Narrative Lectionary: So Many Tangents, So Little Time (1 Kings 5, 8)

This week’s readings are 1 Kings 5:1-5 and 1 Kings 8:1-13. We’ve skipped over the entire reign of David (which, honestly, is fine by me) and are now reading about the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. Of course, it is not really Solomon’s Temple, it is God’s Temple. Though reading through the full narrative here, from… Read More

Sunday Prayer: Adoration

A thousand burnt offerings, O Wisdom,not given in shame or self-righteousnessbut in a flood of awe: You are beautiful. A thousand burnt offerings, O Wisdom,to bring incense to the table you setfor those humble enough to drink there. A thousand burnt offerings, O Wisdom,and may their smoke be a bitter cloudto the enemies of truth… Read More

Narrative Lectionary:Saints and Servants

This week we have a reading from 1 Kings 12:1-17, 25-29. Commentary at Working Preacher is here. Last week, we had an idyllic glimpse of King David, a united kingdom, and a moment where David danced before the Lord, as the ark was brought back and God was centered in the life of Israel. That… Read More

Narrative Lectionary:Wisdom

The text for this week is 1 Kings 3:4-9, (10-15), 16-28. Commentary at Working Preacher is here. Our focus this week is the wisdom of Solomon, both how he acquires it, and how he dispenses it. My favorite illustration of this in popular culture (although 20 year old popular culture) is this scene from Seinfeld.… Read More

Sunday Prayer: Solomon’s Prayer

O God, our Creator and our Sovereign, there is no God like you — not in heaven and certainly not on earth — no other god who keeps promises and is faithful in love. Our lives are before you, day by day, and our hearts are full of wonder as they strive to know you… Read More

Narrative Lectionary (1 Kings 5 and 8)

This week’s readings leapfrog over the good and bad, the highs and lows, of David’s reign and focus on his son Solomon’s plan to build a Temple in two chapters of 1 Kings: 1 Kings 5:1-5, 8:1-13 It’s an odd tension in scripture, and certainly in this text. God lives in the dark cloud AND… Read More