Two Perspectives On Covenant - October 9, 2010

Daily Lectionary Readings for October 9, 2010
Psalm 111
Hosea 10:1-15
Acts 25:13-27
Luke 8:16-25

Psalm 111 and Hosea 10:1-15
One of the things that is helpful about reading the lectionary is reading passages in layers.  A Psalm, an Old Testament passage, a New Testament passage, a Gospel passage.  Sometimes you are drawn to one, sometimes to several and sometimes the passages seem to speak to and/or with one another.  Here Hosea and the Psalmist illuminate the idea of the covenant relationship between God and humanity by coming at it from different perspectives.
"They utter mere words;
with empty oaths they make covenants...."(Hosea 10:6a)
"He provides food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant" (Psalm 111:5)
The people, Hosea says, speak easily and don't attach any credibility or value to their words.  God on the other hand, the Psalmist points out, is ever mindful of the content of the covenant and acts accordingly.  God is always faithful in his covernant relationship with us.  These passages remind us to aim to make our side of the covenant relationship one not of words alone, but of honest struggle to be faithful to the core and content of our faith.