Lesson 12: Thankfulness 135
103:15 –18. Although mortals are but dust and their lives comparable to
grass, to field-f lowers that vanish in the wind (recall Matthew 6:28), “the
steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who
fear him” (103:15–17a; compare Lamentations 3:22–23). Furthermore,
Yahweh’s righteousness remains with and rests upon those who “keep
his covenant” and “remember to do his commandments” (103:17b–18).
Lauding an Enthroned Lord (Psalm 103:19–22)
The psalmist concludes this song of thanksgiving by declaring Yahweh’s
reign over all (103:19). Given God’s sovereign, gracious rule, “all crea-
tures of our God and King”^4 should praise him. The heavenly assembly
(“angels,” “mighty ones,” “hosts,” “ministers”) should join all God’s
handiwork in extolling him (102:20–22a). Psalm 103, which concludes
even as it began (“Bless the Lord, O my soul!” [103:22b]), declares that
fragile people do well to lend their thankful voices to a cosmic chorus in
praise of a compassionate, covenant-keeping God.
On the Way (Luke 17:11)
17:11. As Jesus continues his journey to Jerusalem, a trek that begins
in Luke 9:51 and ends in 19:28, he passes through the region between
Samaria and Galilee. Instead of avoiding Samaria and thereby Samaritans
altogether, as not a few self-respecting Jews who in Jesus’ day were wont
to do, Jesus was not opposed to entering Samaria or to coming into con-
tact with Samaritans (compare Luke 9:52–53; John 4:1–42). Although
relations between Jews and Samaritans had been marred by distrust and
even disdain for centuries (seemingly from the time of the destruction
of the Northern Kingdom by the Assyrians in 722 b.c.), Jesus, albeit a
Jew, did not seek to categorically exclude Samaritans from his ministry.
Refusing to be blinded by bigotry or controlled by prejudice, Jesus recog-
nized that Samaritans (like Jews) possessed the potential for both good
and bad actions and attitudes. Jesus’ memorable parable of the Good
Samaritan, recorded only by Luke, reveals as much (Luke 10:25–37).