David and Jonathan
Books of the Bible were written not to be read individually but to be heard in community. Thus the synagogue readings from the Law and the Prophets, and our own liturgical readings from Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel. Also to mention that the epistles of Paul and others were written to various communities: few individuals could read, so the letters were meant to be read by the courier while the intended audience listened.
By the magic of the internet, it’s possible to hear the daily lessons read aloud.
My favorite is generally the Old Testament, perhaps because of the stories themselves, perhaps because those stories are what I remember reading, hearing, discussing in Sunday school classes at East Hill Baptist Church in Pensacola on Sundays when we were visiting the Gentry grandparents.
There was a routine, one might say a liturgy. Plenary gathering in a large room, for a song and prayer; then go to individual classes, Nine-Year-Old Boys, for example, to hear and discuss a Bible story. The ones I remember best were about David. At a set time, the piano in the large room would start playing, signaling that individual class was over and to gather again for the plenary session, a word, announcements, and dismissal to go into church for eleven o’clock worship.
Digressing again. Digressing is fun and there are lots of paths.
Anyway, in the Daily Office Lectionary for today, the Old Testament lesson is part of the story of David, Jonathan, and King Saul. It was great to hear it again as always.
TW+