Saturday 29 September 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Saturday 29 September 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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2 Kings 11:1-20a

Now when Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, saw that her son was dead, she set
about to destroy all the royal family. 2But Jehosheba, King Joram's
daughter, Ahaziah's sister, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him
away from among the king's children who were about to be killed; she
put* him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus she* hid him from Athaliah, so
that he was not killed; 3he remained with her for six years, hidden in
the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land. 
Jehoiada Anoints the Child Joash4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada
summoned the captains of the Carites and of the guards and had them come
to him in the house of the Lord. He made a covenant with them and put
them under oath in the house of the Lord; then he showed them the king's
son. 5He commanded them, 'This is what you are to do: one-third of you,
those who go off duty on the sabbath and guard the king's house
6(another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the
guards), shall guard the palace; 7and your two divisions that come on
duty in force on the sabbath and guard the house of the Lord * 8shall
surround the king, each with weapons in hand; and whoever approaches the
ranks is to be killed. Be with the king in his comings and goings.' 
9 The captains did according to all that the priest Jehoiada commanded;
each brought his men who were to go off duty on the sabbath, with those
who were to come on duty on the sabbath, and came to the priest
Jehoiada. 10The priest delivered to the captains the spears and shields
that had been King David's, which were in the house of the Lord; 11the
guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south
side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and
the house, to guard the king on every side. 12Then he brought out the
king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant;* they
proclaimed him king, and anointed him; they clapped their hands and
shouted, 'Long live the king!' 
Death of Athaliah13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of
the people, she went into the house of the Lord to the people; 14when
she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to
custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all
the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her
clothes and cried, 'Treason! Treason!' 15Then the priest Jehoiada
commanded the captains who were set over the army, 'Bring her out
between the ranks, and kill with the sword anyone who follows her.' For
the priest said, 'Let her not be killed in the house of the Lord.' 16So
they laid hands on her; she went through the horses' entrance to the
king's house, and there she was put to death. 
17 Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people,
that they should be the Lord's people; also between the king and the
people. 18Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and
tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they
killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. The priest posted
guards over the house of the Lord. 19He took the captains, the Carites,
the guards, and all the people of the land; then they brought the king
down from the house of the Lord, marching through the gate of the guards
to the king's house. He took his seat on the throne of the kings. 20So
all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet after
Athaliah had been killed with the sword at the king's house.
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1 Corinthians 7:10-24

To the married I give this command-not I but the Lord-that the wife
should not separate from her husband 11(but if she does separate, let
her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the
husband should not divorce his wife. 
12 To the rest I say-I and not the Lord-that if any believer* has a wife
who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not
divorce her. 13And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and
he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14For the
unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving
wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be
unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15But if the unbelieving partner
separates, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not
bound. It is to peace that God has called you.* 16Wife, for all you
know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might
save your wife. 
The Life That the Lord Has Assigned17 However that may be, let each of
you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you.
This is my rule in all the churches. 18Was anyone at the time of his
call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of
circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him
not seek circumcision. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is
nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything. 20Let each
of you remain in the condition in which you were called. 
21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if
you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more
than ever.* 22For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed
person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a
slave of Christ. 23You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of
human masters. 24In whatever condition you were called, brothers and
sisters,* there remain with God.
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Matthew 6:19-24

'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust*
consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust* consumes
and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also. 
The Sound Eye22 'The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is
healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23but if your eye is
unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light
in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 
Serving Two Masters24 'No one can serve two masters; for a slave will
either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and
despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.*
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 87, 90

Psalm 87

On the holy mount stands the city he founded; 
2   the Lord loves the gates of Zion
   more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 
3Glorious things are spoken of you,
   O city of God.
          Selah 


4Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
   Philistia too, and Tyre, with Ethiopia*-
   'This one was born there,' they say. 


5And of Zion it shall be said,
   'This one and that one were born in it';
   for the Most High himself will establish it. 
6The Lord records, as he registers the peoples,
   'This one was born there.'
          Selah 


7Singers and dancers alike say,
   'All my springs are in you.'



Psalm 90

Lord, you have been our dwelling-place*
   in all generations. 
2Before the mountains were brought forth,
   or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
   from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 


3You turn us* back to dust,
   and say, 'Turn back, you mortals.' 
4For a thousand years in your sight
   are like yesterday when it is past,
   or like a watch in the night. 


5You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
   like grass that is renewed in the morning; 
6in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
   in the evening it fades and withers. 


7For we are consumed by your anger;
   by your wrath we are overwhelmed. 
8You have set our iniquities before you,
   our secret sins in the light of your countenance. 


9For all our days pass away under your wrath;
   our years come to an end* like a sigh. 
10The 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. 


11Who considers the power of your anger?
   Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due to you. 
12So teach us to count our days
   that we may gain a wise heart. 


13Turn, O Lord! How long?
   Have compassion on your servants! 
14Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
   so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 
15Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
   and for as many years as we have seen evil. 
16Let your work be manifest to your servants,
   and your glorious power to their children. 
17Let 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. 
2O give thanks to the God of gods,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever. 
3O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 


4who alone does great wonders,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
5who by understanding made the heavens,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
6who spread out the earth on the waters,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
7who made the great lights,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
8the sun to rule over the day,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
9the moon and stars to rule over the night,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 


10who struck Egypt through their firstborn,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
11and brought Israel out from among them,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
12with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
13who divided the Red Sea* in two,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
14and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
15but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,*
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
16who led his people through the wilderness,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
17who struck down great kings,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
18and killed famous kings,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
19Sihon, king of the Amorites,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
20and Og, king of Bashan,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
21and gave their land as a heritage,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
22a heritage to his servant Israel,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever. 


23It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
24and rescued us from our foes,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever; 
25who gives food to all flesh,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever. 


26O give thanks to the God of heaven,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever.
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