No Bull

By Rev. Talitha Arnold

The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks: “I will not accept a bull from your house, or goats from your folds.” - Psalm 50:1a, 9 (NRSV) 

 

“So, what’s your favorite Bible verse?” my seminary classmate asked as we stood on the shoreline waiting for the sunrise. We were both new to the East Coast—she from the Midwest and I from Arizona. She wanted pictures of this foreign landscape for her family back home, and I had a new camera to try out.  

 

“I don’t know,” I answered, adjusting the aperture speed to catch the first rays. As someone who grew up in the UCC and never intended to go to seminary, I felt more comfortable determining depth of field than answering questions about the Bible.  

 

“Maybe the verse about ‘the least of these’ or the 23rd Psalm,” I said. “What’s your favorite?” Given her evangelical background, I expected John 3:16 or something from Paul.  

 

“Psalm 50, verse 9,” she answered, not missing a beat. I shook my head. I lacked her command of Holy Writ.  

 

“Psalm 50, verse 9 that says, ‘Let no bull come from your father’s house.’”  

 

“What?” I laughed, almost dropping my camera. “You’re making that up.”  

 

“No, it’s in there!” she countered. “Some translations gussy it up to read ‘I will not accept a bull’ because it’s God speaking. And yes, I know it refers to actual cattle and God not accepting shallow sacrifice.”  

 

“But,” she continued, “the version I learned also tells the truth. God wants ‘no bull.’” Given that my friend came from a tradition that preached against women’s ordination, among other things, she knew that truth.  

 

“‘Let no bull’ should be engraved on every church and every pulpit,” she said. “Look! Here comes the sun.” 

 

Prayer

Holy One, remind us there is always more light and truth (but no bull) to break forth from your Word. Amen