delay

December 11, 2018

The people were waiting for Zechariah (Lk 1:21-1:21)

“Meanwhile,

The people

Were waiting

For Zechariah.

They wondered

At his delay

In the sanctuary.”

 

καὶ ἦν ὁ λαὸς προσδοκῶν τὸν Ζαχαρίαν, καὶ ἐθαύμαζον ἐν τῷ χρονίζειν ἐν τῷ ναῷ αὐτόν.

 

Luke indicated that the people outside the sanctuary were waiting for Zechariah to come out of this sacred place, so that he could give them a blessing to end this prayer service.  Thus, they were getting anxious.  The people were expecting Zechariah (καὶ ἦν ὁ λαὸς προσδοκῶν τὸν Ζαχαρίαν) to come out of the sanctuary.  They wondered (καὶ ἐθαύμαζον) what was delaying him or why he was lingering (ἐν τῷ χρονίζειν) in the sanctuary (ἐν τῷ ναῷ αὐτόν).  They wanted to get on with their day.

June 3, 2016

The repayment of the Lord (Sir 35:22-35:26)

“The Lord will not delay.

Like a warrior,

He will not be patient.

He will crush

The loins of the unmerciful.

He repays vengeance

On the nations.

He will destroy

The multitude of the insolent.

He breaks

The scepters of the unrighteous.

He will repay mortals

According to their deeds.

He will repay the works of all

According to their thoughts.

He will judge

The case of his people.

He will make them rejoice

In his mercy.

His mercy is as welcome

In time of distress,

As clouds of rain

In time of drought.”

According to Sirach, the Lord will not delay in bringing about justice. He will be like a warrior without patience. He will crush the backs of the unmerciful ones. He will take vengeance on the various countries. He will destroy the multitude of insolent people as he will break the scepters of the unrighteous. He will repay mortals according to their deeds and thoughts. He will judge his people so that they will rejoice in his mercy that is like a cloud of rain during a drought. The vengeance of God will come upon the earth.

April 25, 2016

False presumption (Sir 5:4-5:7)

“Do not say.

‘I sinned.

Yet what has happened to me?’

The Lord is slow to anger.

Do not be so confident of forgiveness.

Thus you add sin to sin.

Do not say.

‘His mercy is great.

He will forgive the multitude of my sins.’

Both mercy and wrath are with him.

His anger rests on sinners.

Do not delay

To turn back to the Lord.

Do not postpone it from day to day.

Suddenly the wrath of the Lord

Will come upon you.

At the time of punishment,

You will perish.”

Here are some more directives about false presumption. Do not say that you have sinned and nothing has happened to you. Remember that the Lord is slow to anger. You should not be overconfident of his forgiveness because you are only adding to your sinful state. Do not say that he is merciful and therefore he will forgive a multitude of sins. He has both mercy and anger, especially towards sinners. Do not delay your return to the Lord. Do not put it off because the wrath of the Lord will come upon you suddenly. You may perish as a punishment.

April 24, 2016

Instructions about the poor (Sir 4:1-4:5)

“My child!

Do not cheat the poor of their living!

Do not keep needy eyes waiting!

Do not grieve the hungry!

Do not anger one in need!

Do not add to the troubles of the desperate!

Do not delay giving to the needy!

Do not reject a suppliant in distress!

Do not turn your face away from the poor!

Do not avert your eye from the needy!

Do not give anyone a reason to curse you!”

Here are a series of instructions about how you were to treat poor people. You should not cheat them of the living wages. You should not keep them waiting or grieving. You should not make them angry or desperate. You should not delay their requests. You should not turn your face or eye away from the poor. You should not give them any reason to curse at you.

October 24, 2015

Yahweh is my help (Ps 70:4-70:5)

“Let all who seek you

Rejoice and be glad in you!

Let those who love your salvation

Say evermore.

‘God is great!’

But I am poor.

I am needy.

Hasten to me!

O God!

You are my help!

You are my deliverer!

Yahweh!

Do not delay!”

Again almost word for word from parts of Psalm 40, this psalm ends with a plea for Yahweh to not delay. Yahweh was the answer for those who sought a life with rejoicing and gladness. Yahweh has a steadfast love for his followers since they continually say, “Great is Yahweh.” This is somewhat like the Islamic “Allah is great.” As for David, he admits that that he is poor and needy. However, he puts his trust in Yahweh, who will help deliver him from various problems. All he asks is that there be no delay.

September 24, 2015

Yahweh is the answer (Ps 40:16-40:17)

“May all who seek you

Rejoice and be glad in you.

May those who love your salvation

Say continually.

‘Great is Yahweh!’

As for me,

I am poor and needy.

But Yahweh takes thought for me.

You are my help!

You are my deliverer!

Do not delay!

O my God!”

This psalm ends with the popular phrase “O my God” that appears so often as the surprise text expression, OMG. Yahweh is the answer for those who sought a life with rejoicing and gladness. Yahweh has a steadfast love for his followers since they continually say, “Yahweh is great.” This is somewhat like the Islamic “Allah is great.” As for the psalmist, he admits that that he is poor and needy. However, he puts his trust in Yahweh, who will help deliver him from various problems. All he asks is that there is no delay.