+ The “splendor of our strength” is the Lord who is our
King and our God – it is not “what we can make of ourselves in the sight of the
other nations.” It is not up to us – as God’s people – to reinvent anything at
all about ourselves – but rather to take the reality of our lives, rejoice,
thank God, and live them according to his dictates, not telling him what he
ought to be doing in our regard.
Now Israel demanded that
Samuel appoint for them a king – so they would be “like the other nations” –
thus, in essence, taking away God’s authority over them. This, of course, just
begs for God to bring “his kind of justice” later on, with yet another lesson
in humility and the need for reconciliation.
The scribes of Jesus day are
self-appointed “fashioners of God’s designs” – and they fail to win the respect
of others, least of all Jesus who has genuine authority – not only to heal the
ills of nature, but also those of super-nature – to forgive sins.
Yes, “the splendor of our
strength” is walking in the light of the Lord’s countenance – the light of the
Lord of the universe – the Light of Christ himself.
May we count on you to hear
our prayers today Lord, because we are not demanding, ungrateful children – who
simply want their own way or no way at all.
The
Lord is our shield and our joy!
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