Monday 16 July 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Monday 16 July 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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1 Samuel 18:5-16,27b-30

David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result,
Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of
Saul, approved. 
As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the
Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and
dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and
with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they made
merry,
'Saul has killed his thousands,
   and David his tens of thousands.' 
Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, 'They have
ascribed to David tens of thousands, and to me they have ascribed
thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?' So Saul eyed David
from that day on. 
The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved
within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by
day. Saul had his spear in his hand; and Saul threw the spear, for he
thought, 'I will pin David to the wall.' But David eluded him twice. 
Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed
from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a
commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the
army. David had success in all his undertakings; for the Lord was with
him. When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him.
But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and
came in leading them. David rose and went, along with his men, and
killed one hundred of the Philistines; and David brought their
foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might
become the king's son-in-law. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a
wife. But when Saul realized that the Lord was with David, and that
Saul's daughter Michal loved him, Saul was still more afraid of David.
So Saul was David's enemy from that time forward. 
Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle; and as often
as they came out, David had more success than all the servants of Saul,
so that his fame became very great.
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Acts 11:19-30

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place
over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and
they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men
of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists
also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them,
and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this
came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to
Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he
exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast
devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.
And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to
Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to
Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they associated with the
church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the
disciples were first called 'Christians'. 
At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them
named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a
severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign
of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability,
each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did,
sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
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Mark 1:29-45

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and
Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a
fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the
hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve
them. 
That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or
possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door.
And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many
demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew
him. 
In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to
a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions
hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, 'Everyone is
searching for you.' He answered, 'Let us go on to the neighbouring
towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I
came out to do.' And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message
in their synagogues and casting out demons. 
A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, 'If you
choose, you can make me clean.' Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his
hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I do choose. Be made clean!'
Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly
warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, 'See that you say
nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for
your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.' But he
went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so
that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the
country; and people came to him from every quarter.
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 25

Psalm 25

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 
O my God, in you I trust;
   do not let me be put to shame;
   do not let my enemies exult over me. 
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
   let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 


Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
   teach me your paths. 
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
   for you are the God of my salvation;
   for you I wait all day long. 


Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
   for they have been from of old. 
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
   according to your steadfast love remember me,
   for your goodness' sake, O Lord! 


Good and upright is the Lord;
   therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 
He leads the humble in what is right,
   and teaches the humble his way. 
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
   for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. 


For your name's sake, O Lord,
   pardon my guilt, for it is great. 
Who are they that fear the Lord?
   He will teach them the way that they should choose. 


They will abide in prosperity,
   and their children shall possess the land. 
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
   and he makes his covenant known to them. 
My eyes are ever towards the Lord,
   for he will pluck my feet out of the net. 


Turn to me and be gracious to me,
   for I am lonely and afflicted. 
Relieve the troubles of my heart,
   and bring me out of my distress. 
Consider my affliction and my trouble,
   and forgive all my sins. 


Consider how many are my foes,
   and with what violent hatred they hate me. 
O guard my life, and deliver me;
   do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 
May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
   for I wait for you. 


Redeem Israel, O God,
   out of all its troubles.
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 9, 15

Psalm 9

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
   I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. 
I will be glad and exult in you;
   I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 


When my enemies turned back,
   they stumbled and perished before you. 
For you have maintained my just cause;
   you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgement. 


You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked;
   you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. 
The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;
   their cities you have rooted out;
   the very memory of them has perished. 


But the Lord sits enthroned for ever,
   he has established his throne for judgement. 
He judges the world with righteousness;
   he judges the peoples with equity. 


The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
   a stronghold in times of trouble. 
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
   for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. 


Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion.
   Declare his deeds among the peoples. 
For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
   he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. 


Be gracious to me, O Lord.
   See what I suffer from those who hate me;
   you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death, 
so that I may recount all your praises,
   and, in the gates of daughter Zion,
   rejoice in your deliverance. 


The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
   in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught. 
The Lord has made himself known, he has executed judgement;
   the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.
          Higgaion. Selah


The wicked shall depart to Sheol,
   all the nations that forget God. 


For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
   nor the hope of the poor perish for ever. 


Rise up, O Lord! Do not let mortals prevail;
   let the nations be judged before you. 
Put them in fear, O Lord;
   let the nations know that they are only human.
          Selah



Psalm 15

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
   Who may dwell on your holy hill? 


Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
   and speak the truth from their heart; 
who do not slander with their tongue,
   and do no evil to their friends,
   nor take up a reproach against their neighbours; 
in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
   but who honour those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt; 
who do not lend money at interest,
   and do not take a bribe against the innocent. 


Those who do these things shall never be moved.
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