Wednesday 21 August 2013 DAILY LECTIONARY

[Daily Lectionary]

Wednesday 21 August 2013 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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2 Samuel 18:19-33

Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, ‘Let me run, and carry tidings to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the power of his enemies.’ 20Joab said to him, ‘You are not to carry tidings today; you may carry tidings another day, but today you shall not do so, because the king’s son is dead.’ 21Then Joab said to a Cushite, ‘Go, tell the king what you have seen.’ The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran. 22Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab, ‘Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.’ And Joab said, ‘Why will you run, my son, seeing that you have no reward* for the tidings?’ 23‘Come what may,’ he said, ‘I will run.’ So he said to him, ‘Run.’ Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite. Now David was sitting between the two gates. The sentinel went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he looked up, he saw a man running alone. The sentinel shouted and told the king. The king said, ‘If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth.’ He kept coming, and drew near. Then the sentinel saw another man running; and the sentinel called to the gatekeeper and said, ‘See, another man running alone!’ The king said, ‘He also is bringing tidings.’ The sentinel said, ‘I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.’ The king said, ‘He is a good man, and comes with good tidings.’

 Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, ‘All is well!’ He prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground, and said, ‘Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.’ The king said, ‘Is it well with the young man Absalom?’ Ahimaaz answered, ‘When Joab sent your servant,* I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.’ The king said, ‘Turn aside, and stand here.’ So he turned aside, and stood still.

 Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, ‘Good tidings for my lord the king! For the Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.’ The king said to the Cushite, ‘Is it well with the young man Absalom?’ The Cushite answered, ‘May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.’
 *The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, ‘O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!’
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Acts 23:23-35

Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready to leave by nine o’clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. 24Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Felix the governor.’ 25He wrote a letter to this effect: 
26 ‘Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with the guard and rescued him. 28Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council. 29I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.*’ 
31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris. 32The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. 33When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35he said, ‘I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.’ Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s headquarters.* ******************************************************************
Mark 12:13-27

Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. 14And they came and said to him, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? 15Should we pay them, or should we not?’ But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, ‘Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.’ 16And they brought one. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ 17Jesus said to them, ‘Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they were utterly amazed at him. 
The Question about the Resurrection18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, 19‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man* shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 20There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. 23In the resurrection* whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.’ 
24 Jesus said to them, ‘Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? 27He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.’ ******************************************************************
Morning Psalms:  Psalm 119:145-176

Psalm 119:145-175

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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