Wednesday 27 June 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 27 June 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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1 Samuel 7:2-17

>From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time
passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after
the Lord. 
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, 'If you are returning to
the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the
Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him
only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.' So
Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the Lord
only. 
Then Samuel said, 'Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the
Lord for you.' So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it
out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and said, 'We have sinned
against the Lord.' And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah. 
When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at
Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when
the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines.
The people of Israel said to Samuel, 'Do not cease to cry out to the
Lord our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the
Philistines.' So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole
burnt-offering to the Lord; Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and
the Lord answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering, the
Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the Lord thundered with a
mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into
confusion; and they were routed before Israel. And the men of Israel
went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as
far as beyond Beth-car. 
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and
named it Ebenezer; for he said, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.' So
the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of
Israel; the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of
Samuel. The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were
restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered their
territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between
Israel and the Amorites. 
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He went on a circuit year
by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all these
places. Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there; he
administered justice there to Israel, and built there an altar to the
Lord. ******************************************************************
Acts 6:1-15

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the
Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were
being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called
together the whole community of the disciples and said, 'It is not right
that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables.
Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good
standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this
task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to
serving the word.' What they said pleased the whole community, and they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with
Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte
of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and
laid their hands on them. 
The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples
increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became
obedient to the faith. 
Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the
people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen
(as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from
Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not
withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they
secretly instigated some men to say, 'We have heard him speak
blasphemous words against Moses and God.' They stirred up the people as
well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him,
seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false
witnesses who said, 'This man never stops saying things against this
holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of
Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses
handed on to us.' And all who sat in the council looked intently at him,
and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
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Luke 22:14-23

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles
with him. He said to them, 'I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover
with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is
fulfilled in the kingdom of God.' Then he took a cup, and after giving
thanks he said, 'Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell
you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the
kingdom of God comes.' Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had
given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body,
which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And he did the
same with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for
you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is
with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it
has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!' Then
they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do
this.
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 101, 109:1-30

Psalm 101

I will sing of loyalty and of justice;
   to you, O Lord, I will sing. 
I will study the way that is blameless.
   When shall I attain it? 


I will walk with integrity of heart
   within my house; 
I will not set before my eyes
   anything that is base. 


I hate the work of those who fall away;
   it shall not cling to me. 
Perverseness of heart shall be far from me;
   I will know nothing of evil. 


One who secretly slanders a neighbour
   I will destroy.
A haughty look and an arrogant heart
   I will not tolerate. 


I will look with favour on the faithful in the land,
   so that they may live with me;
whoever walks in the way that is blameless
   shall minister to me. 


No one who practises deceit
   shall remain in my house;
no one who utters lies
   shall continue in my presence. 


Morning by morning I will destroy
   all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all evildoers
   from the city of the Lord.



Psalm 109:1-30

Do not be silent, O God of my praise. 
For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
   speaking against me with lying tongues. 
They beset me with words of hate,
   and attack me without cause. 
In return for my love they accuse me,
   even while I make prayer for them. 
So they reward me evil for good,
   and hatred for my love. 


They say, 'Appoint a wicked man against him;
   let an accuser stand on his right. 
When he is tried, let him be found guilty;
   let his prayer be counted as sin. 
May his days be few;
   may another seize his position. 
May his children be orphans,
   and his wife a widow. 
May his children wander about and beg;
   may they be driven out of the ruins they inhabit. 
May the creditor seize all that he has;
   may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil. 
May there be no one to do him a kindness,
   nor anyone to pity his orphaned children. 
May his posterity be cut off;
   may his name be blotted out in the second generation. 
May the iniquity of his father be remembered before the Lord,
   and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out. 
Let them be before the Lord continually,
   and may his memory be cut off from the earth. 
For he did not remember to show kindness,
   but pursued the poor and needy
   and the broken-hearted to their death. 
He loved to curse; let curses come on him.
   He did not like blessing; may it be far from him. 
He clothed himself with cursing as his coat,
   may it soak into his body like water,
   like oil into his bones. 
May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself,
   like a belt that he wears every day.' 


May that be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
   of those who speak evil against my life. 
But you, O Lord my Lord,
   act on my behalf for your name's sake;
   because your steadfast love is good, deliver me. 
For I am poor and needy,
   and my heart is pierced within me. 
I am gone like a shadow at evening;
   I am shaken off like a locust. 
My knees are weak through fasting;
   my body has become gaunt. 
I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
   when they see me, they shake their heads. 


Help me, O Lord my God!
   Save me according to your steadfast love. 
Let them know that this is your hand;
   you, O Lord, have done it. 
Let them curse, but you will bless.
   Let my assailants be put to shame; may your servant be glad. 
May my accusers be clothed with dishonour;
   may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle. 
With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
   I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 119:121-144

Psalm 119:121-144

I have done what is just and right;
   do not leave me to my oppressors. 
Guarantee your servant's well-being;
   do not let the godless oppress me. 
My eyes fail from watching for your salvation,
   and for the fulfilment of your righteous promise. 
Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
   and teach me your statutes. 
I am your servant; give me understanding,
   so that I may know your decrees. 
It is time for the Lord to act,
   for your law has been broken. 
Truly I love your commandments
   more than gold, more than fine gold. 
Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts;
   I hate every false way. 


Your decrees are wonderful;
   therefore my soul keeps them. 
The unfolding of your words gives light;
   it imparts understanding to the simple. 
With open mouth I pant,
   because I long for your commandments. 
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
   as is your custom towards those who love your name. 
Keep my steps steady according to your promise,
   and never let iniquity have dominion over me. 
Redeem me from human oppression,
   that I may keep your precepts. 
Make your face shine upon your servant,
   and teach me your statutes. 
My eyes shed streams of tears
   because your law is not kept. 


You are righteous, O Lord,
   and your judgements are right. 
You have appointed your decrees in righteousness
   and in all faithfulness. 
My zeal consumes me
   because my foes forget your words. 
Your promise is well tried,
   and your servant loves it. 
I am small and despised,
   yet I do not forget your precepts. 
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
   and your law is the truth. 
Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
   but your commandments are my delight. 
Your decrees are righteous for ever;
   give me understanding that I may live. 
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