22 July 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 22 July 2015 

Morning Prayer   

Psalm 51

With the psalmist we ask for God’s mercy for sins to be forgiven, transgressions washed away: blotted out. We admit that our sin was against God alone and God’s judgement is justified. Since God desires truth, we ask to be taught wisdom in our secret heart. We want to experience joy and gladness again since our whole being is crushed in recognition of our sin. “Create in me a new heart, O God and put a right spirit within me” (v.10).

2 Samuel 5: 6 – 25

David seizes Jerusalem, the last town of the Canaanites, strategically located between Israel and Judah and a city belonging to neither.

King Hiram of Tyre sends messengers, carpenters, masons and cedar to David and builds his house. At that point David accepts that he has been made king. He takes on more wives and concubines. His family grows.

The Philistines raid Rephaim. David prays and asks God whether he should engage them and will he win the battle. The Lord gives him the Philistines in battle.

The Philistines come again and David again prays. This time God tells him not to face them directly but to come around to their rear and come up to them opposite a particular set of trees. When David hears the sound of marching in the tops of the trees they are to be alert for the Lord has gone out before them to strike down the army. David does as he is told and clears the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

John 7: 14 – 31

In the middle of the festival of the Booths Jesus goes to the temple to teach. People are amazed at his knowledge and debate about where his knowledge comes from. Jesus’s knowledge, message and purpose are all from and for God.

Jesus challenges them on their hypocrisy of which parts of the law they allow to be kept or not kept on the Sabbath (circumcision or healing).

They try to arrest him but this is not the right time and he avoids capture.

The people debate whether Jesus is the Messiah or not.

Collect for Morning Prayer

In Di's garden
Mandurah WA 2014 L Osburn

Almighty and wonderful God, in all the seasons of our lives your wisdom, your joy, your gladness and your freedom are what we seek and what you offer. Help us to pray often and deeply so that we know you as well as a child knows their loving parent. Open our hearts and minds to listen to your judgements, your strategies and your plans. Clean us Lord through your spirit of love so that we keep our hearts and minds open to you and create our world around you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday 22 July 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 52 and 53

In the first psalm a person who trusts riches, seeks refuge in wealth and who is mischievous and plots destruction is warned that God will respond. In comparison, those who trust in God are like a green olive tree, trusting in the steadfast love of God and praising God.

The second psalm is about those who do not believe and who do evil. God’s response to them will be terrifying. The psalmist prays for the people to be delivered and for their fortunes to be restored.

Proverbs 6: 6 - 19

Consider the ant. Without commanders or rulers they work hard and store food. How long will you stay resting and lazy? ‘Just a little rest: Just a little slumber’. Poverty will come on your and want like an armed warrior.

Scoundrels and villains will be confronted by calamity and suddenly, in a moment, damage beyond repair.

There are the things the Lord hates: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, hearts that devise wicked plans, feet that hurry to do evil, a witness that testifies falsely and anyone who sows discord in a family.

Romans 2: 12 – 24

Paul talks of the basis for God’s judgement. For the Jews, they have the Mosaic Law and will be judged according to that. Are they guides to the blind, lights in the darkness, correctors of the foolish and teachers of children? And for those of other nations their consciences will guide them and be their defence before God.

Paul also says that those who have the Law and break it are the ones who are blaspheming, for those of other nations see and discount the value of God.

Collect for Evening Prayer

The garden reflected
Mandurah WA 2014 L Osburn

Holy and righteous God you are the one who knows our hearts and minds and you are the only one to judge. Give us the strength and courage to put aside all laziness, pride and disrespect. Help us hear your word and your way and choose always to trust in your steadfast love, praise you in everything and get on with the work so that we are loyal to you, to all our fellow believers and to everyone in the world who has a good conscience through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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