WEDNESDAY, December 23

2 Samuel 7:1-17. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

The Lord has made David king of Israel and now David decides to build a "house" for the Lord. In a colorful scene, the Lord reminds David that he has lived in a tent all these years (the ark of the covenant was carried about in a tent), so why would David think the Lord now wanted a house of cedar? Then the Lord tells David (through the prophet Nathan) that he will make David a "house" which shall "be made sure forever," and that David's offspring (Solomon) will build a "house" for the Lord.

This passage contains a play on the word "house" that works in both Hebrew and English. On one level it is a reference to the temple which Solomon would later build in Jerusalem, but Christians also take these words to refer to Christ. The dwelling place of God is, ultimately, in neither a tent nor a cedar temple, but in human flesh. In Christ, God has entered our flesh, sanctifying it as his home. Human flesh can never be the same. It has been "divinized," as the Orthodox put it. We are God's home, a "house" that is "made sure forever."

PRAY for the Diocese of Yirol (Sudan)

Ps 72 * Ps 111, 113; Titus 2:11-3:8a; Luke 1:39-48a(48b-56)

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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thanx

Dec 23, 2009 at 12:29 pm

Written by Mike Kurtz,

Thank you for your beautiful interpretation of this passage, which I don't recall ever hearing before today, despite listening for most of my 71 years. Thus, it probably has significance for me today, helping me focus on the "true meaning" of Christmas, the grind toward which has me quite stressed out. "Not to worry, what REALLY is important has been taken care of...."

...

Dec 23, 2009 at 3:08 pm

Written by Richard H. Schmidt, Editor, Forward Day by Day,

Thank you, Mike. When I write for Forard Day by Day, I sometimes look for an unusual sentence or verse, not the obvious one. It stretches me to think about some things I otherwise might not think about. This was such a verse. It's no surprise that you do not recall reading a meditation on it before. I appreciate your comment. Have a Merry Christmas, even if you are "quite stressed out." So Iam I, but I intend to enjoy the holiday nonetheless.

...

Dec 23, 2009 at 3:11 pm

Written by Sheila McCallum,

This passage glorifies our personal "spirit", stressing the fact that God is within us and works through us...reminding me to meditate and listen to the voice within. Thank you.

...

Dec 24, 2009 at 12:25 am

Written by Mary E. Macnaughtan Bonnet,

I loved this! Thank you so very much.

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