Two words stand out in this week’s readings: “Shepherd” and “House”. In both David and Jesus both of these words come together in a remarkable and exciting way. In the Old Testament continuous reading, there is a play on the word “house” (The Hebrew bayit means both “house” and “dynasty”). David seeks to build a temple (house) for God, but God refuses, declaring instead that God will build a dynasty (house) for David. It is God who builds the house and who Shepherds God’s people. The Psalm reflects one part of this grand theme. Psalm 89 celebrates the human shepherd, David, who has been established to rule over and care for God’s people, and Psalm 23 has this human king praising God as the Great Shepherd who alone can truly protect, provide for, and build a house (or a place in God’s house) for God’s people.
In Mark’s Gospel Jesus fulfils both aspects of this divine dream. As the human descendant of David, and the divine incarnation of God, Jesus has compassion on God’s people who are like scattered sheep, and he heals, cares for, and provides for them as a truly good Shepherd.
Finally, Paul takes the picture one step further as the people of God, both Jew and Gentile, find a place together in God’s household of grace, but also become, together, a house (temple) for God’s Spirit.
In David, then, we receive the promise of God’s divine house, ruled over by God’s good shepherd, in which God’s people will be cared for and protected. In Jesus, this promise is fulfilled, as the promised Good Shepherd creates God’s divine house from both Jew and Gentile who receive his grace and submit to his reign.
Finally, those who find their home in God’s household are called to be a house for God’s Spirit and a welcoming community in which all people can find a home, a place to belong and a connection with God through the Spirit.
It’s a message of divine grace, sovereignty and care, and of human reconciliation, inclusivity and service – two things which always go together in the Reign of God!
May our worship draw us into God’s household and form us together into a temple of God’s Spirit.