Wednesday 28 June 2023 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 28 June 2023 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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1 Samuel 7:2-17

>From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time
passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after
the Lord. 
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, ‘If you are returning
to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and
the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the Lord, and serve
him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the
Philistines.’ So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and
they served the Lord only. 
Then Samuel said, ‘Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to
the Lord for you.’ So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and
poured it out before the Lord. They fasted that day, and said, ‘We
have sinned against the Lord.’ And Samuel judged the people of
Israel at Mizpah. 
When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at
Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when
the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines.
The people of Israel said to Samuel, ‘Do not cease to cry out to the
Lord our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the
Philistines.’ So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a
whole burnt-offering to the Lord; Samuel cried out to the Lord for
Israel, and the Lord answered him. As Samuel was offering up the
burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the
Lord thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines
and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel. And
the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and
struck them down as far as beyond Beth-car. 
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah,
and named it Ebenezer; for he said, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped
us.’ So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the
territory of Israel; the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines
all the days of Samuel. The towns that the Philistines had taken from
Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel
recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was
peace also between Israel and the Amorites. 
Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He went on a circuit
year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in
all these places. Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was
there; he administered justice there to Israel, and built there an
altar to the Lord.
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Acts 6:1-15

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve
called together the whole community of the disciples and said, ‘It
is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait
at tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men
of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may
appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to
prayer and to serving the word.’ What they said pleased the whole
community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy
Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and
Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the
apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 
The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples
increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became
obedient to the faith. 
Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among
the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the
Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of
those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But
they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he
spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, ‘We have heard
him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ They stirred up
the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly
confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They
set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops saying things
against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that
this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the
customs that Moses handed on to us.’ And all who sat in the council
looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face
of an angel.
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Luke 22:14-23

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles
with him. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this
Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it
until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took a cup,
and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among
yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the
fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took a
loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it
to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this
in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after
supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new
covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and
his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been
determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!’ Then they
began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do
this.
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 101, 109:1-30

Psalm 101

I will sing of loyalty and of justice;
   to you, O Lord, I will sing. 
I will study the way that is blameless.
   When shall I attain it? 

I will walk with integrity of heart
   within my house; 
I will not set before my eyes
   anything that is base. 

I hate the work of those who fall away;
   it shall not cling to me. 
Perverseness of heart shall be far from me;
   I will know nothing of evil. 

One who secretly slanders a neighbour
   I will destroy.
A haughty look and an arrogant heart
   I will not tolerate. 

I will look with favour on the faithful in the land,
   so that they may live with me;
whoever walks in the way that is blameless
   shall minister to me. 

No one who practises deceit
   shall remain in my house;
no one who utters lies
   shall continue in my presence. 

Morning by morning I will destroy
   all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all evildoers
   from the city of the Lord.

Psalm 109:1-30

Do not be silent, O God of my praise. 
For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
   speaking against me with lying tongues. 
They beset me with words of hate,
   and attack me without cause. 
In return for my love they accuse me,
   even while I make prayer for them. 
So they reward me evil for good,
   and hatred for my love. 

They say, ‘Appoint a wicked man against him;
   let an accuser stand on his right. 
When he is tried, let him be found guilty;
   let his prayer be counted as sin. 
May his days be few;
   may another seize his position. 
May his children be orphans,
   and his wife a widow. 
May his children wander about and beg;
   may they be driven out of the ruins they inhabit. 
May the creditor seize all that he has;
   may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil. 
May there be no one to do him a kindness,
   nor anyone to pity his orphaned children. 
May his posterity be cut off;
   may his name be blotted out in the second generation. 
May the iniquity of his father be remembered before the Lord,
   and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out. 
Let them be before the Lord continually,
   and may his memory be cut off from the earth. 
For he did not remember to show kindness,
   but pursued the poor and needy
   and the broken-hearted to their death. 
He loved to curse; let curses come on him.
   He did not like blessing; may it be far from him. 
He clothed himself with cursing as his coat,
   may it soak into his body like water,
   like oil into his bones. 
May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself,
   like a belt that he wears every day.’ 

May that be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
   of those who speak evil against my life. 
But you, O Lord my Lord,
   act on my behalf for your name’s sake;
   because your steadfast love is good, deliver me. 
For I am poor and needy,
   and my heart is pierced within me. 
I am gone like a shadow at evening;
   I am shaken off like a locust. 
My knees are weak through fasting;
   my body has become gaunt. 
I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
   when they see me, they shake their heads. 

Help me, O Lord my God!
   Save me according to your steadfast love. 
Let them know that this is your hand;
   you, O Lord, have done it. 
Let them curse, but you will bless.
   Let my assailants be put to shame; may your servant be glad. 
May my accusers be clothed with dishonour;
   may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle. 
With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
   I will praise him in the midst of the throng.
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 119:121-144

Psalm 119:121-144

I have done what is just and right;
   do not leave me to my oppressors. 
Guarantee your servant’s well-being;
   do not let the godless oppress me. 
My eyes fail from watching for your salvation,
   and for the fulfilment of your righteous promise. 
Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
   and teach me your statutes. 
I am your servant; give me understanding,
   so that I may know your decrees. 
It is time for the Lord to act,
   for your law has been broken. 
Truly I love your commandments
   more than gold, more than fine gold. 
Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts;
   I hate every false way. 

Your decrees are wonderful;
   therefore my soul keeps them. 
The unfolding of your words gives light;
   it imparts understanding to the simple. 
With open mouth I pant,
   because I long for your commandments. 
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
   as is your custom towards those who love your name. 
Keep my steps steady according to your promise,
   and never let iniquity have dominion over me. 
Redeem me from human oppression,
   that I may keep your precepts. 
Make your face shine upon your servant,
   and teach me your statutes. 
My eyes shed streams of tears
   because your law is not kept. 

You are righteous, O Lord,
   and your judgements are right. 
You have appointed your decrees in righteousness
   and in all faithfulness. 
My zeal consumes me
   because my foes forget your words. 
Your promise is well tried,
   and your servant loves it. 
I am small and despised,
   yet I do not forget your precepts. 
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
   and your law is the truth. 
Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
   but your commandments are my delight. 
Your decrees are righteous for ever;
   give me understanding that I may live. 
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