as he moved towards the throne.

At one point David came to the Philistines and lived there, even though Israel and the Philistines were at war. As I Samuel ends, Saul and Jonathan go to war with the Philistines and are killed in battle. When David hears the news he composes this song of mourning. We can believe easily that David is sad about Jonathan's death. His grief over Saul's death may be less genuine, but very useful to establish for Israel that David didn't have a hand in Saul's death. This feeling of innocence will be important as David seeks to cement his rule over all Israel in the coming years. Plus, it's quite a lovely, melancholy song.

God bless,
Sam

2 Samuel 1:17-27

¹⁷David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan. ¹⁸(He ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said: ¹⁹Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen! ²⁰Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.

²¹You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor bounteous fields! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more. ²²From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty. ²³Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 

²⁴O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. ²⁵How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. ²⁶I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. ²⁷How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

Prince of Peace

Good morning friends,
I just realized that I didn't push the send button when I did yesterday's daily reading, so you'll get two in a row. Sorry about that. Today's reading is a beautiful image of restoration and promise from Isaiah. In it we see a child who will be king and who will bring endless peace to the world. I love the image of burning the bloody clothes and the combat boots because they are no longer needed. One day war will end forever and we will follow the Prince of Peace.

O Come, o come, Emmanuel,
Sam

Isaiah 9:2-7

²The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. ³You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. ⁴For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

⁵For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. ⁶For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.