Of Insolence and Arrogance--Sept. 24, 2019

It is easy to see the insolence of Elisha’s servant,

O God, and his arrogance as well.

And the psalmist’s complaint about the insolence

of the ruthless who seek his life

seems altogether appropriate.

I was about to complain that Paul was unfair

to call the Corinthians arrogant,

but then I realized my own insolence in rushing

to that judgment of a saint like Paul.

Lord Jesus, teach me to restrain my language

and my judgment of others.    

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99

2 Kings 5:19-27

1 Cor. 5:1-8

Matt. 5:27-37

Selected Verses

Ps. 54:3

For the insolent have risen against me,
          the ruthless seek my life;
          they do not set God before them.        Selah

2 Kings 5:20

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, “My master has let that Aramean Naaman off too lightly by not accepting from him what he offered.  As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something out of him.”

1 Cor. 5:2

And you are arrogant!  Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?

Matt. 5:37

“…Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”  [Jesus, to his disciples and the crowd]