Friday 24 August 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Friday 24 August 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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2 Samuel 19:24-43

Mephibosheth* grandson of Saul came down to meet the king; he had not
taken care of his feet, or trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes,
from the day the king left until the day he came back in safety. 25When
he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, 'Why did
you not go with me, Mephibosheth?'* 26He answered, 'My lord, O king, my
servant deceived me; for your servant said to him, "Saddle a donkey for
me,* so that I may ride on it and go with the king." For your servant is
lame. 27He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord
the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you.
28For all my father's house were doomed to death before my lord the
king; but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What
further right have I, then, to appeal to the king?' 29The king said to
him, 'Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba
shall divide the land.' 30Mephibosheth* said to the king, 'Let him take
it all, since my lord the king has arrived home safely.' 
David's Kindness to Barzillai31 Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come
down from Rogelim; he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him
over the Jordan. 32Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He
had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was
a very wealthy man. 33The king said to Barzillai, 'Come over with me,
and I will provide for you in Jerusalem at my side.' 34But Barzillai
said to the king, 'How many years have I still to live, that I should go
up with the king to Jerusalem? 35Today I am eighty years old; can I
discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he
eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men
and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my
lord the king? 36Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with
the king. Why should the king recompense me with such a reward? 37Please
let your servant return, so that I may die in my own town, near the
graves of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let
him go over with my lord the king; and do for him whatever seems good to
you.' 38The king answered, 'Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do
for him whatever seems good to you; and all that you desire of me I will
do for you.' 39Then all the people crossed over the Jordan, and the king
crossed over; the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned
to his own home. 40The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with
him; all the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel,
brought the king on his way. 
41 Then all the people of Israel came to the king, and said to him, 'Why
have our kindred the people of Judah stolen you away, and brought the
king and his household over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?'
42All the people of Judah answered the people of Israel, 'Because the
king is near of kin to us. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have
we eaten at all at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?'
43But the people of Israel answered the people of Judah, 'We have ten
shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then
did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our
king?' But the words of the people of Judah were fiercer than the words
of the people of Israel.
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Acts 24:24-25:12

Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish,
he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus.
25And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgement,
Felix became frightened and said, 'Go away for the present; when I have
an opportunity, I will send for you.' 26At the same time he hoped that
money would be given to him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send
for him very often and converse with him. 
27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus;
and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favour, Felix left Paul in
prison. 
Paul Appeals to the Emperor25Three days after Festus had arrived in the
province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem 2where the chief priests
and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They
appealed to him 3and requested, as a favour to them against Paul,* to
have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an
ambush to kill him along the way. 4Festus replied that Paul was being
kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly.
5'So', he said, 'let those of you who have the authority come down with
me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.' 
6 After he had stayed among them for not more than eight or ten days, he
went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and
ordered Paul to be brought. 7When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down
from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against
him, which they could not prove. 8Paul said in his defence, 'I have in
no way committed an offence against the law of the Jews, or against the
temple, or against the emperor.' 9But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a
favour, asked Paul, 'Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried
there before me on these charges?' 10Paul said, 'I am appealing to the
emperor's tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no
wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. 11Now if I am in the wrong and
have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to
escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no
one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.' 12Then Festus,
after he had conferred with his council, replied, 'You have appealed to
the emperor; to the emperor you will go.'
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Mark 12:35-44

While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, 'How can the scribes
say that the Messiah* is the son of David? 36David himself, by the Holy
Spirit, declared,
"The Lord said to my Lord,
'Sit at my right hand,
   until I put your enemies under your feet.' " 
37David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?' And the large
crowd was listening to him with delight. 
Jesus Denounces the Scribes38 As he taught, he said, 'Beware of the
scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with
respect in the market-places, 39and to have the best seats in the
synagogues and places of honour at banquets! 40They devour widows'
houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will
receive the greater condemnation.' 
The Widow's Offering41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched
the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large
sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are
worth a penny. 43Then he called his disciples and said to them, 'Truly I
tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are
contributing to the treasury. 44For all of them have contributed out of
their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she
had, all she had to live on.' 
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 140, 142

Psalm 140

Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers;
   protect me from those who are violent, 
2who plan evil things in their minds
   and stir up wars continually. 
3They make their tongue sharp as a snake's,
   and under their lips is the venom of vipers.
          Selah 


4Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
   protect me from the violent
   who have planned my downfall. 
5The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
   and with cords they have spread a net;*
   along the road they have set snares for me.
          Selah 


6I say to the Lord, 'You are my God;
   give ear, O Lord, to the voice of my supplications.' 
7O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer,
   you have covered my head in the day of battle. 
8Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;
   do not further their evil plot.*
          Selah 


9Those who surround me lift up their heads;*
   let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! 
10Let burning coals fall on them!
   Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise! 
11Do not let the slanderer be established in the land;
   let evil speedily hunt down the violent! 


12I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy,
   and executes justice for the poor. 
13Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
   the upright shall live in your presence.



Psalm 142

With my voice I cry to the Lord;
   with my voice I make supplication to the Lord. 
2I pour out my complaint before him;
   I tell my trouble before him. 
3When my spirit is faint,
   you know my way. 


In the path where I walk
   they have hidden a trap for me. 
4Look on my right hand and see-
   there is no one who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
   no one cares for me. 


5I cry to you, O Lord;
   I say, 'You are my refuge,
   my portion in the land of the living.' 
6Give heed to my cry,
   for I am brought very low. 


Save me from my persecutors,
   for they are too strong for me. 
7Bring me out of prison,
   so that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
   for you will deal bountifully with me.
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 141, 143:1-12

Psalm 141

I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
   give ear to my voice when I call to you. 
2Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
   and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. 


3Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
   keep watch over the door of my lips. 
4Do not turn my heart to any evil,
   to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
   do not let me eat of their delicacies. 


5Let the righteous strike me;
   let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,*
   for my prayer is continually* against their wicked deeds. 
6When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,
   then they shall learn that my words were pleasant. 
7Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,
   so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.* 


8But my eyes are turned towards you, O God, my Lord;
   in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenceless. 
9Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me,
   and from the snares of evildoers. 
10Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
   while I alone escape.



Psalm 143:1-12

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
   give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
   answer me in your righteousness. 
2Do not enter into judgement with your servant,
   for no one living is righteous before you. 


3For the enemy has pursued me,
   crushing my life to the ground,
   making me sit in darkness like those long dead. 
4Therefore my spirit faints within me;
   my heart within me is appalled. 


5I remember the days of old,
   I think about all your deeds,
   I meditate on the works of your hands. 
6I stretch out my hands to you;
   my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
          Selah 


7Answer me quickly, O Lord;
   my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
   or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. 
8Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
   for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
   for to you I lift up my soul. 


9Save me, O Lord, from my enemies;
   I have fled to you for refuge.* 
10Teach me to do your will,
   for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
   on a level path. 


11For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life.
   In your righteousness bring me out of trouble. 
12In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
   and destroy all my adversaries,
   for I am your servant.
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