Wednesday 25 April 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 25 April 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Daniel 5:1-12

King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords, and
he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.

Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in
the vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken
out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his
wives, and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the
vessels of gold and silver that had been taken out of the temple, the
house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and
his concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised the gods
of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on
the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand. The
king was watching the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s face turned
pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and his knees
knocked together. The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the
Chaldeans, and the diviners; and the king said to the wise men of
Babylon, ‘Whoever can read this writing and tell me its interpretation
shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and
rank third in the kingdom.’ Then all the king’s wise men came in, but
they could not read the writing or tell the king the interpretation.
Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified and his face turned pale,
and his lords were perplexed.

The queen, when she heard the discussion of the king and his lords, came
into the banqueting-hall. The queen said, ‘O king, live for ever! Do not
let your thoughts terrify you or your face grow pale. There is a man in
your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods. In the days
of your father he was found to have enlightenment, understanding, and
wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar,
made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners,
because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret
dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel,
whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will
give the interpretation.’
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1 John 5:1-12

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and
everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we
love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his
commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers
the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.
Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is
the Son of God?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the
water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one
that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that
testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree.
If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this
is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who
believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who
do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the
testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the
testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does
not have life.
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Luke 4:38-44

After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s
mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about
her. Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.
Immediately she got up and began to serve them.

As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various
kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of
them and cured them. Demons also came out of many, shouting, ‘You are
the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak,
because they knew that he was the Messiah.

At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds
were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent
him from leaving them. But he said to them, ‘I must proclaim the good
news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for
this purpose.’ So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues
of Judea.
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 38

Psalm 38

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger,
   or discipline me in your wrath. 
For your arrows have sunk into me,
   and your hand has come down on me. 


There is no soundness in my flesh
   because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones
   because of my sin. 
For my iniquities have gone over my head;
   they weigh like a burden too heavy for me. 


My wounds grow foul and fester
   because of my foolishness; 
I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
   all day long I go around mourning. 
For my loins are filled with burning,
   and there is no soundness in my flesh. 
I am utterly spent and crushed;
   I groan because of the tumult of my heart. 


O Lord, all my longing is known to you;
   my sighing is not hidden from you. 
My heart throbs, my strength fails me;
   as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. 
My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction,
   and my neighbours stand far off. 


Those who seek my life lay their snares;
   those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin,
   and meditate treachery all day long. 


But I am like the deaf, I do not hear;
   like the mute, who cannot speak. 
Truly, I am like one who does not hear,
   and in whose mouth is no retort. 


But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait;
   it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. 
For I pray, ‘Only do not let them rejoice over me,
   those who boast against me when my foot slips.’ 


For I am ready to fall,
   and my pain is ever with me. 
I confess my iniquity;
   I am sorry for my sin. 
Those who are my foes without cause are mighty,
   and many are those who hate me wrongfully. 
Those who render me evil for good
   are my adversaries because I follow after good. 


Do not forsake me, O Lord;
   O my God, do not be far from me; 
make haste to help me,
   O Lord, my salvation.
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 119:25-48

Psalm 119:25-48

My soul clings to the dust;
   revive me according to your word. 
When I told of my ways, you answered me;
   teach me your statutes. 
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
   and I will meditate on your wondrous works. 
My soul melts away for sorrow;
   strengthen me according to your word. 
Put false ways far from me;
   and graciously teach me your law. 
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
   I set your ordinances before me. 
I cling to your decrees, O Lord;
   let me not be put to shame. 
I run the way of your commandments,
   for you enlarge my understanding. 


Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
   and I will observe it to the end. 
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
   and observe it with my whole heart. 
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
   for I delight in it. 
Turn my heart to your decrees,
   and not to selfish gain. 
Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
   give me life in your ways. 
Confirm to your servant your promise,
   which is for those who fear you. 
Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
   for your ordinances are good. 
See, I have longed for your precepts;
   in your righteousness give me life. 


Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
   your salvation according to your promise. 
Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,
   for I trust in your word. 
Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
   for my hope is in your ordinances. 
I will keep your law continually,
   for ever and ever. 
I shall walk at liberty,
   for I have sought your precepts. 
I will also speak of your decrees before kings,
   and shall not be put to shame; 
I find my delight in your commandments,
   because I love them. 
I revere your commandments, which I love,
   and I will meditate on your statutes.
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