December 15, 2019, 1 Chronicles 17 – ISSL Reflection

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I.
We continue this week with David’s walk with God, most especially in regard to providing God a home.

The passage we looked at last week closed with David going home “to bless his household.”

We open this week with David speaking to Nathan and Nathan’s response.

As you spend time with the passage pay attention to David, Nathan, and God.

II.
1 Chronicles 17 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Now when David settled in his house, David said to the prophet Nathan, “I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.” Nathan said to David, “Do all that you have in mind, for God is with you.”

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: You shall not build me a house to live in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought out Israel to this very day, but I have lived in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar? Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies before you; and I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall wear them down no more, as they did formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies.

Moreover I declare to you that the Lord will build you a house. When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever. In accordance with all these words and all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And even this was a small thing in your sight, O God; you have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come. You regard me as someone of high rank, O Lord God! 18 And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant. For your servant’s sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great deeds, making known all these great things. There is no one like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. Who is like your people Israel, one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and terrible things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt? And you made your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, O Lord, became their God.

“And now, O Lord, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, let it be established forever, and do as you have promised. Thus your name will be established and magnified forever in the saying, ‘The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God’; and the house of your servant David will be established in your presence. For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him; therefore your servant has found it possible to pray before you. And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant; therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord, have blessed and are blessed forever.”

II.
What do you think is Nathan’s sense of what David wants to do? And what do you think Nathan wants David to do?

Does Nathan, the prophet of God, think it is time for David and his builders to get around to building a “proper” house for God? And might the prophet be pleased that it seems he and David are “on the same page” in regard to this enterprise?

III.
As this passage opens it seems both David and Nathan have the beginnings of a plan in mind that they both are ready to carry out. Nathan the Prophet tells David, “Do all you have in mind, for God is with you.” What more encouragement could a person get than God’s chosen prophet telling the anointed King, to “carry on … God’s on your side.”

But wait, “that same night the word of God came to Nathan saying ….” And, I assume later that night or the next morning, “In accordance with all these words and all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.”

IV.
It just sounds like whatever plans David had in mind were wrong, and Nathan’s words of approval and encouragement to David were wrong also.

Why? How does it happen that the Prophet gets things so wrong?

Look back in your life and see if there was a time you firmly believed you were headed in the right direction and later saw it was not right.

Two questions – (1) Why did you initially think you were right; and (2) What caused you to change your mind?

And in thinking about both questions you might ask how the opinions and counsel of others confirmed you in both views.

Think about that and we’ll get back together later ….

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

December 8, 2019, 1 Chronicles 16 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflection

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VI.
Let’s take some time today to pay attention to a couple of sentences in the passage – one near the beginning and another at the end.

…. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord; and he distributed to every person in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.
…
Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household.
(1 Chronicles 16:2-3, 43)

VII.
So, maybe assembling to worship and praise God is not just about that particular place and what goes on in that time and place. David’s actions seem to imply (at least to me) that what we give to others and what we take from worship and how we share with and bless others afterwards is not separate from the worship experience but inherit in it.

Is our experience of worship limited to a “worship service” we “attend” once or twice a week for an hour of two? Or maybe it also includes our time of private devotions and worship we practice a few times a week? But that’s all? Well, maybe every now and then something happens, we see something, we hear something, we feel something, and we have this moment in which we sense a presence beyond ourselves, and that moment becomes special, dare we call it holy?

But is that all?

VIII.
David gave something to those who assembled. He gave the people a blessing and food. “… in the name of the Lord” he blessed them and gave them bread, meat and fruit. Seems to me this should serve to remind us that sharing our table with someone is both nouishement and blessing, for them and for us.

“… and he went home to bless his household.”

We take something with us as we leave a place and time of worship and praise. Have we come near enough to the Holy to have something to share? And we have a choice to make – how do we share the blessings we have received?

What do you have to share, what blessings do you have to impart? When will you take the opportunity?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

December 8, 2019, 1 Chronicles 16 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflection

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IV.
How is it? Have you ever found yourself in a church service, worship service, class and those around you seem full of praise, and thanks and a worshipful spirit and you just are not there?

I have.

What do I do?

Do I ignore the spirit of those around me because I can’t find it in myself to be there? Do I withdraw deeper into myself and no-praise, no-worship place?

I have to admit, at times that is what happened for me.

But I wonder if there is another way?

