4 July 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Saturday 4 July 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalms 11 and 12
The
psalmist disputes the claim one should run from enemies. The psalmist will
stand firm. He says that if the foundation collapses, then all are powerless.
The psalmist trusts in the Lord – the firm foundation.
The
psalmist laments the lack of faithful people. People make promises and are
unreliable. The poor and the needy suffer as a result but, the Lord is faithful
forever and pure. The Lord guards and protects us.
1 Samuel 25: 2 – 23
David and his men are in the south near Maon. There is
a very wealthy landowner, Nabal who has a reputation for meanness and for having
a clever and beautiful wife. David sends some of his men to Nabal to ask for a
share in the feast Nabal is preparing. David’s men have provided protection for
Nabal’s shepherds and flocks.
The men make the request politely and are refused.
Nabal does not know who David is and supposes the men to be servants breaking
from their master. The men, in peace return to David who hears the report and
orders everyone to strap on swords. He takes a force of 400 towards Nabal and
leaves 200 to guard their belongings.
One of the young men tells Nabal’s wife, Abigail, what
has happened and that in truth David and his men provide protection and care
for Nabal’s men and flocks. She immediately arranges loaves (200), wine,
dressed sheep (5), raisins and figs and has them sent to David’s men. She
follows on her donkey and comes round the mountain undercover. Meanwhile David
is planning his action to leave no men of Nabal’s community alive.
When Abigail sees David she hurries, gets off her
donkey and bows to the ground before him.
Acts
15: 22 – 35
The
apostles and elders in Jerusalem, with the consent of the community decide to
send a letter to the churches in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. Barsabbas (aka
Judas) and Silas are to accompany Paul and Barnabas. The letter is to the
Christian people from other nations. It says that the church in Jerusalem knows
that people without authority, told them unsettling things. Judas and Silas
will affirm this personally. It reaffirmed how loved Paul and Barnabas are and
how much they have risked for Christ. The letter says “it seemed good to the
Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials”
(v. 28). The essentials are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from
blood, from strangled things and from fornication.
The
people in Antioch rejoice. Judas and Silas stay a while and encourage the
people, then return to Jerusalem.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
The rock and foundation of a continent The Great Australian Bight SA 2014 L Osburn |
Holy and
gracious Lord you give us the wisdom to consider what are our deepest
foundations so that when enemies or threats confront us we can step out boldly
and faithfully trusting you. Give us the calm we need today so that we listen,
consider and act swiftly to the call of your Holy Spirit and through the power
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Saturday 4 July 2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 13 and 14
These
psalms are laments for personal deliverance from enemies, from harm and from a
cynical age. The psalmist remains faithful proclaiming God’s deliverance of
Israel and care for the poor.
Sirach 51: 7 – 22
This section begins with Sirach facing death with no
human help. He calls for God’s mercy and rescue from death. He promises to sing
praise to God.
He is saved and there follows a great hymn of praise
with the reprise “for his mercy endures forever” and which ends “Praise the
Lord!”
Sirach goes on to say how all his life he sought
wisdom. As a result his path has been straight, he found instruction, he was
able to be strict with his conduct, he kept lamenting his ignorance and he found
her. Therefore, he has the prize and the reward is a tongue that praises God
continually.
Galatians 2: 1 – 10
Paul
recalls how he with Barnabas and Titus went to Jerusalem and talked with the
leaders of the church there. They checked that what they were proclaiming was
on track. Paul reports that his commission to take the gospel to the Gentiles
was accepted and is as valid at Peter’s commission to take the gospel to the
Jews, and all those of the Mosaic tradition. Those in Jerusalem asked Paul to
remember the poor. By this is meant send donations for the work with the poor
in Jerusalem.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
90 Miles of straight road The Eyre Highway SA 2014 L Osburn |
Holy Lord
you give us the great gift of discernment and wisdom. When we are under
challenge guide us always to seek counsel and correction so that we are clear
on our mission and can go confidently always with your praise on our lips and
in our hearts through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
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