Week 3

15-21 January: Psalms 15 - 19, Exodus 13 - end, Luke 14.1 - 22.38, Proverbs 3


DayDatePsalmOTNTProverbs
Wednesday15 Jan15Exodus 13 - 16Luke 14
Thursday16 Jan16Exodus 17 - 21Luke 15
Friday17 Jan17Exodus 22 - 25Luke 16
Saturday18 Jan18.1-16Exodus 26 - 30Luke 17 - 183.1-18
Sunday19 Jan18.17-30Exodus 31 - 35Luke 19 - 203.19-35
Monday20 Jan18.31-endExodus 36 - 38Luke 21
Tuesday21 Jan19Exodus 39 - endLuke 22.1-38

Psalms

Psalm 15 is an example of a psalm that may have been used in the temple, liturgy to be spoken as worshippers enter.
Psalm 16 is a song of trust, giving praise to God for his blessings.
Psalm 17 is an individual lament, in which the writer prays to God for his help, confident that it will be given.
Psalm 18 is divided over three days, because it is a longer psalm.  You could split it up, or read it in one sitting.  It is a royal hymn of thanksgiving, with a similar version in 2 Sam 22.2-51.
Psalm 19 consists of a creation hymn in verses 2-7, followed by a wisdom hymn in verses 8-15.

Exodus

These later chapters of Exodus take us, with the Israelites, from Egypt into the wilderness.
The tenth and last plague is the death of all first-born males in Egypt, both human and animal.  The Israelites escape through a series of rituals which are enshrined in the ritual of the Passover.  Having let them go, however, Pharaoh soon changes his mind, and sends his armies after the fleeing Israelites.  Yet again God acts for the Israelites, visiting a conclusive defeat on the pursuing Egyptians at the Red Sea.  Exodus 15.1-18 is an ancient thanksgiving in which God is praised by reciting what he has done for the people, hence making his glory known.
With the Egyptians out of the picture, the people walk on through the wilderness, but it is not long before their resolve is tested, first at Marah, then with the provision of food and water.  It seems that the people may not test God, but he may test them!  Having overcome these difficulties, the army of the Amalekites present the next obstacle for God to overcome for the people.
Israel then makes camp at the holy mountain, Sinai.  Here, Moses received the Law on their behalf.  The Law is made up of the Ten Commandments and the Covenant which God makes with the people, and which is enshrined in the rules which the people must obey as their side of the covenant.  To keep the Law safe, the people are instructed in the making of the Ark of the Tabernacle in which the Law can be safely carried as they journey on.
Even at this early stage, however, the people are rebellious.  Moses breaks the original tablets of stone on which the commandments were written, but then pleads with God for them.  The book of Exodus ends with the dedication of the tabernacle as God takes up residence with them.

Luke's Gospel

Luke 14 to part way through chapter 22 covers the remainder of the journey to Jerusalem, and the arrival there of Jesus and his disciples.  On the way, Jesus continues his teaching through parables, and then in chapters 17 to 19 further instruction on the way of life of a disciple.  A theme of this teaching is the need for followers of Jesus to sit loose to their possessions, because those who have little, who are outcasts, will be first in the kingdom.  In his parables and teaching, Jesus tells us what the kingdom of God is like, and what we need to be like if we are to enter into it.
Entering into Jerusalem, Jesus is first hailed as king.  Yet Jesus himself weeps over Jerusalem, because despite this he is not recognised for who he really is.  Jerusalem rejects God in the person of Jesus.
Jesus enters the temple to take possession of it - for he is the true cornerstone.  It is significant that the revelation of who Jesus is takes place in the temple, the place where God is, but the religious leaders cannot see this.
So Jesus retreats with his followers, and eats his final meal with them.  He will go to his death willingly, in obedience to God's will.  Luke depicts this meal as a Passover meal and so Jesus completes the liberation of the Exodus - God's people are freed from all oppression.  At this meal, Jesus feeds his disciples as he continues to do in the bread and wine of the eucharist.  Note that Judas is one of the disciples at the meal, that he too takes the bread and wine.
This section ends with Jesus predicting Simon Peter's denial of him.

Proverbs 3

Chapter 3 starts by instructing the wise person in being faithful and loyal.  Verses 13-18 are a hymn in praise of wisdom, followed by instruction on the advantages of wisdom.  The chapter ends with instruction in right conduct for the person who would live with wisdom.

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