Saturday 23 June 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Saturday 23 June 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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1 Samuel 4:1b-11

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.
In those days the Philistines mustered for war against Israel, and
Israel went out to battle against them; they encamped at Ebenezer, and
the Philistines encamped at Aphek. The Philistines drew up in line
against Israel, and when the battle was joined, Israel was defeated by
the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of
battle. When the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said,
'Why has the Lord put us to rout today before the Philistines? Let us
bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, so that he
may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.' So the
people sent to Shiloh, and brought from there the ark of the covenant
of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. The two sons of
Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of
God. 
When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel
gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. When the Philistines
heard the noise of the shouting, they said, 'What does this great
shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?' When they learned that the
ark of the Lord had come to the camp, the Philistines were afraid; for
they said, 'Gods have come into the camp.' They also said, 'Woe to us!
For nothing like this has happened before. Woe to us! Who can deliver
us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck
the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. Take
courage, and be men, O Philistines, in order not to become slaves to
the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.' 
So the Philistines fought; Israel was defeated, and they fled, everyone
to his home. There was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel
thirty thousand foot-soldiers. The ark of God was captured; and the two
sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
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Acts 4:32-5:11

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul,
and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything
they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their
testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was
upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as
owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was
sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to
each as any had need. There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph,
to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means 'son of
encouragement'). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the
money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 
But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a
piece of property; with his wife's knowledge, he kept back some of the
proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
'Ananias,' Peter asked, 'why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the
Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it
remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were
not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived
this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!' Now when
Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized
all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then
carried him out and buried him. 
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing
what had happened. Peter said to her, 'Tell me whether you and your
husband sold the land for such and such a price.' And she said, 'Yes,
that was the price.' Then Peter said to her, 'How is it that you have
agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the
feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they
will carry you out.' Immediately she fell down at his feet and died.
When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out
and buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole
church and all who heard of these things.
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Luke 21:20-28

'When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its
desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the
mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in
the country must not enter it; for these are days of vengeance, as a
fulfilment of all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to
those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great
distress on the earth and wrath against this people; they will fall by
the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations;
and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of
the Gentiles are fulfilled. 
'There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the
earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the
waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon
the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will
see "the Son of Man coming in a cloud" with power and great glory. Now
when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads,
because your redemption is drawing near.'
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 87, 90

Psalm 87

On the holy mount stands the city he founded; 
   the Lord loves the gates of Zion
   more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 
Glorious things are spoken of you,
   O city of God.
          Selah 


Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
   Philistia too, and Tyre, with Ethiopia-
   'This one was born there,' they say. 


And of Zion it shall be said,
   'This one and that one were born in it';
   for the Most High himself will establish it. 
The Lord records, as he registers the peoples,
   'This one was born there.'
          Selah 


Singers and dancers alike say,
   'All my springs are in you.'



Psalm 90

Lord, you have been our dwelling-place
   in all generations. 
Before the mountains were brought forth,
   or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
   from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 


You turn us back to dust,
   and say, 'Turn back, you mortals.' 
For a thousand years in your sight
   are like yesterday when it is past,
   or like a watch in the night. 


You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
   like grass that is renewed in the morning; 
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
   in the evening it fades and withers. 


For we are consumed by your anger;
   by your wrath we are overwhelmed. 
You have set our iniquities before you,
   our secret sins in the light of your countenance. 


For all our days pass away under your wrath;
   our years come to an end like a sigh. 
The days of our life are seventy years,
   or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
   they are soon gone, and we fly away. 


Who considers the power of your anger?
   Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due to you. 
So teach us to count our days
   that we may gain a wise heart. 


Turn, O Lord! How long?
   Have compassion on your servants! 
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
   so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
   and for as many years as we have seen evil. 
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
   and your glorious power to their children. 
Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us,
   and prosper for us the work of our hands-
   O prosper the work of our hands!
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 136

Psalm 136

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever. 
O give thanks to the God of gods,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever. 
O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 


who alone does great wonders,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
who by understanding made the heavens,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
who spread out the earth on the waters,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
who made the great lights,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
the sun to rule over the day,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 


who struck Egypt through their firstborn,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
and brought Israel out from among them,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
who divided the Red Sea in two,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
who led his people through the wilderness,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
who struck down great kings,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
and killed famous kings,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
and Og, king of Bashan,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
and gave their land as a heritage,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
a heritage to his servant Israel,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever. 


It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
and rescued us from our foes,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
who gives food to all flesh,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever. 


O give thanks to the God of heaven,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever.
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