19 November 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Thursday 19
November 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 45
This is an ode to a king’s
wedding full of praise and descriptions of beauty, strength and wealth. The
song calls to the princess bride to leave her people, bow to the king and
receive the gifts of the kingdom.
2 Kings 21: 1 – 18
Manasseh is 12 when his
reign begins. He has a long reign. He re-establishes all the high places and
poles for worshipping other gods. He engages in child sacrifice. He does worse
than King Ahab did in Israel. He has worship areas erected inside the House of
the Lord for other heavenly entities and he sheds innocent blood. The Lord
decrees that Judah and Israel will be lost and Jerusalem will be wiped out like
a bowl and turned upside-down. The people will be given to the enemy. When
Massaseh dies his son Amon becomes king.
Matthew
25: 31 – 46
When
the Son of Man comes in glory there will be a separation of people from all
nations into two groups: the sheep and the goats. The sheep will immediately be
welcomed and inherit the kingdom prepared for them. They have cared for and
nourished God. These righteous ones will ask when did they do that. God answers
that when they did it for even the least of God’s family, they did it for
God. And to the accursed ones, God
banishes them for not caring for or nourishing God. When they protest God also
replies that when they did not do it for even the least of God’s family, they
did not do it for God.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Emu family Silverton NSW L Osburn |
Holy
and loving God you delight in us as a groom delights in his bride. You also
have given us a choice between kingdoms. Guide us to step towards you, to care
for you by caring for your people so that we leave our past and receive the
gifts and benefits of your kingdom and your eternal love through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thursday 19
November 2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 46 and 47
God is our strength and
refuge and we are to be in awe of him: to be still and know that God is God.
There is a kingdom and a holy city. God will end all wars and fighting.
The second psalm is a
joyous song of praise beginning with clapping our hands. Our God is awesome
ruler of everything, shielding us. God is to be exalted.
Ecclesiastes 5: 13 – 6: 9
It is a grievous ill when
someone acquires wealth and loses it in a bad venture resulting in them having
nothing for their children. Those that gather wealth without enjoying it are
like people who live in perpetual darkness sick, vexed and resentful. All of us
come into the world naked and leave it naked.
Find enjoyment in what
you do. Eat and drink. This is a gift of God – you will be occupied and have
joy.
God may give wealth,
possessions and honour but it is a grievous ill if the person who lacks nothing
doesn’t get to enjoy it but strangers do. You might have 100 children but of
you don’t enjoy life and don’t have a proper burial you are worse off than a
stillborn child.
Since desire is
insatiable we are better off seeing things – delighting in what we see not
possessing it.
Revelation 9: 1 - 12
At the sound of the fifth trumpet
a star that had fallen is given a key that opens a bottomless pit. Smoke rises
darkening everything. Then comes a swarm of locusts given authority to no harm
any plant or creature except those who do not have a seal on their forehead.
Those are to suffer torture for 5 months. Please will seek death and not find
it. The locusts are described as an amalgam of many things. Over them is the one
in charge of the bottomless pit whose is called Abaddon or destruction. This is
the first woe there are two more to come.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
The tree loppers Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Holy Lord you are our refuge, our strength and our
saviour. You have given us this beautiful world and each other to delight in.
Help us to desire only you and know that work is a joy so that we live lives
full of thanks and praise, sharing and love in health, peace and your light through Jesus Christ your Son
our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
Please leave a comment or
feedback.
No comments:
Post a Comment