A Strong Mountain?--Sept. 14, 2021

[From Sept. 15, 2009 archive]

 

You, O God, make foolish the wisdom of this world

and dismay the powerful who take what is not theirs. 

Your kingdom draws near—fill us with repentance;

 

for we think ourselves wise and in control of our lives, 

which belong to us no more than Naboth’s vineyard

belonged to Ahab.  

 

In the name of One who said, “Repent.”

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 123, 146, 30, 86

1 Kings 21:17-29

1 Corinthians 1:20-31

Matthew 4:12-17

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 30:7

By your favor, O LORD,

            you had established me  as a strong mountain;

you hid your face;

            I was dismayed.

 

1 Kings 21:17-18

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession.  …

 

1 Cor. 1:20

Where is the one who is wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the debater of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

 

Matt. 4:17

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”