Words Like Lions’ Teeth--July1, 2019

[From July2, 2007 archive]

Stephen asked you to forgive those who killed him with stones.

Saul—newly king—held his peace when some men despised him.

Our words can devour, our mouth can kill like spears and arrows;

Peter’s words of denial must have pierced Jesus like a sharp sword.

We do not kill by throwing stones, like those who killed Stephen;

but teach us to guard our words and to forgive when we are injured.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47

1 Sam. 10:17-27

Acts 7:44-8:1a

Luke 22:52-62

Selected Verses

Ps. 57:4

I lie down among lions

            that greedily devour human prey;

their teeth are spears and arrows,

            their tongues sharp swords.

1 Sam. 10:27a

But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man [Saul] save us?”  They despised him and brought him no present.  But he held his peace.

Acts 7:60

Then [Stephen] knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”  When he had said this, he died.

Luke 22:61

The Lord turned and looked at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”