ESV: Book of Common Prayer Daily Office Lectionary

July 3 (Proper 8): Ps. 140, 142; Ps. 141, 143:1-11(12); 1 Samuel 13:19-14:15; Acts 9:1-9; Luke 23:26-31 (ESV)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:01:00 -0700

Psalm 140 (Listen)

Deliver Me, O LORD, from Evil Men

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

140:1 Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men;
  preserve me from violent men,
who plan evil things in their heart
  and stir up wars continually.
They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's,
  and under their lips is the venom of asps.     Selah

Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
  preserve me from violent men,
  who have planned to trip up my feet.
The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
  and with cords they have spread a net;
  beside the way they have set snares for me.     Selah

I say to the LORD, You are my God;
  give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!
O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
  you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
  do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted!     Selah

As for the head of those who surround me,
  let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
Let burning coals fall upon them!
  Let them be cast into fire,
  into miry pits, no more to rise!
Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
  let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and will execute justice for the needy.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Psalm 142 (Listen)

You Are My Refuge

A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

142:1 With my voice I cry out to the LORD;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.

When my spirit faints within me,
  you know my way!
In the path where I walk
  they have hidden a trap for me.
Look to the right and see:
  there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
  no one cares for my soul.

I cry to you, O LORD;
  I say, “You are my refuge,
  my portion in the land of the living.”
Attend to my cry,
  for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
  for they are too strong for me!
Bring me out of prison,
  that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
  for you will deal bountifully with me.

Psalm 141 (Listen)

Give Ear to My Voice

A Psalm of David.

141:1 O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
  keep watch over the door of my lips!
Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
  to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
  and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
  let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
  let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
  then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
  so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord;
  in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
  and from the snares of evildoers!
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
  while I pass by safely.

Psalm 143:1-11 (Listen)

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David.

143:1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
  give ear to my pleas for mercy!
  In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
Enter not into judgment with your servant,
  for no one living is righteous before you.

For the enemy has pursued my soul;
  he has crushed my life to the ground;
  he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
  my heart within me is appalled.

I remember the days of old;
  I meditate on all that you have done;
  I ponder the work of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
  my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.     Selah

Answer me quickly, O LORD!
  My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
  lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
  for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
  for to you I lift up my soul.

Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!
  I have fled to you for refuge!
Teach me to do your will,
  for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
  on level ground!

For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!

Psalm 143:12 (Listen)

And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.

1 Samuel 13:19-14:15 (Listen)

Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make themselves swords or spears.” But every one of the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, or his sickle, and the charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. So on the day of the battle there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan, but Saul and Jonathan his son had them. And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

Jonathan Defeats the Philistines

14:1 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men, including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.” And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.” So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.” Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land. And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.

Acts 9:1-9 (Listen)

The Conversion of Saul

9:1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Luke 23:26-31 (Listen)

The Crucifixion

And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Footnotes

[1] 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net
[2] 140:8 Hebrew his
[3] 142:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
[4] 141:6 Or When their judges fall into the hands of the Rock
[5] 141:7 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 6, 7 is uncertain
[6] 141:8 Hebrew refuge; do not pour out my life!
[7] 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered
[8] 13:20 Septuagint; Hebrew plowshare
[9] 13:21 Hebrew was a pim
[10] 13:21 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
[11] 13:21 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
[12] 14:2 Or under the pomegranate [tree]
[13] 14:7 Septuagint Do all that your mind inclines to
[14] 14:14 Hebrew a yoke

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.

July 2 (Proper 8): Ps. 131, 132, [133]; Ps. 134, 135; 1 Samuel 13:5-18; Acts 8:26-40; Luke 23:13-25 (ESV)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:01:00 -0700

Psalm 131 (Listen)

I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

131:1 O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
  my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
  too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
  like a weaned child with its mother;
  like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 132 (Listen)

The LORD Has Chosen Zion

A Song of Ascents.

