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Scott's Reference Library
| Date: | Sunday, July 30, 2000 |
| Time: | 10:00 AM |
| Service: | Pentecost 7, Proper 12, B |
| Liturgy: | Holy Communion, LBW Setting II |
2 Kings 4:42-44
A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread
baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. "Give it to the
people to eat," Elisha said.
[43] "How can I set this before a hundred men?" his servant asked.
But Elisha answered, "Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the Lord says:
'They will eat and have some left over.' " [44] Then he set it before them, and they
ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.
2 Kings 4:38-44 (The miracle of healing the pottage, and of feeding the sons of the prophets)
There was a famine of bread, but not of hearing the word of God, for Elisha had the sons of the prophets sitting before him, to hear his wisdom. Elisha made hurtful food to become safe and wholesome. If a mess of pottage be all our dinner, remember that this great prophet had no better for himself and his guests. The table often becomes a snare, and that which should be for our welfare, proves a trap: this is a good reason why we should not feed ourselves without fear. When we are receiving the supports and comforts of life, we must keep up an expectation of death, and a fear of sin. We must acknowledge God’s goodness in making our food wholesome and nourishing; I am the Lord that healeth thee. Elisha also made a little food go a great way. Having freely received, he freely gave. God has promised his church, that he will abundantly bless her provision, and satisfy her poor with bread, Psalms 132:15; whom he feeds, he fills; and what he blesses, comes to much. Christ’s feeding his hearers was a miracle far beyond this, but both teach us that those who wait upon God in the way of duty, may hope to be supplied by Divine Providence.
Psalm 145:10-19
All you have made will praise you, O Lord;
your saints will extol you.
[11] They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
[12] so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
[13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.
[14] The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
[15] The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
[16] You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
[17] The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
[18] The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
[19] He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
Psalm 145:10-21 (The glory of God’s kingdom, and his care of those that love him)
All God’s works show forth his praises. He satisfies the desire of every living thing, except the unreasonable children of men, who are satisfied with nothing. He does good to all the children of men; his own people in a special manner. Many children of God, who have been ready to fall into sin, to fall into despair, have tasted his goodness in preventing their falls, or recovering them speedily by his graces and comforts. And with respect to all that are heavy laden under the burden of sin, if they come to Christ by faith, he will ease them, he will raise them. He is very ready to hear and answer the prayers of his people. He is present every where; but in a special way he is nigh to them, as he is not to others. He is in their hearts, and dwells there by faith, and they dwell in him. He is nigh to those that call upon him, to help them in all times of need. He will be nigh to them, that they may have what they ask, and find what they seek, if they call upon him in truth and sincerity. And having taught men to love his name and holy ways, he will save them from the destruction of the wicked. May we then love his name, and walk in his ways, while we desire that all flesh should bless his holy name for ever and ever.
Ephes. 3:14-21
For this reason I kneel before the Father, [15] from whom his whole family in heaven and
on earth derives its name. [16] I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen
you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [18]
may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep
is the love of Christ, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may
be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
[20] Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according
to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ
Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephes. 3:13-19 (He prays for the Ephesians)
The apostle seems to be more anxious lest the believers should be discouraged and faint upon his tribulations, than for what he himself had to bear. He asks for spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings. Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith, to serve God, and to do our duty. If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Where his Spirit dwells, there he dwells. We should desire that good affections may be fixed in us. And how desirable to have a fixed sense of the love of God in Christ to our souls! How powerfully the apostle speaks of the love of Christ! The breadth shows its extent to all nations and ranks; the length, that it continues from everlasting to everlasting; the depth, its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery; the height, its raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory. Those who receive grace for grace from Christ’s fulness, may be said to be filled with the fulness of God. Should not this satisfy man? Must he needs fill himself with a thousand trifles, fancying thereby to complete his happiness?
Ephes. 3:20-21 (And adds a thanksgiving)
It is proper always to end prayers with praises. Let us expect more, and ask for more, encouraged by what Christ has already done for our souls, being assured that the conversion of sinners, and the comfort of believers, will be to his glory, for ever and ever.
John 6:1-21
Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the
Sea of Tiberias), [2] and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the
miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. [3] Then Jesus went up on a mountainside
and sat down with his disciples. [4] The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
[5] When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,
"Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" [6] He asked this only to
test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
[7] Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one
to have a bite!"
[8] Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, [9] "Here is a
boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so
many?"
[10] Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that
place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. [11] Jesus then took the loaves,
gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the
same with the fish.
[12] When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the
pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." [13] So they gathered them and
filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had
eaten.
[14] After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say,
"Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." [15] Jesus, knowing
that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by
himself.
[16] When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, [17] where they got into a
boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet
joined them. [18] A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. [19] When they had
rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the
water; and they were terrified. [20] But he said to them, "It is I; don't be
afraid." [21] Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the
boat reached the shore where they were heading.
John 6:1-14 (Five thousand miraculously fed)
John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.
John 6:15-21 (Jesus walks on the sea)
Here were Christ’s disciples in the way of duty, and Christ was praying for them; yet they were in distress. There may be perils and afflictions of this present time, where there is an interest in Christ. Clouds and darkness often surround the children of the light and of the day. They see Jesus walking on the sea. Even the approaches of comfort and deliverance often are so mistaken, as to become the occasions of fear. Nothing is more powerful to convince sinners than that word, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest;" nothing more powerful to comfort saints than this, "I am Jesus whom thou lovest." If we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, though the night be dark, and the wind high, yet we may comfort ourselves, we shall be at the shore before long.
All lessons NIV, all commentaries from Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
kw: pentecost 7b, proper 12b
Other Notes: