2 November 2016
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Wednesday 2
November 2016
Morning
Prayer
Psalms 5 and 6
This first psalm asks for
God to hear the prayers of the victim of harmful lies. God has no time for
wickedness. The psalmist will go to the temple knowing that he too is not yet
righteous and needs help to stay on the path. The psalmist takes the problem to
God and does not retaliate. Instead he asks for all who take refuge in the Lord
to experience joy and protection and exult and bless the Lord.
Debilitating and
terrifying illness has struck the psalmist. It is shaking the psalmist’s faith.
God is asked to lovingly respond. The psalmist stands against evil and
proclaims the Lord’s swift response.
Nehemiah
9: 26 – 38
Nehemiah
continues the general confession of the people. He acknowledges that their
disobedience is the reason they were in captivity and are still under harsh
rule. In the confessions Nehemiah recounts the times the people in trouble
called to God and were sent a saviour and forgiven. He draws up an agreement in
writing to be signed by all officials, Levites and priests.
Matthew
21: 23 – 32
When
Jesus was teaching in the temple the chief priests and elders question him on
his authority. He asks them first about the authority of John the Baptist. They
cannot answer – they see a catch. Equally Jesus will not answer because their
question is a trap. He tells a parable. A man instructs his sons to do a task.
The first refuses then changes his mind and does it. The seconds promises to do
it but does not. Jesus asks which son does the will of the father? They answer:
the first son.
Jesus
explains the tax collectors and sinners who repented because they believed John
are like the first son, doing the father’s will. But the priests and elders who
don’t believe John, who didn’t change their minds, will not see the Kingdom of
God.
Collect for Morning Prayer
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Wednesday 2
November 2016
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 7
and 8
In the first psalm,
someone who was an ally has been harmed and the blame is being focused on the
psalmist. The psalmist seeks God’s protection, calls on God to search him out
and judge. The psalmist is also aware that the snares the wicked set can turn
against them. The psalmist is confident in a right relationship with God and is
willing to repent. The psalmist promises to praise God when rescued.
God’s majesty is praised.
Every human sound is praise to God. And the psalmist marvels at that. How is it
that humans have such a special place when we consider the expanse of the
heavens? The psalm ends in awe, wonder and praise.
Daniel
10: 18 – 11: 13
Again
the angel in human form touches Daniel and tells him not to fear, to be
courageous, he is safe. The angel goes on the reveal the future processions of
kings and powers (which the Bible commentators match with subsequent events).
Revelation 2: 1 – 7
John is to write to the Ephesians.
The letter acknowledges their faith, due diligence in testing apostles and
finding the false ones, their enduring patience and bearing up for the sake of
Jesus. They are however weary. They have abandoned the love they first had and
stopped doing the good works they first did. They need to repent or stop being
a church. To their credit they have not been caught up in defiling themselves.
They are, if they have ears, to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the
churches.
Collect for Evening Prayer
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Nurturing
God you want us to be alive and full of energy for you, to have no fear, to be
courageous and know we are safe with you. Be with us in the stillness now. Help
us take stock and be aware of those things we have let get in the way. Help us
turn around. Help us too to see where we are strong and faithful so that your
Spirit takes a swift, firm hold on our hearts, lifts them to you and returns us
to the heights of your joy and love so that we restore your church through Jesus
Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
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