132:1 Remember, O LORD, in David's favor,
  all the hardships he endured,
how he swore to the LORD
  and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
“I will not enter my house
  or get into my bed,
I will not give sleep to my eyes
  or slumber to my eyelids,
until I find a place for the LORD,
  a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
“Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool!”

Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place,
  you and the ark of your might.
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
  and let your saints shout for joy.
For the sake of your servant David,
  do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

The LORD swore to David a sure oath
  from which he will not turn back:
“One of the sons of your body
  I will set on your throne.
If your sons keep my covenant
  and my testimonies that I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
  shall sit on your throne.”

For the LORD has chosen Zion;
  he has desired it for his dwelling place:
“This is my resting place forever;
  here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provisions;
  I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
  and her saints will shout for joy.
There I will make a horn to sprout for David;
  I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
  but on him his crown will shine.”

Psalm 133 (Listen)

When Brothers Dwell in Unity

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
  when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
  running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
  running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
  which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
  life forevermore.

Psalm 134 (Listen)

Come, Bless the LORD

A Song of Ascents.

134:1 Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,
who stand by night in the house of the LORD!
Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the LORD!

May the LORD bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!

Psalm 135 (Listen)

Your Name, O LORD, Endures Forever

135:1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the name of the LORD,
  give praise, O servants of the LORD,
who stand in the house of the LORD,
  in the courts of the house of our God!
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
  sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
  Israel as his own possession.

For I know that the LORD is great,
  and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,
  in heaven and on earth,
  in the seas and all deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
  who makes lightnings for the rain
  and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
  both of man and of beast;
who in your midst, O Egypt,
  sent signs and wonders
  against Pharaoh and all his servants;
who struck down many nations
  and killed mighty kings,
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
  and Og, king of Bashan,
  and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
and gave their land as a heritage,
  a heritage to his people Israel.

Your name, O LORD, endures forever,
your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.
For the LORD will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
  the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
  they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
  nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them,
  so do all who trust in them!

O house of Israel, bless the LORD!
  O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
O house of Levi, bless the LORD!
  You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
  he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the LORD!

1 Samuel 13:5-18 (Listen)

And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

Saul's Unlawful Sacrifice

He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.

And Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men. And Saul and Jonathan his son and the people who were present with them stayed in Geba of Benjamin, but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual; another company turned toward Beth-horon; and another company turned toward the border that looks down on the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

Acts 8:26-40 (Listen)

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
  and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
  so he opens not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
  Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”

And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Luke 23:13-25 (Listen)

Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Footnotes

[1] 132:11 Hebrew of your fruit of the womb
[2] 133:1 Or dwell together
[3] 135:3 Or for he is beautiful
[4] 135:13 Or remembrance
[5] 13:15 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks The rest of the people . . . from Gilgal
[6] 8:26 Or go at about noon
[7] 8:36 Some manuscripts add all or most of verse 37: And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
[8] 23:16 Here, or after verse 19, some manuscripts add verse 17: Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the festival

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.

July 1 (Proper 8): Ps. 119:145-176; Ps. 128, 129, 130; 1 Samuel 12:1-6, 16-25; Acts 8:14-25; Luke 23:1-12 (ESV)

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:01:00 -0700

Psalm 119:145-176 (Listen)

Qoph

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!
  I will keep your statutes.
I call to you; save me,
  that I may observe your testimonies.
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
  I hope in your words.
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
  that I may meditate on your promise.
Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
  O LORD, according to your justice give me life.
They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
  they are far from your law.
But you are near, O LORD,
  and all your commandments are true.
Long have I known from your testimonies
  that you have founded them forever.

Resh

Look on my affliction and deliver me,
  for I do not forget your law.
Plead my cause and redeem me;
  give me life according to your promise!
Salvation is far from the wicked,
  for they do not seek your statutes.
Great is your mercy, O LORD;
  give me life according to your rules.
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
  but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
I look at the faithless with disgust,
  because they do not keep your commands.
Consider how I love your precepts!
  Give me life according to your steadfast love.
The sum of your word is truth,
  and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

Princes persecute me without cause,
  but my heart stands in awe of your words.
I rejoice at your word
  like one who finds great spoil.
I hate and abhor falsehood,
  but I love your law.
Seven times a day I praise you
  for your righteous rules.
Great peace have those who love your law;
  nothing can make them stumble.
I hope for your salvation, O LORD,
  and I do your commandments.
My soul keeps your testimonies;
  I love them exceedingly.
I keep your precepts and testimonies,
  for all my ways are before you.

Taw

Let my cry come before you, O LORD;
  give me understanding according to your word!
Let my plea come before you;
  deliver me according to your word.
My lips will pour forth praise,
  for you teach me your statutes.
My tongue will sing of your word,
  for all your commandments are right.
Let your hand be ready to help me,
  for I have chosen your precepts.
I long for your salvation, O LORD,
  and your law is my delight.
Let my soul live and praise you,
  and let your rules help me.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
  for I do not forget your commandments.

Psalm 128 (Listen)

Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the LORD

A Song of Ascents.

128:1 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
  within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
  around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
  who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you from Zion!
  May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
  all the days of your life!
May you see your children's children!
  Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 129 (Listen)

They Have Afflicted Me from My Youth

A Song of Ascents.

129:1 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—
  let Israel now say—
“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,
  yet they have not prevailed against me.
The plowers plowed upon my back;
  they made long their furrows.”
The LORD is righteous;
  he has cut the cords of the wicked.
May all who hate Zion
  be put to shame and turned backward!
Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
  which withers before it grows up,
with which the reaper does not fill his hand
  nor the binder of sheaves his arms,
nor do those who pass by say,
  “The blessing of the LORD be upon you!
  We bless you in the name of the LORD!”

Psalm 130 (Listen)

My Soul Waits for the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
  and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
  more than watchmen for the morning,
  more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the LORD!
  For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
  and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
  from all his iniquities.

1 Samuel 12:1-6 (Listen)

Samuel's Farewell Address

12:1 And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.” They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand.” And he said to them, “The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”

And Samuel said to the people, “The LORD is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

1 Samuel 12:16-25 (Listen)

Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king.” So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”

Acts 8:14-25 (Listen)

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Luke 23:1-12 (Listen)

Jesus Before Pilate

23:1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

Jesus Before Herod

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

Footnotes

[1] 129:1 Or Often; also verse 2
[2] 12:3 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks Testify against me
[3] 12:6 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks is witness
[4] 8:23 That is, a bitter fluid secreted by the liver; bile

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.

June 30 (Proper 8): Ps. [120], 121, 122, 123; Ps. 124, 125, 126, [127]; 1 Samuel 11:1-15; Acts 8:1-13; Luke 22:63-71 (ESV)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:01:00 -0700

Psalm 120 (Listen)

Deliver Me, O LORD

A Song of Ascents.

120:1 In my distress I called to the LORD,
  and he answered me.
Deliver me, O LORD,
  from lying lips,
  from a deceitful tongue.

What shall be given to you,
  and what more shall be done to you,
  you deceitful tongue?
A warrior's sharp arrows,
  with glowing coals of the broom tree!

Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
  that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Too long have I had my dwelling
  among those who hate peace.
I am for peace,
  but when I speak, they are for war!

Psalm 121 (Listen)

My Help Comes from the LORD

A Song of Ascents.

121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil;
  he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
  your going out and your coming in
  from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 122 (Listen)

Let Us Go to the House of the LORD

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

122:1 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Jerusalem—built as a city
  that is bound firmly together,
to which the tribes go up,
  the tribes of the LORD,
as was decreed for Israel,
  to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
There thrones for judgment were set,
  the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
  “May they be secure who love you!
Peace be within your walls
  and security within your towers!”
For my brothers and companions' sake
  I will say, “Peace be within you!”
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
  I will seek your good.

