Thursday, January 21, 2010
1 Samuel 18: 6-9, 19:1-7; Psalm 56; Mark 3: 7-12
When the victorious army returns, the women sing about Saul’s killing thousands but David’s killing ten thousand Philistines. Saul is angry and “eyed David from that day on.” Saul’s son, Jonathan, is a close friend of David’s and speaks up for David, asking his father how he could kill someone innocent without cause. Saul relents, but is on his way to mental illness. The psalm can console the mentally ill even to our day, for God notices the inner distress: “You [God] have kept count of my tossings; caught my tears in your bottle.” Multitudes swarm to Jesus with their tears, diseases and demons, and Jesus heals.
Palestine takes its name from Philistia, and the war continues these 3000 years. Such tossings and tears in the Middle East! Remember some photos of the sufferings of the Palestinians and Israelis in this on-going conflict. Pray especially for the widows and orphans.
Thank you for the peace, reconciling God, between Israel and Egypt. Now we want more, need more. Please bring justice and peace to Palestinians and Israelis. Now!