Palm/Passion Sunday OT selections First cut

Is. 50:4-9 Patricia Tull (Willey) in Remember the Former Things notes an oscillation between servant material and Zion material in this section.

1) Do we select readings for Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday, or both?  Obviously, this is a Passion Sunday reading, especially because of v. 6 and the sufferings of Jesus.

2) Mel Gibson probably loves the phrase "set my face like flint," given his near fetish over physical suffering in passion of the Christ.

3) How does God waken the ear from slumber? (v.4)

4) How can we sustain the weary with a word? When have you been encouraged, given new energy?

 

 

Ps. 31:9-16 Limburg  (WBC Psalms) notes that the pain is systemic. Everything hurts.

1) We are in extremis here. Even death would be preferable. Notice what a long, longtime this seems to be in 9-10. v. 12 seems to be an invisibility for the suffering.

2) The lament form often includes complaint followed by some sort of resolution. Trust emerges in v. 15.

3) v. 15 my times are in your hands

 

 

 

 

Ps. 118-this psalm works for almost any liturgy for Holy Week.

1) hesed=steadfast love, or loyalty, unbreakable bond. How else could you define it as give examples of it? 3 psalms share this verse 106, 107, 136.

2) mesar-distress= a tight spot, a constricted, claustrophobic space, the opposite of the sense of salvation being a broad, open, safe place.

3) on my side= for me. God is for me.

4) In an age of miracles in technology, it is not easy to take refuge in God. Still human power is not final, as defense or in the form of adversary. We can resist the enemy.

5) Even though surrounded, we find God's presence is steadfast.

6)  salvation and victory are both related to the word save that is similar to the name of Jesus.

7) We are in exodus territory here as a reminder of God's capacities. That memory can b e productive of hope, but it is also a hard event to live up to. Why isn;t it happening now for the one praying?

8) Save us=hosanna

9) v. 17 was loved by Luther.

10) In what ways would Jesus still be the rejected one in our times?

11) I shall not die but live takes on new meaning with Easter.

12) This is the day the Lord has made certainly fits different circumstances, just consider saying this on Good Friday or Easter.