July 19, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 62, 97
1 Samuel 20:24-42
Acts 13:1-12
Mark 2:23-3:6

II. Selections
Psalm 62:3
How long will you assail a person,
will you batter your victim, all of you,
as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

1 Samuel 20:30
Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan. He said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die."

Acts 13:8
But the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed Saul and Barnabas and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

Mark 3:2
[ The Pharisees] watched [ Jesus] to see whether he would cure [ the man with the withered hand] on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him.

III. Meditation: Assailants and their victims

King Saul assailed David, battering him
as if he were a leaning wall, a tottering fence;
but he did not prevail.

The magician Elymas opposed Saul and Barnabas
and tried to turn the proconsul away from faith;
but he did not prevail.

The Pharisees waited for Jesus to heal on the Sabbath
so that they might accuse him. Eventually they prevailed,
but not ultimately.