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Worship undergoes scrutiny this Sunday as both the psalm and first lesson describe a worship that has gone awry. Worship in relationship to practice of our faith in the world continues to be a dangerous incongruity that has haunted every generation of Christian and Jewish believer. In the epistle lesson, we catch a glimpse of God’s promises that far surpass any single human being’s lifetime. Abraham serves as our example. And in the gospel lesson Luke speaks about treasures and faithfulness as we await God’s full return to our world.

PSALM 50:1-8; 22-23-PROPHET VERSUS PRIEST

We have a prophetic-like psalm this week that is styled in the shape of a covenant lawsuit and brought on by none less than God. Taken in its entirety, the psalm encourages pursuit of the right way (v. 23) especially concerning sacrifice and worship. We can clearly sense the tension between priest and prophet in this psalm. On one hand worship should be practiced with thoughtfulness and beauty for God is worthy of our most excellent praise. On the other hand, the prophet says "bag the sacrifice. What? You think God is hungry? Is that why you butcher so many animals? No! What God wants is for you to practice justice!" Verse 23 hints that both are needed if we want to truly honor God.

ISAIAH 1:1, 10-20-DISCONNECT IN WORSHIP

The first verse provides us the context for Isaiah’s prophetic activity that contained in the book of Isaiah. What follows in our lesson (vv. 10-20) is the age old incongruity between worship’s talk and walk. On one hand worship continues in all its distinctive incense, sacrifice, and celebration of holy days and festivals. But on the other hand, their religious observances fail to bring justice and succor to the very ones who need it-the oppressed, orphans and widows. So God calls Israel to come clean through confession; then: "I will wash you as clean as snow" (v. 18).

HEBREWS 11:1-3; 8-16-GOD OF PROMISE

In this magnificent chapter that describes faith’s ability to see God’s promises that transcends generations, obstacles, and criticism, we are given an example: Abraham. Abraham trusts God’s promise and is able to produce the first link of God’s purpose-Isaac. So enamored with God’s ability to substantiate what God has personally promised him, that Abraham could even give his son Isaac back to God as a goner, convinced that God would even raise Isaac from death in order to fulfill his promise.

LUKE 12:32-40-THINGS / WATCHFULNESS

The arrangement of Luke’s material in chapter 12 has been focused on "things" (vv. 13-34). The gospel lesson closes that section and opens with the theme or topic of watchfulness and faithfulness. The preacher might choose to go in either direction-that of stewardship of "things" (vv. 32-34) or Jesus’ teaching concerning faithful response to the immanent return of the Son of God (vv. 35-40).