23 November 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Monday 23
November 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalms 54 and 55: 1 – 12
The first psalm is a plea
to be saved from enemies, a statement of faith and a promise to give a free
will offering to God once the psalmist is triumphant.
The second psalm portion
is another plea for aid against enemies. The psalmist fears for his life and
wants to run away. There is trouble around the city walls and the psalmist asks
that the enemies plans be confused.
2 Kings 23: 4 – 15
King Josiah instructs the
priests to remove from the temple all the vessels made for worshipping other
deities. He has all the places of worship – even the high places where people
worshipped God removed. He purges the country of all sites of worship or
sacrifice removing the place where children were sacrificed. He
utterly destroys all remnants of these sites and scatters their ash.
Mark 1:
29 – 39
Jesus
heals Simon’s mother-in-law, returning her to health and her identity. People
bring to Jesus those who are sick and those possessed with demons. He silences
the demons since they would reveal his identity. Before dawn Jesus goes to a
deserted place to pray. When his companions find him they say that everyone is
searching him for him. Jesus decides to go to neighbouring towns and proclaim
the message there since that is his mission.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
 |
| Boom gate Gladstone harbour Qld L Osburn |
Monday 23
November 2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 55: 13 – 15 (16 – 17)
18 – 28
The psalmist’s enemy is a
close friend. It is harder to bear treachery from someone close. The friend has
tricked another and done great harm. God will hear and respond. Lay our burdens
on God. God’s is the punishment not ours. Trust God.
Ecclesiastes 8: 1 – 13
Wisdom makes our faces
shine. But when we are dealing with a king and we have given an oath we need to
diligently do as instructed. A wise mind knows when and if ever there is a time
to confront the king. There will be a time and a way even if the matter of
concern is hard for us to bear. We need to remember that we cannot restrain the
wind or stop death and being wicked does not make things better for those who
are wicked.
Wicked people will die but
it may not come quickly. Before God those who do not sin will be able to stand.
Those who are wicked will not be able to stand before God.
Revelation 11: 1 - 14
In the vision, John is given a
measuring staff to measure the temple, altar and those who worship. He is not
to measure the outer courts that are for people of all nations. God grants two
witnesses authority to prophesy. Two olive trees and two lampstands represent
these two witnesses (Zechariah 4:3).
Consuming fire destroys anyone who attempts to harm the witnesses. The
witnesses have to power to bring droughts and plagues. When the witnesses
complete their testimony they are conquered and killed by the beast from the
bottomless pit. Their bodies lie for three and a half days in the street.
People will gloat and celebrate their destruction but God will breathe life
into them. They will ascend to heaven. An earthquake will follow and many will
die. The rest will give glory to God. The second woe has now passed.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
 |
| Tug boat Gladstone harbour Qld L Osburn |
God of justice and peace by your love and grace we
have the capacity for wisdom. In these times of trouble and distress help us to
know those things over which we have no control, help us to do the things we
can and recognise that we cannot know the future or know your will so that we may
stay calm through our anxious moments and leave judgement to your greater
knowledge and power 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