Sojourners Verse and Voice – 18 August 2023

Verse of the day
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, “No! but we are determined to have a king over us, so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

– 1 Samuel 8:19-20

Voice of the day
It’s tempting to let our collective fear and pain shape our Savior into one who will be militaristic and merciless. … Oppression is always more palatable when it is wrapped in the language of faith.

– Juan Martínez Ovalle, “What’s Behind the ‘Peace’ in El Salvador?”

Prayer of the day
Lord, for too long we have let our fears and desires for power make a Savior who is in our image. Redeem our imaginations; may we reject this God of Empire we’ve created.