Psalm 123 (Listen)

Our Eyes Look to the LORD Our God

A Song of Ascents.

123:1 To you I lift up my eyes,
  O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
Behold, as the eyes of servants
  look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant
  to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
  till he has mercy upon us.

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,
  for we have had more than enough of contempt.
Our soul has had more than enough
  of the scorn of those who are at ease,
  of the contempt of the proud.

Psalm 124 (Listen)

Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

124:1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—
  let Israel now say—
if it had not been the LORD who was on our side
  when people rose up against us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
  when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
  the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone
  the raging waters.

Blessed be the LORD,
  who has not given us
  as prey to their teeth!
We have escaped like a bird
  from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
  and we have escaped!

Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125 (Listen)

The LORD Surrounds His People

A Song of Ascents.

125:1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
  which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
  so the LORD surrounds his people,
  from this time forth and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
  on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
  their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
  and to those who are upright in their hearts!
But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
  the LORD will lead away with evildoers!
  Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 126 (Listen)

Restore Our Fortunes, O LORD

A Song of Ascents.

126:1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
  we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
  and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
  “The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
  we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
  like streams in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears
  shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
  bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
  bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 127 (Listen)

Unless the LORD Builds the House

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
  those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
  the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
  and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
  for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
  the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
  are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
  who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
  when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

1 Samuel 11 (Listen)

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead, and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all your right eyes, and thus bring disgrace on all Israel.” The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.” When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the ears of the people, and all the people wept aloud.

Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, “What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as one man. When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said to the messengers who had come, “Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance.’” When the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh, they were glad. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.” And the next day Saul put the people in three companies. And they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. And those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

The Kingdom Is Renewed

Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingdom.” So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Acts 8:1-13 (Listen)

Saul Ravages the Church

8:1 And Saul approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria

Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

Simon the Magician Believes

But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.

Luke 22:63-71 (Listen)

Jesus Is Mocked

Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

Jesus Before the Council

When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

Footnotes

[1] 122:4 Or as a testimony for
[2] 127:4 Or sons
[3] 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate
[4] 8:5 Some manuscripts a city
[5] 8:13 Greek works of power

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.

June 29 (Proper 8): Ps. 106:1-18; Ps. 106:19-48; 1 Samuel 10:17-27; Acts 7:44-8:1a; Luke 22:52-62 (ESV)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:01:00 -0700

Psalm 106:1-18 (Listen)

Give Thanks to the LORD, for He Is Good

106:1 Praise the LORD!
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
  for his steadfast love endures forever!
Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD,
  or declare all his praise?
Blessed are they who observe justice,
  who do righteousness at all times!

Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people;
  help me when you save them,
that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones,
  that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
  that I may glory with your inheritance.

Both we and our fathers have sinned;
  we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.
Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,
  did not consider your wondrous works;
they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,
  but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
Yet he saved them for his name's sake,
  that he might make known his mighty power.
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry,
  and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
So he saved them from the hand of the foe
  and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
And the waters covered their adversaries;
  not one of them was left.
Then they believed his words;
  they sang his praise.

But they soon forgot his works;
  they did not wait for his counsel.
But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,
  and put God to the test in the desert;
he gave them what they asked,
  but sent a wasting disease among them.

When men in the camp were jealous of Moses
  and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD,
the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
  and covered the company of Abiram.
Fire also broke out in their company;
  the flame burned up the wicked.

Psalm 106:19-48 (Listen)

They made a calf in Horeb
  and worshiped a metal image.
They exchanged the glory of God
  for the image of an ox that eats grass.
They forgot God, their Savior,
  who had done great things in Egypt,
wondrous works in the land of Ham,
  and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
Therefore he said he would destroy them—
  had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him,
  to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

Then they despised the pleasant land,
  having no faith in his promise.
They murmured in their tents,
  and did not obey the voice of the LORD.
Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
  that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
  scattering them among the lands.

Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
  and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,
  and a plague broke out among them.
Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
  and the plague was stayed.
And that was counted to him as righteousness
  from generation to generation forever.

They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account,
for they made his spirit bitter,
and he spoke rashly with his lips.

They did not destroy the peoples,
  as the LORD commanded them,
but they mixed with the nations
  and learned to do as they did.
They served their idols,
  which became a snare to them.
They sacrificed their sons
  and their daughters to the demons;
they poured out innocent blood,
  the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
  and the land was polluted with blood.
Thus they became unclean by their acts,
  and played the whore in their deeds.

Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
  and he abhorred his heritage;
he gave them into the hand of the nations,
  so that those who hated them ruled over them.
Their enemies oppressed them,
  and they were brought into subjection under their power.
Many times he delivered them,
  but they were rebellious in their purposes
  and were brought low through their iniquity.

Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
  when he heard their cry.
For their sake he remembered his covenant,
  and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
He caused them to be pitied
  by all those who held them captive.

Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the LORD!

1 Samuel 10:17-27 (Listen)

Saul Proclaimed King

Now Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah. And he said to the people of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your thousands.”

Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. So they inquired again of the LORD, “Is there a man still to come?” and the LORD said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.

Acts 7:44-8:1 (Listen)

“Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

“‘Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
or what is the place of my rest?
Did not my hand make all these things?’

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Saul Ravages the Church

8:1 And Saul approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Luke 22:52-62 (Listen)

Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Peter Denies Jesus

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Footnotes

[1] 106:4 Or Remember me, O Lord, with the favor you show to your people; help me with your salvation
[2] 106:33 Or they rebelled against God's Spirit
[3] 10:21 Septuagint adds finally he brought the family of the Matrites near, man by man
[4] 7:46 Some manuscripts for the house of Jacob
[5] 7:57 Or rushed with one mind

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.

June 28 (Proper 8): Ps. 118; Ps. 145; 1 Samuel 10:1-16; Rom. 4:13-25; Matt. 21:23-32 (ESV)

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:01:00 -0700

Psalm 118 (Listen)

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

118:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say,
  “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
  “His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
  “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
  the LORD answered me and set me free.
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.
  What can man do to me?
The LORD is on my side as my helper;
  I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

All nations surrounded me;
  in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
  in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
They surrounded me like bees;
  they went out like a fire among thorns;
  in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
  but the LORD helped me.

The LORD is my strength and my song;
  he has become my salvation.
Glad songs of salvation
  are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
  the right hand of the LORD exalts,
  the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”

I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
The LORD has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
  that I may enter through them
  and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
  the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
  and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
  has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD's doing;
  it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
  let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Save us, we pray, O LORD!
O LORD, we pray, give us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
  We bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God,
  and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
  up to the horns of the altar!

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 145 (Listen)

Great Is the LORD

A Song of Praise. Of David.

145:1 I will extol you, my God and King,
  and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
  and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
  and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,
  and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
  and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
  and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
  and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The LORD is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
  and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
  and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
  and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
  and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The LORD is faithful in all his words
  and kind in all his works.]
The LORD upholds all who are falling
  and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
  and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand;
  you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways
  and kind in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
  to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
  he also hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD preserves all who love him,
  but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

1 Samuel 10:1-16 (Listen)

Saul Anointed King

10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the LORD and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the LORD has anointed you to be prince over his heritage. When you depart from me today, you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah, and they will say to you, ‘The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”’ Then you shall go on from there farther and come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from their hand. After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, where there is a garrison of the Philistines. And there, as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre before them, prophesying. Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you. Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.”

When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day. When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” And a man of the place answered, “And who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, “Where did you go?” And he said, “To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.” And Saul's uncle said, “Please tell me what Samuel said to you.” And Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found.” But about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything.

