To Exalt Ourselves--July 3, 2022

[From July 9, 2006 archive]

 

In vain we seek to exalt ourselves—

a lesson the itinerant exorcists learned.

 

In vain Herod arrested John,

only to have him replaced by Jesus.

 

In vain Moses hoped to enter the promised land

before you gathered him to his people.

 

What can we do, but rejoice in you,

whose eyes keep watch on the nations?

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 108; 150; 66; 23

Numb. 27:12-23

Acts 19:11-20

Mark 1:14-20

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 66:6c-7

There we rejoiced in him,

          who rules by his might forever,

whose eyes keep watch on the nations—

          let the rebellious not exalt themselves.  Selah

 

Numb. 27:13

“...When you have seen [the land that I have given to the Israelites] you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was...”  [God to Moses]

 

Acts 19:13

Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”

 

Mark 1:14

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God...