12 November 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Thursday 12
November 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 33
This psalm is a great hymn
of praise to God citing evidence including creation, oversight of nations,
strength beyond that of people or war-horses, the steadfast love that delivers
our souls from death. The psalm ends saying our souls wait for the Lord, our
hearts are glad because we trust and with an appeal for God’s steadfast love to
be with us.
2 Kings 17: 21 – 41
The King of Assyria
replaces the exiled Israelites with people from other countries. The place is
henceforth called Samaria and the people Samaritans. They bring with them the
worship of their own gods. Lions attack the people. The King is told the lions’
attacks are because the people do not know and are not worshipping the god of
the land. The King sends for a priest to be restored who teaches the people how
to worship the Lord. Some do and all of them continue to worship their own gods
and have their own practices including child sacrifice.
Matthew
23: 29 – 39
Jesus
indicts those Pharisees who venerate the prophets and claim that if they had
been alive they would not have killed or harmed them. Jesus says that he will
send more prophets, sages and scribes, who they will kill, crucify, flog in
their synagogues and harry from town to town. More guilt will come on them as a
result. Jesus laments over Jerusalem and says how often he wants to gather up
the people like a chicken gathers her brood under her wings for protection. But
they are not willing. They will not see Jesus again until they can say,
“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” (v. 39).
Collect for
Morning Prayer
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| On the track Bon Accord Track Alpine National Park Vic L Osburn |
Thursday 12
November 2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalm 31
This powerful psalm is on
the theme of taking refuge in God and has the words “Into your hand I commit my
spirit”. The second part asks for God’s grace and the final part praises God
and encourages us to love the Lord, “be strong and let your heart take courage”
(v. 24).
Ecclesiastes 1: 12 – 2: 8
As king, the preacher reports
he used wisdom to understand all human actions and the conclusion is – it is
all chasing after wind. We are what we are – no point counting what we haven’t
got. Even the pursuit of wisdom itself is problematic because once we are wise
that knowledge leads to increased sorrow.
Let’s test pleasure. It’s
all mad. What’s the use of it? Wine brings pleasure – but be wise using it. And
how can we examine folly to see what’s good for people to do? Then the author
recounts the things he has built, grown developed, gathered and experienced.
Revelation 4
John has a vision where he his
taken up in the spirit to a throne with one seated on it and he describes the details around: 24 elders worshipping,
4 creatures with eyes seeing all, lamp stands and a crystal sea. Without
ceasing the creatures sing “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who
was and is and is to come” (v.8). All around sing a response.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
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| Forest, trees, the light and the reflection Alpine National Park Vic L Osburn |
Holy Lord for all your faithful people and preachers you
know the deep sorrow we carry and the separateness we feel because we know life
with you and the reality of our world, communities, neighbours, family and
ourselves. Help us to be strong. Keep our hearts full of courage, accepting
those around us and ourselves so that we recommit to you and you alone and
continually praise you singing Holy, Holy, Holy through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
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