Old Testament reading: 2 Kings 11-12
Did you know that the nation of Judah was once ruled by a woman? 2 Kings 11 notes the reign of Athaliah, the only female monarch in Judah’s history. Following the death of her son Ahaziah, Athaliah murdered all the heirs to the throne (her own grandchildren!) and assumed the throne for herself. Unbeknownst to her, an infant son of Azariah was saved by his aunt from the slaughter. Six years later, Joash is presented as king at age 7. Of interest at the presentation and coronation of Joash was Athaliah’s cry of “Treason! Treason!” Isn’t it odd how a woman who murdered her own grandchildren to assume a position not rightfully hers would cry such a thing? Jehoiada commanded her to be taken out and killed. Under his able guidance, Joash’s reign was marked by righteousness. He went to great lengths to obtain funds to repair the house of the Lord. However, as we will see in the more detailed account in 2 Chronicles 24, after the death of the faithful priest, Joash forsook the Lord his God. This is implied in 2 Kings 12:2 when it says, “Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.”
New Testament reading: Acts 20-21
Today’s reading teaches us a great lesson about the day of assembly for the church. The phrase “came together” in Acts 20:7 is in the passive voice, meaning there was some external force or influence that caused the assembly to be brought together. In other words, the disciples did not gather on the first day of the week because they chose to do so of their own will, but rather the church was brought together by someone or something. That someone was God, and that something was the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42). Contrary to the claims of Catholic writers and like-minded theologians, Roman Catholicism did not change the day of worship from the Sabbath to the first day of the week. The Catholic Catechism makes no such claim, as it appeals to the teaching of the apostles and the Lord’s resurrection as the impetus behind Sunday assemblies. We would also do well to note the purpose for this assembly, namely, to “bread bread,” here a specific reference to the observance of the Lord’s Supper. This memorial was observed every week in the early church.
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