A Different Kind of Wisdom--August 13, 2010

I. Readings
Psalms 51, 148, 142, 65
Judges 14:20-15:20
Acts 7:17-29
John 4:43-54

II. Selections
Psalm 51:6
You desire truth in the inward being;
      therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Judges 15:11c
[Samson] replied, “As they did to me, so I have done to them.”

Acts 7:26
“…The next day [Moses] came to some of [the Israelites] as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong each other?’ … ” [from Stephen’s speech to the Council]

John 4:50b
The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.

III. Meditation

Samson summarizes the wisdom of this world:
As they did to me, so I have done to them.

By your grace, give us a different kind
of wisdom, a wisdom in our secret heart,

that we may desire your truth in our inward
being and believe the word you have spoken to us.

Help us recognize all your children as are our sisters
and brothers, that we may end our quarrels and our
violence, and that we may be reconciled to one another.