Can I accept the spirit of those around me? Acknowledge their spirits? And let that environment, that community support me?

Maybe just as the Spirit can inhabit my prayerful groans (Romans 8.26-27) and complete what I am lacking in prayer, so can the community I find myself in, share their voices of praise and worship with me and my lack of an offering is combined with their offering to God and in some way the Spirit can bring all that to God in a harmony greater than any one of us can offer.

Let me confess that does not always happen for me. But as I spend time with this passage, I see more and more how a community in worship has a strength and power that can be shared with one another.

V.
Look back over David’s song of praise and focus on those elements that capture you today.

What speaks to you and for you? What helps voice what you don’t have the strength or energy to voice for yourself today?

Let’s mull that over for a while and then get back together.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

December 8, 2019, 1 Chronicles 16 – ISSL Reflection

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This week we pick up with the passage following our reading for this past Sunday. We see David again in the midst of the activities surrounding the Ark and offering directions to those serving around the Ark.

Let’s first read over the entire passage slowly.

Then given that last Thursday was Thanksgiving day and given that the David appoints the choir (Asaph and his kindred) to sing praises that begin with, “O give thanks to the Lord…“ why don’t we pay attention to the praises and thanks David’s song articulates.

II.
1 Chronicles 16 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

They brought in the ark of God, and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before God. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord; and he distributed to every person in Israel—man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.

He appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. Asaph was the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God.

Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the Lord by Asaph and his kindred.

O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.

Sing to him, sing praises to him,
tell of all his wonderful works.

Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Seek the Lord and his strength,
seek his presence continually.

Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

O offspring of his servant Israel,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.

Remember his covenant forever,
the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac,

which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant,

saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as your portion for an inheritance.”

When they were few in number,
of little account, and strangers in the land,

wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people,

he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their account,

saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.

Honor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come before him.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord is king!”

Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth.
The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it.

Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Say also:
“Save us, O God of our salvation,
and gather and rescue us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.”

Then all the people said “Amen!” and praised the Lord.

David left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required, and also Obed-edom and his sixty-eight kinsfolk; while Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place that was at Gibeon, to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the Lord that he commanded Israel. With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever. Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music, and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.

Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household.

III.
What in that song of praise and thanks stands out to you?
What praise and thanksgiving do you identify with?
And, what words of praise and thanksgiving leave you cold, have little or no meaning for you?

Have you ever been in the place where those around you seem full of praise, and thanks, and joy and you are just not there? What do you do? Do you try to create the “feeling” in yourself you perceive those around you having? Or, do you accept where you are and “own” that place? What do you do?

We’ll talk later,

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

December 1, 2019, 1 Chronicles 15 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflection

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XI.
Earlier we were talking about preparation for worship and I didn’t mention the singers and musicians.

In David’s time just as in our’s, I have to think those folks prepared for their participation in public worship. Certainly it was the case that for an event as singular as bringing the Ark to Jerusalem this would call for them to be at their best. I don’t want to imply that we should not worship if we “are not at our best.” If that were true, we could always find an excuse not to worship. I do want to suggest that when we come to worship we should want to bring our best offerings regardless of the form it might take.

XII.
What about David’s “leaping and dancing”?

Do you think he spent time before the procession into Jerusalem practicing his dance steps and holy movements?

Or was this a spontaneous and impromptu response to what he was experiencing in these holy and sacred moments? Might we say, “he just couldn’t contain himself.” His joy demanded he move with that joy.

Here’s a question – Do we make room in “formal” worship for the spontaneous expression of worshippers very natural desire to find deep ways to enter into the worship experience?

And how is that balanced with the worship experience of others who find deep worship and sacredness in formal expressions of worship?

I don’t have an easy answer, but I do believe we need to respect both approaches to the Holy.

XIII.
I feel I can’t leave this passage without noticing Michal’s reaction.

What do you think brought her to the point of “despising” David? What offended and upset her in what she saw?

Might she have felt the occasion too solemn for David, the King, to be so emotional?

But, any number of things could have brought her to that point, including things that had nothing to do directly with bringing the Ark to Jerusalem.


Do we ever get drawn away from worship by distractions? Maybe we think the soloist is off key and wonder, “Why do they ever let that person sing?” Or, “The sound system is so bad, why can’t we get new speakers.” And then, “What, that same praise band/string quartet again. They don’t ever pick music that goes with the mood.”

