Wednesday 10 October 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 10 October 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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2 Kings 22:14-23:3

So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the
prophetess Huldah the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas,
keeper of the wardrobe; she resided in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter,
where they consulted her. 15She declared to them, 'Thus says the Lord,
the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me, 16Thus says the
Lord, I will indeed bring disaster on this place and on its
inhabitants-all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read.
17Because they have abandoned me and have made offerings to other gods,
so that they have provoked me to anger with all the work of their hands,
therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not
be quenched. 18But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of
the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of
Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19because your heart
was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard
how I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they
should become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your
clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the Lord.
20Therefore, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you shall be
gathered to your grave in peace; your eyes shall not see all the
disaster that I will bring on this place.' They took the message back to
the king. 
Josiah's Reformation23Then the king directed that all the elders of
Judah and Jerusalem should be gathered to him. 2The king went up to the
house of the Lord, and with him went all the people of Judah, all the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the prophets, and all the people,
both small and great; he read in their hearing all the words of the book
of the covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. 3The king
stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the
Lord, keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all
his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that
were written in this book. All the people joined in the covenant.
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1 Corinthians 11:23-34

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord
Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24and when
he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for*
you. Do this in remembrance of me.' 25In the same way he took the cup
also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.' 26For as often
as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death
until he comes. 
Partaking of the Supper Unworthily27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread
or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable
for the body and blood of the Lord. 28Examine yourselves, and only then
eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For all who eat and drink*
without discerning the body,* eat and drink judgement against
themselves. 30For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some
have died.* 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. 32But
when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined* so that we may not
be condemned along with the world. 
33 So then, my brothers and sisters,* when you come together to eat,
wait for one another. 34If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you
come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other
things I will give instructions when I come. 
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Matthew 9:9-17

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the
tax booth; and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed
him. 
10 And as he sat at dinner* in the house, many tax-collectors and
sinners came and were sitting* with him and his disciples. 11When the
Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your teacher
eat with tax-collectors and sinners?' 12But when he heard this, he said,
'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13Go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I
have come to call not the righteous but sinners.' 
The Question about Fasting14 Then the disciples of John came to him,
saying, 'Why do we and the Pharisees fast often,* but your disciples do
not fast?' 15And Jesus said to them, 'The wedding-guests cannot mourn as
long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when
the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16No
one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls
away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. 17Neither is new wine put
into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled,
and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins,
and so both are preserved.'
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 119:145-176

Psalm 119:145-176

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord.
   I will keep your statutes. 
146I cry to you; save me,
   that I may observe your decrees. 
147I rise before dawn and cry for help;
   I put my hope in your words. 
148My eyes are awake before each watch of the night,
   that I may meditate on your promise. 
149In your steadfast love hear my voice;
   O Lord, in your justice preserve my life. 
150Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near;
   they are far from your law. 
151Yet you are near, O Lord,
   and all your commandments are true. 
152Long ago I learned from your decrees
   that you have established them for ever. 


153Look on my misery and rescue me,
   for I do not forget your law. 
154Plead my cause and redeem me;
   give me life according to your promise. 
155Salvation is far from the wicked,
   for they do not seek your statutes. 
156Great is your mercy, O Lord;
   give me life according to your justice. 
157Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
   yet I do not swerve from your decrees. 
158I look at the faithless with disgust,
   because they do not keep your commands. 
159Consider how I love your precepts;
   preserve my life according to your steadfast love. 
160The sum of your word is truth;
   and every one of your righteous ordinances endures for ever. 


161Princes persecute me without cause,
   but my heart stands in awe of your words. 
162I rejoice at your word
   like one who finds great spoil. 
163I hate and abhor falsehood,
   but I love your law. 
164Seven times a day I praise you
   for your righteous ordinances. 
165Great peace have those who love your law;
   nothing can make them stumble. 
166I hope for your salvation, O Lord,
   and I fulfil your commandments. 
167My soul keeps your decrees;
   I love them exceedingly. 
168I keep your precepts and decrees,
   for all my ways are before you. 


169Let my cry come before you, O Lord;
   give me understanding according to your word. 
170Let my supplication come before you;
   deliver me according to your promise. 
171My lips will pour forth praise,
   because you teach me your statutes. 
172My tongue will sing of your promise,
   for all your commandments are right. 
173Let your hand be ready to help me,
   for I have chosen your precepts. 
174I long for your salvation, O Lord,
   and your law is my delight. 
175Let me live that I may praise you,
   and let your ordinances help me. 
176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant,
   for I do not forget your commandments.
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Evening Psalms:  Psalm 128, 129, 130

Psalm 128

Happy is everyone who fears the Lord,
   who walks in his ways. 
2You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands;
   you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you. 


3Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
   within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
   around your table. 
4Thus shall the man be blessed
   who fears the Lord. 


5The Lord bless you from Zion.
   May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
   all the days of your life. 
6May you see your children's children.
   Peace be upon Israel!



Psalm 129

'Often have they attacked me from my youth'
   -let Israel now say- 
2'often have they attacked me from my youth,
   yet they have not prevailed against me. 
3Those who plough ploughed on my back;
   they made their furrows long.' 
4The Lord is righteous;
   he has cut the cords of the wicked. 
5May all who hate Zion
   be put to shame and turned back. 
6Let them be like the grass on the housetops
   that withers before it grows up, 
7with which reapers do not fill their hands
   or binders of sheaves their arms, 
8while those who pass by do not say,
   'The blessing of the Lord be upon you!
   We bless you in the name of the Lord!'



Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. 
2   Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
   to the voice of my supplications! 


3If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
   Lord, who could stand? 
4But there is forgiveness with you,
   so that you may be revered. 


5I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
   and in his word I hope; 
6my soul waits for the Lord
   more than those who watch for the morning,
   more than those who watch for the morning. 


7O Israel, hope in the Lord!
   For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
   and with him is great power to redeem. 
8It is he who will redeem Israel
   from all its iniquities.
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