17 November 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 17 November 2015 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 40

The psalmist tells the whole congregation of how God delivered him from desolation and being stuck. He sings a new song of praise telling of God’s innumerable deeds.

God listens even when no sacrifice is offered. God wants us to fulfil the Law and do God’s will.

The psalmist asks for more aid: past sins assail him and people want to take his life, to hurt and ridicule him. He prays for those who do God’s will and repeats the request for deliverance.

2 Kings 19: 20 – 37

Isaiah returns a message to King Hezekiah that Jerusalem, like a young woman, tosses her head at Sennacherib’s posturing. God has heard the words spoken and seen Sennacherib’s actions – does Sennacherib not know that God has planned this long ago. Isaiah says to Hezekiah that for three harvests the people of Jerusalem will be fine and a remnant will go out to repopulate areas. The King of Assyria will not come to the city or attack it – for God will defend it.

That night thousands of troops in Sennacherib’s camp die. Sennacherib returns to Nineveh and while he is worshipping his god in a temple two of his sons kill him and flee the third rules Assyria in his place.

Matthew 25: 1 – 13

Jesus says the kingdom of heaven will be like this parable. Ten bridesmaids go out to welcome a bridegroom. Five of them take extra oil in case there is a delay. Five don’t. The groom is late and five have insufficient oil so need to go and get more as the groom approaches. This results in them being tardy for the wedding feast, not recognised by the groom and not allowed in.

We are to keep “oil in our lamps” and keep awake ready for the day the Lord comes.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Passing on some hope
Coolamon NSW E Byford

God of deliverance and the eternal kingdom you have defended us in the past, you defend us now and will defend us in the future. Help us to do your will today and to store up and make available more hope than we expect to ever need so that we are there with you and with all our neighbours welcoming your kingdom of love, peace, justice, righteousness and light through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday 17 November 2015 

Evening Prayer

Psalms 42 and 43

The psalmist longs for God. In deep distress his soul thirsts for God. He recalls the times in the past he has been part of the celebrations. He is in the depths of despair, oppressed by an enemy. The psalmist tells his soul to hope in God for a time of praise will come – God is our help.

Again ungodly people oppress the psalmist. God’s light and truth are requested. They will lead us back to worship, to joy and praise. The psalmist tells his soul to hope in God. A time of praise will come – God is our help.

Ecclesiastes 4

There is dreadful injustice and oppression on earth and no one is there to comfort the oppressed. Those who have not been born yet are the most fortunate since they have not seen the evil people do.

All toil and skill comes from envy of each other. Being lazy and overworking are both problematic. Being alone leads to asking “why am I doing this”, no one to share the rewards with, or to pick you up when you fall, or keep each other warm, or join together in defence.

And if you are a poor and wise youth, even if you are in prison you are better off than an old foolish king who cannot take advice. It is possible for the youth to become king, to lead and for future generations to not rejoice in what he did. It is all chasing after wind – vanity.

Revelation 7: 9 – 17

John’s vision shows him a multitude of people from every country clothed in white praising God and the Lamb. Then all the angels worship God. Someone asks who are these people dressed in white? These are the ones who come out of the great ordeal. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They worship God continually. They hunger and thirst no more. There is no scorching heat. The Lamb is their shepherd and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Collect for Evening Prayer

At the end of the day
Armadale WA L Osburn

Holy, holy, holy Lord you are the one worthy of continuous worship for you gave us your Son to free us from all oppression. Guide the work of our hands, the words of our mouths and the spirit in our hearts to do your will, to be your agents on earth so that we going through our current ordeals, stay true to you knowing that you will wipe every tear from our eyes through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Please leave a comment or feedback.