16 May 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Saturday 16
May 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 38
The psalmist is dreadfully ill, so much so that
friends stand a bit further away and people who seek harm spread rumours. The
psalmist stays quiet, trusting God, praying and asking for God’s salvation.
Deuteronomy 1: 22 – 45
Moses continues his address to the Israelites about
their lack of faith and trust in God about the entry to the Promised Land. They
do not go when instructed and sit around fearfully. They repent and then
presume to charge into battle even though God spoke to Moses and he told the
people not to go without God. They are beaten, return and weep before God.
Their defeat is a logical consequence of their lack of faithfulness.
John 15: 26 – 16: 11
Jesus tells the disciples that when the Spirit comes
it will be a spirit of truth and that they are to testify about Jesus because
they have been with him. He then tells them how hard things will be: they will
be ejected from the synagogue and killed by religious people who believe they
are doing God’s will.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Wedge-tail eagle Deniliquin NSW 2014 L Osburn |
Holy Lord, with you
it is easy to trust. Without you we fear, repent, jump in without thinking and
do more harm than good. Help us to stay quiet, listen to you and seek out your
Spirit of truth so that we can demonstrate by our faithfulness that you died to
conquer the sins of everyone and give thanks through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the
power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
Saturday 16
May April 2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalm 39
The psalmist is mortally ill and perceives his illness
to be punishment from God. He decides to be calm and quiet in the presence of
people who would bring him more grief. He asks to know how much time he has left.
Humans are like passing guests, aliens. The psalmist asks for a little relief
so that he can smile before he dies.
Judges 9: 1 – 22, 50 – 57
Abimelech one of Gideon’s sons goes to his kin and
asks them to call the tribes and make him king. They do. He hires some
unsavoury people, goes home and kills all but one of his brothers, Jotham who is
hiding. Jotham goes to a hill and tells an allegorical story about the plants
asking other plants to be their king. All refuse except the bramble that is
prepared to shelter them if they come in good faith and if not to burn, and
them with it.
Jotham then says that if the people are making
Abimelech king in good faith and are happy about the treatment they have done
to Gideon’s household then by all means have him as king. If not, let there be
a conflagration from Abimelech to the lords of the tribes and vice versa.
Jotham runs away.
Within 3 years Abimelech has a campaign and in one
town a woman throws a millstone on his head from a tower. He asks the young man
who carries his armour to kill him so that a woman did not kill him. Abimelech
dies. All his warriors go home.
1 Corinthians 11: 2 – 16
Paul has a lengthy discussion of the pros and cons of
wearing something on your head in public worship. There appears to be differing
customs for men and women and competing positions on humbling oneself. He ends
saying that there is no formal custom.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
Sanctuary Island Deniliquin NSW 2014 L Osburn |
Holy Lord,
you have given us your laws and minds, prayer and your Holy Spirit to discern
which actions are correct for our circumstances. When we are challenged, help
us to bring these matters to you, discern your will, act in good conscience and
encourage others to do the same so that we may find your peace even in great
diversity through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
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