Wednesday 2 August 2023 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 2 August 2023 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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2 Samuel 3:22-39

Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid,
bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron,
for David had dismissed him, and he had gone away in peace. When Joab
and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, ‘Abner
son of Ner came to the king, and he has dismissed him, and he has gone
away in peace.’ Then Joab went to the king and said, ‘What have
you done? Abner came to you; why did you dismiss him, so that he got
away? You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you, and to learn
your comings and goings and to learn all that you are doing.’ 
When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after
Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David
did not know about it. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him
aside in the gateway to speak with him privately, and there he stabbed
him in the stomach. So he died for shedding the blood of Asahel,
Joab’s brother. Afterwards, when David heard of it, he said, ‘I
and my kingdom are for ever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of
Abner son of Ner. May the guilt fall on the head of Joab, and on all
his father’s house; and may the house of Joab never be without one
who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who
falls by the sword, or who lacks food!’ So Joab and his brother
Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in
the battle at Gibeon. 
Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him,
‘Tear your clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner.’
And King David followed the bier. They buried Abner at Hebron. The
king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the
people wept. The king lamented for Abner, saying,
‘Should Abner die as a fool dies? 
Your hands were not bound,
   your feet were not fettered;
as one falls before the wicked
   you have fallen.’
And all the people wept over him again. Then all the people came to
persuade David to eat something while it was still day; but David
swore, saying, ‘So may God do to me, and more, if I taste bread or
anything else before the sun goes down!’ All the people took notice
of it, and it pleased them; just as everything the king did pleased
all the people. So all the people and all Israel understood that day
that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner. And the
king said to his servants, ‘Do you not know that a prince and a
great man has fallen this day in Israel? Today I am powerless, even
though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too violent
for me. The Lord pay back the one who does wickedly in accordance with
his wickedness!’
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Acts 16:16-24

One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl
who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of
money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would
cry out, ‘These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to
you a way of salvation.’ She kept doing this for many days. But
Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you
in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out
that very hour. 
But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they
seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market-place before
the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates,
they said, ‘These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews and are
advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or
observe.’ The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates
had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with
rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them
into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following
these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened
their feet in the stocks.

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Mark 6:47-56

When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was alone on
the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an
adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on
the lake. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking
on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all
saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said,
‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Then he got into the boat
with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for
they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were
hardened. 
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored
the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized
him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on
mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into
villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places,
and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and
all who touched it were healed.

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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 72

Psalm 72

Give the king your justice, O God,
   and your righteousness to a king’s son. 
May he judge your people with righteousness,
   and your poor with justice. 
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
   and the hills, in righteousness. 
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
   give deliverance to the needy,
   and crush the oppressor. 

May he live while the sun endures,
   and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. 
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
   like showers that water the earth. 
In his days may righteousness flourish
   and peace abound, until the moon is no more. 

May he have dominion from sea to sea,
   and from the River to the ends of the earth. 
May his foes bow down before him,
   and his enemies lick the dust. 
May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
   render him tribute,
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
   bring gifts. 
May all kings fall down before him,
   all nations give him service. 

For he delivers the needy when they call,
   the poor and those who have no helper. 
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
   and saves the lives of the needy. 
>From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
   and precious is their blood in his sight. 

Long may he live!
   May gold of Sheba be given to him.
May prayer be made for him continually,
   and blessings invoked for him all day long. 
May there be abundance of grain in the land;
   may it wave on the tops of the mountains;
   may its fruit be like Lebanon;
and may people blossom in the cities
   like the grass of the field. 
May his name endure for ever,
   his fame continue as long as the sun.
May all nations be blessed in him;
   may they pronounce him happy. 

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
   who alone does wondrous things. 
Blessed be his glorious name for ever;
   may his glory fill the whole earth.Amen and Amen. 

The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 119:73-96

Psalm 119:73-96

Your hands have made and fashioned me;
   give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. 
Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
   because I have hoped in your word. 
I know, O Lord, that your judgements are right,
   and that in faithfulness you have humbled me. 
Let your steadfast love become my comfort
   according to your promise to your servant. 
Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
   for your law is my delight. 
Let the arrogant be put to shame,
   because they have subverted me with guile;
   as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. 
Let those who fear you turn to me,
   so that they may know your decrees. 
May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
   so that I may not be put to shame. 

My soul languishes for your salvation;
   I hope in your word. 
My eyes fail with watching for your promise;
   I ask, ‘When will you comfort me?’ 
For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
   yet I have not forgotten your statutes. 
How long must your servant endure?
   When will you judge those who persecute me? 
The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me;
   they flout your law. 
All your commandments are enduring;
   I am persecuted without cause; help me! 
They have almost made an end of me on earth;
   but I have not forsaken your precepts. 
In your steadfast love spare my life,
   so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth. 

The Lord exists for ever;
   your word is firmly fixed in heaven. 
Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
   you have established the earth, and it stands fast. 
By your appointment they stand today,
   for all things are your servants. 
If your law had not been my delight,
   I would have perished in my misery. 
I will never forget your precepts,
   for by them you have given me life. 
I am yours; save me,
   for I have sought your precepts. 
The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
   but I consider your decrees. 
I have seen a limit to all perfection,
   but your commandment is exceedingly broad. 
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