Romans 4:13-25 (Listen)

The Promise Realized Through Faith

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Matthew 21:23-32 (Listen)

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

Footnotes

[1] 118:13 Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard
[2] 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner
[3] 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
[4] 145:12 Hebrew his; also next line
[5] 145:13 These two lines are supplied by one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac (compare Dead Sea Scroll)
[6] 10:1 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks over his people Israel? And you shall. . . . to be prince
[7] 10:5 Gibeath-elohim means the hill of God
[8] 10:10 Gibeah means the hill

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.

June 27 (Proper 7): Ps. 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13); Ps. 33; 1 Samuel 9:15-10:1; Acts 7:30-43; Luke 22:39-51 (ESV)

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:01:00 -0700

Psalm 107:33-43 (Listen)

He turns rivers into a desert,
  springs of water into thirsty ground,
a fruitful land into a salty waste,
  because of the evil of its inhabitants.
He turns a desert into pools of water,
  a parched land into springs of water.
And there he lets the hungry dwell,
  and they establish a city to live in;
they sow fields and plant vineyards
  and get a fruitful yield.
By his blessing they multiply greatly,
  and he does not let their livestock diminish.

When they are diminished and brought low
  through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
he pours contempt on princes
  and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
but he raises up the needy out of affliction
  and makes their families like flocks.
The upright see it and are glad,
  and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Psalm 108:1-6 (Listen)

With God We Shall Do Valiantly

A Song. A Psalm of David.

108:1 My heart is steadfast, O God!
  I will sing and make melody with all my being!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
  I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples;
  I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
  your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer me!

Psalm 108:7-13 (Listen)

God has promised in his holiness:
  “With exultation I will divide up Shechem
  and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
  Ephraim is my helmet,
  Judah my scepter.
Moab is my washbasin;
  upon Edom I cast my shoe;
  over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

Who will bring me to the fortified city?
  Who will lead me to Edom?
Have you not rejected us, O God?
  You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
Oh grant us help against the foe,
  for vain is the salvation of man!
With God we shall do valiantly;
  it is he who will tread down our foes.

Psalm 33 (Listen)

The Steadfast Love of the LORD

33:1 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
  Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
  make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to him a new song;
  play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

For the word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
  he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
  the plans of his heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
  the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

The LORD looks down from heaven;
  he sees all the children of man;
from where he sits enthroned he looks out
  on all the inhabitants of the earth,
he who fashions the hearts of them all
  and observes all their deeds.
The king is not saved by his great army;
  a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
  and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD;
  he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
  because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
  even as we hope in you.

1 Samuel 9:15-10:1 (Listen)

Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed to Samuel: “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.” When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke to you! He it is who shall restrain my people.” Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Tell me where is the house of the seer?” Samuel answered Saul, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?” Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, who were about thirty persons. And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Put it aside.’” So the cook took up the leg and what was on it and set them before Saul. And Samuel said, “See, what was kept is set before you. Eat, because it was kept for you until the hour appointed, that you might eat with the guests.”

So Saul ate with Samuel that day. And when they came down from the high place into the city, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Up, that I may send you on your way.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to pass on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.”

Saul Anointed King

Acts 7:30-43 (Listen)

“Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

“This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us. Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
  during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
You took up the tent of Moloch
  and the star of your god Rephan,
  the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

Luke 22:39-51 (Listen)

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.

Footnotes

[1] 108:1 Hebrew with my glory
[2] 108:7 Or sanctuary
[3] 9:16 Septuagint adds the affliction of
[4] 9:24 Hebrew appointed, saying, ‘I have invited the people’
[5] 9:25 Septuagint; Hebrew and he spoke with Saul
[6] 9:26 Septuagint; Hebrew And they arose early and at the break of dawn
[7] 10:1 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks over his people Israel? And you shall. . . . to be prince
[8] 22:44 Some manuscripts omit verses 43 and 44
[9] 22:50 Greek bondservant

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.