Tuesday 11 September 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Tuesday 11 September 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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1 Kings 16:23-34

In the thirty-first year of King Asa of Judah, Omri began to reign over
Israel; he reigned for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 
Samaria the New Capital24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for
two talents of silver; he fortified the hill, and called the city that
he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill. 
25 Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; he did more evil
than all who were before him. 26For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam
son of Nebat, and in the sins that he caused Israel to commit, provoking
the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger by their idols. 27Now the rest of
the acts of Omri that he did, and the power that he showed, are they not
written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel? 28Omri slept
with his ancestors, and was buried in Samaria; his son Ahab succeeded
him. 
Ahab Reigns over Israel29 In the thirty-eighth year of King Asa of
Judah, Ahab son of Omri began to reign over Israel; Ahab son of Omri
reigned over Israel in Samaria for twenty-two years. 30Ahab son of Omri
did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him. 
Ahab Marries Jezebel and Worships Baal31 And as if it had been a light
thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he took as
his wife Jezebel daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and went and
served Baal, and worshipped him. 32He erected an altar for Baal in the
house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. 33Ahab also made a sacred
pole.* Ahab did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of
Israel, than had all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34In his
days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho; he laid its foundation at the cost of
Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest
son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua
son of Nun. 
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Philippians 1:12-30

I want you to know, beloved,* that what has happened to me has actually
helped to spread the gospel, 13so that it has become known throughout
the whole imperial guard* and to everyone else that my imprisonment is
for Christ; 14and most of the brothers and sisters,* having been made
confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word* with
greater boldness and without fear. 
15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.
16These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here
for the defence of the gospel; 17the others proclaim Christ out of
selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering
in my imprisonment. 18What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is
proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in
that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19for I know that through your
prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will result in
my deliverance. 20It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be
put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness,
Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by
death. 21For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22If I am to
live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know
which I prefer. 23I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to
depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24but to remain in
the flesh is more necessary for you. 25Since I am convinced of this, I
know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress
and joy in faith, 26so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in
Christ Jesus when I come to you again. 
27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so
that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will
know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side
with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28and are in no way
intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their
destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. 29For he
has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in
Christ, but of suffering for him as well- 30since you are having the
same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
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Mark 16:1-20

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James,
and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And
very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they
went to the tomb. 3They had been saying to one another, 'Who will roll
away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?' 4When they looked
up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been
rolled back. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in
a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he
said to them, 'Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is
the place they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he
is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he
told you.' 8So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and
amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they
were afraid.* 


The Shorter Ending of Mark
[[And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around
Peter. And afterwards Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to
west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.* ]]



The Longer Ending of Mark
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene9 [[Now after he rose early on the first
day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had
cast out seven demons. 10She went out and told those who had been with
him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11But when they heard that he
was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. 
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples12 After this he appeared in another form
to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13And they went
back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. 
Jesus Commissions the Disciples14 Later he appeared to the eleven
themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for
their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed
those who saw him after he had risen.* 15And he said to them, 'Go into
all the world and proclaim the good news* to the whole creation. 16The
one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not
believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who
believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in
new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes in their hands,* and if they
drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands
on the sick, and they will recover.' 
The Ascension of Jesus19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to
them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the
Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 45

Psalm 45

My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
   I address my verses to the king;
   my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 


2You are the most handsome of men;
   grace is poured upon your lips;
   therefore God has blessed you for ever. 
3Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
   in your glory and majesty. 


4In your majesty ride on victoriously
   for the cause of truth and to defend* the right;
   let your right hand teach you dread deeds. 
5Your arrows are sharp
   in the heart of the king's enemies;
   the peoples fall under you. 


6Your throne, O God,* endures for ever and ever.
   Your royal sceptre is a sceptre of equity; 
7   you love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
   with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; 
8   your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
>From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad; 
9   daughters of kings are among your ladies of honour;
   at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. 


10Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;
   forget your people and your father's house, 
11   and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him; 
12   the people* of Tyre will seek your favour with gifts,
   the richest of the people 13with all kinds of wealth. 


The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;* 
14   in many-coloured robes she is led to the king;
   behind her the virgins, her companions, follow. 
15With joy and gladness they are led along
   as they enter the palace of the king. 


16In the place of ancestors you, O king,* shall have sons;
   you will make them princes in all the earth. 
17I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
   therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and ever.
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 47, 48

Psalm 47

Clap your hands, all you peoples;
   shout to God with loud songs of joy. 
2For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
   a great king over all the earth. 
3He subdued peoples under us,
   and nations under our feet. 
4He chose our heritage for us,
   the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
          Selah 


5God has gone up with a shout,
   the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 
6Sing praises to God, sing praises;
   sing praises to our King, sing praises. 
7For God is the king of all the earth;
   sing praises with a psalm.* 


8God is king over the nations;
   God sits on his holy throne. 
9The princes of the peoples gather
   as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
   he is highly exalted.



Psalm 48

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
   in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, 2beautiful in elevation,
   is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
   the city of the great King. 
3Within its citadels God
   has shown himself a sure defence. 


4Then the kings assembled,
   they came on together. 
5As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
   they were in panic, they took to flight; 
6trembling took hold of them there,
   pains as of a woman in labour, 
7as when an east wind shatters
   the ships of Tarshish. 
8As we have heard, so have we seen
   in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God,
   which God establishes for ever.
          Selah 


9We ponder your steadfast love, O God,
   in the midst of your temple. 
10Your name, O God, like your praise,
   reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with victory. 
11   Let Mount Zion be glad,
let the towns* of Judah rejoice
   because of your judgements. 


12Walk about Zion, go all around it,
   count its towers, 
13consider well its ramparts;
   go through its citadels,
that you may tell the next generation 
14   that this is God,
our God for ever and ever.
   He will be our guide for ever.
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