18 May 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 18 May 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalms 41 and 44: 1 - 9

The psalmist is sick. Illness was seen in the past as punishment for sin. Enemies hope the psalmist will die but come and visit being pleasant, then make plots when they leave. Even the psalmist’s best friend has turned his back. The psalmist prays for healing, restoration and vindication. God is blessed.

This portion of the second psalm reminds us of God’s actions in nation building and protecting the people in wars. They do not go into battle trusting in their own abilities but in God. And yet, now they have suffered a defeat.

1 Chronicles 14: 8 – 15: 3 and 15: 25 – 29

The news that David is the anointed king is heard abroad. The Philistines mount a raid. David consults God, goes into battle, wins and destroys the idols the Philistines worship. The Philistines mount a second raid, this time David when praying, listens to God about strategy. David prevails again.

David begins to build houses in Jerusalem and he arranges for the Levites to accompany the Ark of the Covenant on its journey to the city. There is music and singing. Saul’s daughter Michal watches on from a window and she despises David.

Acts 2: 22 – 36

Peter continues to explain to the crowd at Pentecost that King David prophesied about the Messiah: that he would not be corrupted by death and that he would sit at God’s right hand as David’s Lord.

Peter reinforces that this Jesus who was crucified is clearly Messiah and Lord.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Kookaburra - laughing song
Blackwood River WA L Osburn

Oh God of song and joy and uplifted hearts, you are with us. When we listen you succeed. You sent us Jesus our Messiah and Lord. How can we stop from singing? Keep our hearts light and full of your joy today even when we are sick or have suffered a defeat and been let down, so that we may show the wonder of living with you, walking with Christ and holding your Holy Spirit in our hearts through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday 18 May 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 44: 10 – 27

In this psalm there has been a great defeat. The people are scattered, enslaved, had everything taken and destroyed. They are humiliated, derided, taunted, reviled and disgraced. But they do not forget God’s promise or turn their hearts away. If they had, would not God discover it? God knows our heart’s secrets. The psalmist ends with a call to God to rise, to come to our aid and redeem us through steadfast love.

Ruth 2

Ruth goes to field to glean grain that was not collected as part of the harvest. Boaz a rich landowner and relative of Naomi’s deceased husband, notices her. Boaz knows Ruth’s story and arranges that she is not bothered, gets more grain than normally left for gleaners and can drink the water provided for the workers. Ruth returns with a good amount of grain and Naomi reinforces that she should continue to visit Boaz’s fields.

1 Corinthians 15: 12 – 34

Paul puts to the Corinthians the argument in support of the existence of resurrection of the dead. First he says if we don’t believe it then we cannot believe Christ was resurrected and all our testimony and faith is futile.

But Christ has been resurrected and has overcome death. He is Lord of all and is subject to and in God, so God is all in all.

This gives us the confidence to be Christians.

Collect for Evening Prayer

At day's end
Denmark WA  L Osburn

Life giving and nurturing God, we thank you for your grace that reaches out to us and brings us safely home. We thank you for new starts and resurrection. As we come into your presence now, show us those times and places today where your hand reached out and fed and restored us so that we can have our eyes open to your presence and joyfully give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and your Holy Spirit. Amen.

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