9 July 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 9 July 2015 

Morning Prayer   

Psalm 22: 1 – 22

This portion of the psalm is a solemn prayer for deliverance from a dreadful illness. It is an illness that has detractors circling the psalmist. The psalmist feels alone and separated from God but is reminded of all the times God was there in the past for the Israelites. The psalmist is humble, asks to be saved not just from the illness but also from any temptation.

1 Samuel 28: 3 – 25

As we will recall Samuel is dead and buried and Saul has expelled all the mediums from the land. But the Philistines have gathered at Shunem and Saul has gathered Israel’s forces at Gilboa. Saul is afraid and can get no answer from the Lord, through prayer, dreams or prophets.  In secret he seeks out a medium at Endor. She initially thinks it is a trap. He reassures her. He asks her to summon the spirit of Samuel. As soon as she does she realises he is King Saul. He tells her not to fear. Samuel’s spirit is not pleased to be disturbed. He reinforces that if God is not answering then God is not with Saul. He reminds Saul that this is the consequence for not being obedient earlier and that Saul’s kingdom has been given to David. Samuel’s spirit tells Saul he and his sons will die in the battle and the Philistines will have the victory.

Saul falls on the ground in fear and exhaustion since he has not eaten. The medium insists he eat and with his servants encourages him. She cooks a fatted calf and unleavened cakes. Saul and his servants eat and leave that night.

John 4: 16 – 26

Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well continue their conversation. He tells her to call her husband and come back. She tells the truth – that she has no husband. He says that she is honest, has had many husbands and is now in a relationship with someone else’s husband. She admits this is so and recognises Jesus as a prophet. She then talks with him about where one is to worship God – the idea that God belongs to a place. He explains that all our understandings will change, that the Jews are the path to salvation but God is spirit and the time will come when we will worship in spirit and truth anywhere and everywhere. She then says that she knows about the Messiah who, when he comes will proclaim all things to the people. Jesus says, “I am he” (v. 26).

Collect for Morning Prayer

Banksia Flowers
WA 2014 L Osburn

Holy and wonderful Lord, deliverance and salvation come through you. Open our hearts and minds to hear, see and recognise you so that we may worship you in sprit and truth and never be separated from you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Thursday 9 July 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 22: 23 – 32 and 23

The second section of the psalm, calls for all people who respect and honour God to give praise, glorify and stand in awe! God has delivered the psalmist from deadly illness and this evidence shows that all God’s promises are secure. The Lord rules in all places and future generations will continue God’s praise.

This is the well-known 23^rd Psalm. The Lord is compared to a shepherd who makes sure the sheep are well pastured, have clean water, are at peace and have nothing to fear. God makes us holy (anoints us) and gives us good things our whole life long even in the valley of the shadow of death and in the presence of enemies.

Micah 4: 1 – 7

Micah prophesies the restoration of the Davidic kingdom. All nations will stream to the temple seeking learning. The word of the Lord will go out from Jerusalem. There will be judgement and arbitration between people and nations. 

“… they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (v 3). No one will study war again. People will sit under their own vines and fig trees, fearless.

The Lord will gather the lame, the exiles and the afflicted and make of them a great nation with God as their ruler forever.

Galatians 3: 27 – 4: 7

Paul makes it clear that once we are baptised in the spirit and we are clothed in Christ we are heirs to God’s promise to Abraham. There is no division Jew/Greek, slave/free or man/woman. Just like little children who are heirs to a great house, while we are little we have no say; we have to be obedient to the rules. So the rules, the Mosaic Law is there. But God sent his son to redeem us and we are now adopted as God’s children. Because we are God’s children we have received the Spirit of Jesus in our hearts so we can call God “Daddy”.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Children at Busselton
WA 2014 L Osburn

Hallelujah! Praise and glory and honour be yours forever our Lord, our shepherd, our saviour, redeemer and loving father. Fill our hearts with the wonder and joy of your presence and your love for us so that in the days to come we may be seen and known as your happy, joy-filled and loving children through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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