30 October 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Friday 30 October
2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalms
148 and 149
These
two psalms call on every part of creation to praise and glorify God. Parts call for dance and celebration of
victory. It calls the priests to have 2-edged swords to get rid of those powers
and rulers that distract people from God.
2 Kings 11: 1 – 16
In Judah, when new comes
that King Ahaziah is dead his mother, Athaliah (a descendant of Ahab and
worshipper of Baal) takes over and kills all the royal family. But Ahaziah’s
half-sister successfully hides one child, Joash in the House of the Lord. In
the seventh year the priest Jehoiada calls the captains of the guards and some
mercenaries, makes a covenant with them, shows them the king and sets up a
strategy with them. It involves having the guards who come off duty supporting
those coming on duty to protect the House of the Lord. The guards are given
King David’s shields and spears. The house and the altar are surrounded and
protected. He brings out Joash and crowns him.
Athaliah hears the cheering
and clapping. She arrives, sees the king, cries out, “Treason!” and tears her clothes.
Jehoiada instructs she is to be taken out through the ranks and anyone who
follows her is to be killed. She is taken to the king’s house and there she is
killed.
Matthew
20: 1 – 16
Jesus
tells a parable of the Kingdom. It is an owner of a vineyard who hires workers
for a day’s pay. Later he hires more, and again later. Each are paid the same
even those who come late and did not labour as long for the owner. This parable
is not about industrial relations but about the generosity of God to us all and
the payment is eternal life.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
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| Springing Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Friday 30 October
2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalms
144 and 150
The
first psalm is of a king who has prepared for war, he calls on God to be the
strong deliverer. He expresses humility not just for himself but all people,
asks for God to be with them in routing the enemy. The psalmist will sing
praises, the youth and the land will flourish, there will be peace and all
happiness will be restored once the battle is won.
The
last psalm is of joyful and exuberant praise – instruments, dancing. “Let
everything that breathes praise the Lord” (v6).
Esther 3
King Ahasuerus promotes
Haman (an Agagite) above all officials in the kingdom. At the King’s orders all
the servants at the gate bow down to Haman. Mordechai (a Benjaminite) does not
bow. This infuriates Haman who finds out what group of people Moredchai is from
and plots to destroy all Jews.
Haman throws a lot (a pur)
to determine the best day to make his move. He goes to King Ahasuerus and tells
him that there is a group of people scattered in the kingdom who have their own
laws and do not follow the laws of the land. He asks the King to decree the
destruction of these people and offers the King a huge amount of money – a
bribe. The King gives permission. The decree is ordered. The King and Haman
rest while the city is thrown into turmoil.
2 Peter 3: 3 – 10
Peter says people will scoff about
our commitment to the return of Christ and the end times. They will say the
world will go on as always. They will deliberately ignore that God’s word
existed before the beginning and was the creative force. The Lord’s time frame
is not the same as ours and God wants us all to come to repentance. When the
last day comes we won’t know – it will steal up like a thief.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
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| Cherry blossoms and bee Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
God of deliverance and grace, from the beginning there
has been opposition to your ways and your people yet we continue. Open our
hearts to this great gift of resilience so that we with everything that has
breath, sing your praises this night and forever through Jesus Christ your Son
our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
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