What gets in the way of our experiencing the holiness of the moment?

There is a lot going on this passage. What one thing draws your attention the deepest? Why do you think that is?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

December 1, 2019, 1 Chronicles 15 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflection

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VI.
What is recounted in 1 Chronicles 15 is a unique situation. The closest some of us might come to anything of this type might be the dedication or consecration of a church sanctuary, church building or some very special event at a cathedral. Or, maybe certain kinds of processionals happening in the streets around Christmas or Easter in some cities and countries.

However, despite the uniqueness of what we are reading about, I have a sense it can offer us a number of ways to reflect on how we worship.

VII.
First, do you think we can acknowledge this is a rather “formal” experience of praise and worship?

It certainly seems to me we can call it formal, so let’s focus for a bit on formal worship. Sometimes we might call such liturgical worship or even some might call it “high church.”

One of the things that strikes me in the passage is David’s instruction to the Levites to “sanctify” themselves. We are not offered any details here on what this might have included unless you think the reference to the sacrifice of “seven bulls and seven rams” as well as how David, the Levites, the singers and the leader of the music were clothed counts as part of sanctifying. We are probably safe to assume that whatever else this sanctifying included at the minimum washings, sacrifices and at least for some certain clothing was involved.

VIII.
What might happen today in formal settings of worship?

I have been in services in which as one enters the worship space and before one enters a row of pews one bows or kneels and maybe “crosses” themselves. Then upon entering the pew kneels again and prays. Maybe the prayer is extemporaneous and unstructured or maybe the prayer is of a particular pattern and wording.

This leads me to think the person following that pattern is preparing themselves for the “worship service” that is to follow. Maybe this pattern is followed out of habit or is very intentional on the part of the worshipper.

Not everyone is drawn to this style of formal, liturgical worship, but many find it nourishing and sustaining.

What leads me to draw our attention to it for the moment is how the participant prepares to enter the time of worship and the worship space.

IX.
But what of the less formal worship styles?

I can think of worship spaces where the folks enter greeting one another, sharing talk of what’s been going on with them and moving from one person to another greeting others and all the time sharing conversation, smiles, handshakes and hugs.

Is that also a means of preparing for the “worship service” that is to follow?

X.
There is more than one style of worship. Different people for different reasons are drawn to one style rather than another.

Thinking here of structured worship experiences (not spontaneous experiences of worship which we will think about later) should we take time to prepare ourselves to enter those times and spaces? How?

Give some time and thought to what you do or might do to approach a time of worship.

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

December 1, 2019, 1 Chronicles 15 – ISSL Reflection

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I.
We turn this week to the first of several scripture passages that focus our attention on the Ark of the Covenant, the Temple and approaching God in our worship.

We start with recounting David’s bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and the details of how he proposed to accomplish this.

I encourage you to give the passage a slow and careful first reading. Let the details sink in and let a picture of this scene emerge in your mind. Pay attention to the things David is concerned with and how the wants the Ark to enter Jerusalem.

Then read the passage again and notice what of the passage most captures your attention. Allow your attention to focus on what you are drawn to and consider why that might be capturing your attention.

II.
1 Chronicles 15 (New Revised Standard Version)

David built houses for himself in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. Then David commanded that no one but the Levites were to carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. Then David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites: of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with one hundred twenty of his kindred; of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with two hundred twenty of his kindred; of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with one hundred thirty of his kindred; of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with two hundred of his kindred; of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with eighty of his kindred; of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with one hundred twelve of his kindred.

David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. He said to them, “You are the heads of families of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your kindred, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God burst out against us, because we did not give it proper care.” So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy. So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; and of his kindred Asaph son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their kindred, Ethan son of Kushaiah; and with them their kindred of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound bronze cymbals; Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth; but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith. Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music, for he understood it. Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark. Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were to be gatekeepers for the ark.

So David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of the thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing. And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers; and David wore a linen ephod. So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.

As the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing; and she despised him in her heart.

III.
There is so much going on here. David has a lot of directions for how this is to be done.

To me he comes across as having a great deal of concern for the details. Why do you think that is? Is he too detail oriented here? Should he be more concerned “with getting the job done” and let details take care of themselves? Do you think his concern for the details takes the focus away from the Ark or serve to focus more attention on the Ark?

IV.
“So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.”

Seems to be quite a show going on!

