Ephesians 4:25-5:2
Make America Kind Again
The author says to let no evil talk
Come from our mouths, but only what would then build up the
whole;
In other words, what's useful - not for self,
But always what is good for every neighbor is the goal.
These days, I think we need a healthy dose
Of these Ephesians verses all across the public square;
Let's start with all who follow Christ, and then,
Evangelizing by our talk, our country's life repair.
Scott L. Barton
So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the
truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not
sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the
devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly
with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no
evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as
there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve
the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of
redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling
and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live
in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God.
+ + +
2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
Marc Chagall:
David Weeps for Absalom
Five Times
Five times he calls his son.
Five times he names the one
About whom he had spake:
"Deal gently for my sake
With the young man." But he
Died hanging from a tree,
The forest something like
God's will; although the strike
From Joab's men ensured
The kingdom be secured.
Thus David's grief, not brief,
Becomes the new motif
Describing David, king,
Who, living, felt the sting
Of judgment, self-declared,
Though shepherd king was spared.
He knows that Yahweh's choice
Now calls him to rejoice,
Since chosen from above
Means love,
love,
love,
love,
love.
Scott L. Barton
The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal
gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when
the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom. So the army went
out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of
Ephraim. The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and
the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. The battle
spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims
that day than the sword.
Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was
riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak.
His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and
earth, while the mule that was under him went on. And ten young men, Joab’s
armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him. Then the
Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the
Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose
up against you.” The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man
Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all
who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.” The king was deeply moved,
and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, “O
my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O
Absalom, my son, my son!”
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