Relating to God as friends or enemies.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Devotions: Ps 5, 6, 10, 11; Isa 1:21-31; 1 Thess 2:1-12; Lk 20:9-18

Lord, attend to my groans and cries; in the morning, I prepare a sacrifice, and wait for You. You abhor the bloodthirsty and wicked; but by Your grace, I am admitted to Your house, and I worship in awe of Your holiness and might, and in gratitude for Your steadfast love and faithfulness. Lead me today, O Lord, in Your righteousness, and make my way straight and plain. Let all rejoice who take refuge in You, as You bless us and cover us with Your favor. Lord, heal my body and my soul, my mind and my spirit—save my life and deliver me, Father. There is no praise for You from Sheol. While I languish, I also consider: YHWH hears and accepts my prayers. My enemies will be ashamed and troubled, and I am sustained and vindicated.


Lord, why are You hard for us to find in times of trouble? Wicked people destroy innocents; arrogantly, they pursue and persecute the poor. May they be caught in the nets they cast for others. Today, many do not deny God’s existence; in fact, they claim God as the authority and reason for their violence. They sit in ambush in villages; in hiding places, they murder the innocent. The hapless begin to believe You have forgotten or departed. Get up, God! Lift Your mighty hand, Helper of the fatherless. I know You hear the calls of the meek; strengthen our hearts; do justice for us, so that the earthy ones may strike terror no more.

The once-faithful city has become a harlot, the haunt of murderers. Our leaders are rebels, familiar with thieves, seeking their own gain, ignoring the claims of the poor and powerless. For this, the Mighty One says, “I will vent My wrath on my enemies and those who harm My people. I will give you righteous judges and counselors; I will make you a city of righteousness and faith. Those who forsake the Lord will be consumed, with none to quench or succor them.

Paul continues his letter to the Thessalonians: ‘You recall that my companions and I came to you after being shamefully treated in Philippi, but proclaimed the gospel of God despite powerful opposition. Our appeal is not a human argument; it’s a message approved by God, Who tests our hearts. We seek neither praise nor glory from mortals, nor to take material advantage of my position as an apostle. We were gentle among you, like caring nurses, and shared our very selves with you. We worked tirelessly, blamelessly, exhorting you to live lives worthy of God, Who calls you to His own kingdom and glory.’

After refusing to answer the scribes, Pharisees and priests concerning the source of His authority, Jesus taught His listeners by this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to tenants, then set out on a long foreign journey. When harvest time came, the owner sent a servant to collect his share of the harvest. But the tenants beat up the servant and sent him away empty-handed. The owner repeatedly sent representatives, and the tenants repeatedly refused, beating the ambassadors and casting them out. Finally, the owner sent his own son, believing the tenants would respect his own heir. But the tenants conspired and murdered the son, believing this would leave the vineyard in their possession at last.’ Then Jesus asked His listeners: ‘What will the owner do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants, and give his vineyard to others! Consider this scripture: “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head cornerstone.” Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and when the stone falls on anyone, it will crush him.’