Does all the show detract from the Ark?

Would you be comfortable being there? Do you think you would be one of those shouting or maybe you would be counted among the singers? Or, do you stand on the side looking on in silence?

Do you identify with David “leaping and dancing” or do you identify more with Michal who seems offended by the scene?

V.
Does this fit with what you think worship can be? Is this prescriptive of what should be or descriptive of one of the forms worship can take on?

Give that some thought, and we’ll talk later ….

charles
“Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 24, 2019, 2 Peter 1:1-15 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflection

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VIII.
I wonder if we hear Peter’s words to us as encouragement or scolding?

It could be when we read, “… make every effort to support your faith with …” we could hear him speaking from disappointment and scolding us for our shortcomings But I do not hear him with that kind of voice, but speaking words of encouragement to people he loves.

IX.
“Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you.”

Peter is not telling his readers anything they do not already know. Not only that but he believes they not only know these things but are living from that foundation of “faith … and goodness … and knowledge …”

So, does it make sense that he “intend[s] to keep on reminding [them] of these things”?

It does to me. I certainly need reminders. I need encouragement. I need a mature voice of one who has been there before me to remind me I am on the right path. I need that reminder to strengthen my daily walk on that path.

What about you? Do you find his reminders profitable? Do they give you strength for today and tomorrow?

X.
Over these past three months we have looked at 13 passages of Scripture all of which have something to say to us about faith and living a life of faith.

It might be time to look back over those passages and see what encouragement they offer you. What can you take from them that helps you “…. support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”

I don’t think we should set this up in our minds as a test to measure success or failure, but rather as an example of what the outcome of faith can be. Faith is the start and if you give yourself to that faith you will not stumble, you will not be ineffective and you will not be unfruitful. Isn’t that part of what Peter sets out as reminders for his readers?

It is good for us to be reminded also.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 24, 2019, 2 Peter 1:1-15 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflection

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V.
I closed the other day with two questions – (1) What is the first step we take toward this knowledge? And (2) What steps do we take as we begin to gain this knowledge?

Recall that the “knowledge” we are considering is

“… the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord…. through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness …. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith … with knowledge … [to] keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

First step? Maybe that step is by “him who called us by his own glory and goodness …”

Can we take seriously that the first step, the first movement, is from “Him” towards us?

If that is true in any sense, what do you think about that? How do you feel about it? And, how do you think you want to react?

VI.
Did you notice we are encouraged to –

“ … make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”

Maybe that suggests our first step is “faith.” I’ll leave you to consider what kind of “faith” this might be.

VII.
I do want us to notice the sequence here – faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection, love.

Maybe the old statement that “all you need is faith” does not paint the entire picture.

Initially, I asked us to pay attention to how often Peter mentions “knowledge.” Now, please note that “knowledge” is not the starting or ending of how Peter wants us to “support” our faith.

How am I going to “support” my faith in the ways that Peter marks out?

What will today and tomorrow look like for me if I can take his encouragement seriously and “support [my] faith”?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

November 24, 2019, 2 Peter 1:1-15 – ISSL Reflection

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I.
As we turn this week to the beginning of this letter I think it helpful to notice two things.

First, Peter knows he is not sharing with his readers anything they do not already know,

“Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already …”

And second, this may be close to the last time, if not the last time, he is able to encourage them,

“I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I know that my death will come soon …”

While it might seem at first, since according to his own testimony he is writing only about things they already know, this letter might lack urgency, on the other hand, since he might not have time to encourage them again, it does carry in the words a sense of urgency.

As you turn to read and meditate on this passage, what do you notice that you already know but need to “refresh your memory.”

II.
2 Peter 1:1-15 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

III.
It’s hard to miss that he is at least writing to them about “knowledge” –

“May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord…. through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness …. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith … with knowledge … [to] keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What kind of “knowledge.” The kind that is obtained from studying concepts, facts, theorems and such?

Or is this a knowledge of a different kind.

Maybe a knowledge that comes by first hand experience of something? A knowing that comes from living “up close and personal” with not just the object of this knowing but with the subject of this knowing.

If that is the case, how do you and I go about increasing in this knowledge that he thinks his readers (and maybe us) already have?

IV.
What is the first step we take toward this knowledge?

What steps do we take as we begin to gain this knowledge?

We’ll take up those questions again after we spend some time with them.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}