Monday 25 June 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Monday 25 June 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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1 Samuel 5:1-12

When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from
Ebenezer to Ashdod; then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought
it into the house of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon. When the people
of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face
to the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him
back in his place. But when they rose early on the next morning, Dagon
had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the
head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold;
only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. This is why the priests of
Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not step on the threshold
of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 
The hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and he
terrified and struck them with tumours, both in Ashdod and in its
territory. And when the inhabitants of Ashdod saw how things were, they
said, 'The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us; for his
hand is heavy on us and on our god Dagon.' So they sent and gathered
together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, 'What shall we do
with the ark of the God of Israel?' The inhabitants of Gath replied,
'Let the ark of God be moved on to us.' So they moved the ark of the God
of Israel to Gath. But after they had brought it to Gath, the hand of
the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic; he struck the
inhabitants of the city, both young and old, so that tumours broke out
on them. So they sent the ark of the God of Israel to Ekron. But when
the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, 'Why have
they brought across to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and
our people?' They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of
the Philistines, and said, 'Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and
let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.'
For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God
was very heavy there; those who did not die were stricken with tumours,
and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
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Acts 5:12-26

Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the
apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the
rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet
more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both
men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets,
and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter's shadow might fall
on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also
gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those
tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured. 
Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is,
the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the
apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an
angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said,
'Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about
this life.' When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak
and went on with their teaching.
When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together
the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the
prison to have them brought. But when the temple police went there, they
did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, 'We
found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors,
but when we opened them, we found no one inside.' Now when the captain
of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were
perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone
arrived and announced, 'Look, the men whom you put in prison are
standing in the temple and teaching the people!' Then the captain went
with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they
were afraid of being stoned by the people.
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Luke 21:29-36

Then he told them a parable: 'Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as
soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that
summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place,
you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this
generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 
'Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation
and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not
catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live
on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you
may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place,
and to stand before the Son of Man.'
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 89:1-18

Psalm 89:1-18

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, for ever;
   with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. 
I declare that your steadfast love is established for ever;
   your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. 


You said, 'I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
   I have sworn to my servant David: 
"I will establish your descendants for ever,
   and build your throne for all generations." '
          Selah 


Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
   your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. 
For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
   Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, 
a God feared in the council of the holy ones,
   great and awesome above all that are around him? 
O Lord God of hosts,
   who is as mighty as you, O Lord?
   Your faithfulness surrounds you. 
You rule the raging of the sea;
   when its waves rise, you still them. 
You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
   you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm. 
The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours;
   the world and all that is in it-you have founded them. 
The north and the south-you created them;
   Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name. 
You have a mighty arm;
   strong is your hand, high your right hand. 
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
   steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. 
Happy are the people who know the festal shout,
   who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance; 
they exult in your name all day long,
   and extol your righteousness. 
For you are the glory of their strength;
   by your favour our horn is exalted. 
For our shield belongs to the Lord,
   our king to the Holy One of Israel. 
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 89:19-52

Psalm 89:19-52

Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said:
   'I have set the crown on one who is mighty,
   I have exalted one chosen from the people. 
I have found my servant David;
   with my holy oil I have anointed him; 
my hand shall always remain with him;
   my arm also shall strengthen him. 
The enemy shall not outwit him,
   the wicked shall not humble him. 
I will crush his foes before him
   and strike down those who hate him. 
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
   and in my name his horn shall be exalted. 
I will set his hand on the sea
   and his right hand on the rivers. 
He shall cry to me, "You are my Father,
   my God, and the Rock of my salvation!" 
I will make him the firstborn,
   the highest of the kings of the earth. 
For-ever I will keep my steadfast love for him,
   and my covenant with him will stand firm. 
I will establish his line for ever,
   and his throne as long as the heavens endure. 
If his children forsake my law
   and do not walk according to my ordinances, 
if they violate my statutes
   and do not keep my commandments, 
then I will punish their transgression with the rod
   and their iniquity with scourges; 
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love,
   or be false to my faithfulness. 
I will not violate my covenant,
   or alter the word that went forth from my lips. 
Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness;
   I will not lie to David. 
His line shall continue for ever,
   and his throne endure before me like the sun. 
It shall be established for ever like the moon,
   an enduring witness in the skies.'
          Selah 


But now you have spurned and rejected him;
   you are full of wrath against your anointed. 
You have renounced the covenant with your servant;
   you have defiled his crown in the dust. 
You have broken through all his walls;
   you have laid his strongholds in ruins. 
All who pass by plunder him;
   he has become the scorn of his neighbours. 
You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
   you have made all his enemies rejoice. 
Moreover, you have turned back the edge of his sword,
   and you have not supported him in battle. 
You have removed the sceptre from his hand,
   and hurled his throne to the ground. 
You have cut short the days of his youth;
   you have covered him with shame.
          Selah 


How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself for ever?
   How long will your wrath burn like fire? 
Remember how short my time is-
   for what vanity you have created all mortals! 
Who can live and never see death?
   Who can escape the power of Sheol?
          Selah 


Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,
   which by your faithfulness you swore to David? 
Remember, O Lord, how your servant is taunted;
   how I bear in my bosom the insults of the peoples, 
with which your enemies taunt, O Lord,
   with which they taunted the footsteps of your anointed. 


Blessed be the Lord for ever.Amen and Amen.
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