2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 In last week’s reading from the Hebrew scriptures, we heard how David mourned over the death of Saul, his predecessor, friend, mentor and finally enemy. We then skip forward over most of four chapters until we hear how David had been king of the tribe of Judah (one of the twelve…

Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15; 2:23-24 The five verses of the lection (out of a range of two chapters – forty verses!) are a distillation of the author’s answer as to why there is good and evil, and why we should choose the good. God created all there is; and because of God’s goodness, the essence…

1 Samuel 17:57-18:5 What could it mean that “the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David”? Note that the Hebrew word used for “soul” here is transliterated as nephesh. While nephesh is translated in this passage as “soul,” it can also refer to other aspects of life, and people and animals are considered to have…

Ezekiel 17:22-24 The depth of Ezekiel 17:22-24 is better explored by the light of the preceding context. This passage serves as the conclusion to an allegorical story of Israel’s recent history (17:1-21). God had sent Israel into exile as a punishment for their transgressions. They forsook the covenant that God had established with them. The…

Genesis 3:8-15 Imagine that Adam and Eve have kindly invited you to Eden and you arrive (clad in a loincloth, as they had asked) around suppertime. After the meal, you three hear the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden by the evening breeze. Could you find God in the garden by this…