Proper 14B (RCL) – A Preacher’s Ponderings

The bread of life

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost; 8 August 2021; Proper 14B (RCL); 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-31; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2; John 6:35, 41-51.

Last week, we heard Nathan tell David that the sword would never depart from his house. We skip over a bunch of material to arrive at our reading for this week. Amnon rapes his sister Tamar, Absolom kills Amnon, and then sets up a seat of judgment in the gate in opposition to David’s seat, hearing cases only of Israelites (not Judahites). David flees Jerusalem, and Absolom lies with his wives on the roof the palace. David eventually musters his army and defeats the Israelites. The unity of the two kingdoms was always fragile.

Who’s eating whom?

12 August 2018
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 14B (RCL)
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Psalm 130
Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2
John 6:35, 41-51

In our semi-continuous reading of 2 Samuel, we skip over all the lurid bits – the rape of Tamar, Absalom’s revolt, David’s flight, and return – the whole interesting history of the monarchy of David. Funny that one of the songs he should be remembered for reads, “The Lord repaid me as my righteousness deserved; because my conduct was spotless he rewarded me, for I have kept to the ways of the Lord and have not turned from my God to wickedness” (2 Samuel 22:21-22). Continue reading “Who’s eating whom?”