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<div>Friday 27 June 2008<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span></div>
<div>DAILY LECTIONARY</div>
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<div>Email Evangelism, forward to a friend:
<a href="http://www.dailylectionary.org">http://www.dailylectionary.org</a></div>
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<div>******************************************************************</div>
<div>Numbers 20:1-13</div>
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<div>The Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the
wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam
died there, and was buried there.</div>
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<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now there was
no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and
against Aaron. The people quarrelled with Moses and said, ‘Would that we had
died when our kindred died before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly
of the Lord into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? Why have
you brought us up out of Egypt, to bring us to this wretched place? It is no
place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; and there is no water to
drink.’ Then Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the
tent of meeting; they fell on their faces, and the glory of the Lord appeared
to them. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Take the staff, and assemble the
congregation, you and your brother Aaron, and command the rock before their
eyes to yield its water. Thus you shall bring water out of the rock for them;
thus you shall provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.</div>
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<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So Moses took
the staff from before the Lord, as he had commanded him. Moses and Aaron
gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, ‘Listen,
you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?’ Then Moses lifted
up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; water came out
abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank. But the Lord said
to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness
before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly
into the land that I have given them.’ These are the waters of Meribah,* where
the people of Israel quarrelled with the Lord, and by which he showed his
holiness.</div>
<div>******************************************************************</div>
<div>Romans 5:12-21</div>
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<div>Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man,
and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned—
sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there
is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those
whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one
who was to come.</div>
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<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But the free
gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s
trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace
of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not
like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgement following one trespass
brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings
justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion
through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of
grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the
one man, Jesus Christ.</div>
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<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Therefore just
as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of
righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one
man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience
the many will be made righteous. But law came in, with the result that the
trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so
that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise
dominion through justification* leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord. ******************************************************************</div>
<div>Matthew 20:29-34</div>
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<div>As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.
There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus
was passing by, they shouted, ‘Lord,* have mercy on us, Son of David!’ The
crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, ‘Have
mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!’ Jesus stood still and called them, saying, ‘What
do you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, let our eyes be
opened.’ Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they
regained their sight and followed him. <span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>******************************************************************</div>
<div>Morning Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Psalm 102</div>
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<div>Psalm 102</div>
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<div>Hear my prayer, O Lord;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let my
cry come to you. </div>
<div>Do not hide your face from me</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>on the
day of my distress.</div>
<div>Incline your ear to me;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>answer
me speedily on the day when I call. </div>
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<div>For my days pass away like smoke,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my
bones burn like a furnace. </div>
<div>My heart is stricken and withered like grass;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am too
wasted to eat my bread. </div>
<div>Because of my loud groaning</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my bones
cling to my skin. </div>
<div>I am like an owl of the wilderness,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>like a
little owl of the waste places. </div>
<div>I lie awake;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am
like a lonely bird on the housetop. </div>
<div>All day long my enemies taunt me;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those
who deride me use my name for a curse. </div>
<div>For I eat ashes like bread,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and
mingle tears with my drink, </div>
<div>because of your indignation and anger;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for you
have lifted me up and thrown me aside. </div>
<div>My days are like an evening shadow;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I wither
away like grass. </div>
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<div>But you, O Lord, are enthroned for ever;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your
name endures to all generations. </div>
<div>You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for it
is time to favour it;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the
appointed time has come. </div>
<div>For your servants hold its stones dear,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and have
pity on its dust. </div>
<div>The nations will fear the name of the Lord,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all
the kings of the earth your glory. </div>
<div>For the Lord will build up Zion;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he will
appear in his glory. </div>
<div>He will regard the prayer of the destitute,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and will
not despise their prayer. </div>
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<div>Let this be recorded for a generation to come,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that
a people yet unborn may praise the Lord: </div>
<div>that he looked down from his holy height,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from
heaven the Lord looked at the earth, </div>
<div>to hear the groans of the prisoners,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to set
free those who were doomed to die; </div>
<div>so that the name of the Lord may be declared in Zion,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his
praise in Jerusalem, </div>
<div>when peoples gather together,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and
kingdoms, to worship the Lord. </div>
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<div>He has broken my strength in mid-course;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he has
shortened my days. </div>
<div>‘O my God,’ I say, ‘do not take me away</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>at the
mid-point of my life,</div>
<div>you whose years endure</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>throughout all generations.’ </div>
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<div>Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the
heavens are the work of your hands. </div>
<div>They will perish, but you endure;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they
will all wear out like a garment.</div>
<div>You change them like clothing, and they pass away; </div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but you
are the same, and your years have no end. </div>
<div>The children of your servants shall live secure;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>their
offspring shall be established in your presence.</div>
<div>******************************************************************</div>
<div>Evening Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>Psalm 107:1-32</div>
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<div>Psalm 107:1-32</div>
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<div>O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for his
steadfast love endures for ever. </div>
<div>Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those he
redeemed from trouble </div>
<div>and gathered in from the lands,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from the
east and from the west,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from the
north and from the south.* </div>
<div> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div>Some wandered in desert wastes,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>finding
no way to an inhabited town; </div>
<div>hungry and thirsty,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>their
soul fainted within them. </div>
<div>Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he
delivered them from their distress; </div>
<div>he led them by a straight way,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>until
they reached an inhabited town. </div>
<div>Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for his
wonderful works to humankind. </div>
<div>For he satisfies the thirsty,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the
hungry he fills with good things. </div>
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<div>Some sat in darkness and in gloom,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>prisoners in misery and in irons, </div>
<div>for they had rebelled against the words of God,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and
spurned the counsel of the Most High. </div>
<div>Their hearts were bowed down with hard labour;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they
fell down, with no one to help. </div>
<div>Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he
saved them from their distress; </div>
<div>he brought them out of darkness and gloom,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and
broke their bonds asunder. </div>
<div>Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for his
wonderful works to humankind. </div>
<div>For he shatters the doors of bronze,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and cuts
in two the bars of iron. </div>
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<div>Some were sick* through their sinful ways,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and
because of their iniquities endured affliction; </div>
<div>they loathed any kind of food,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and they
drew near to the gates of death. </div>
<div>Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he
saved them from their distress; </div>
<div>he sent out his word and healed them,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and
delivered them from destruction. </div>
<div>Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for his
wonderful works to humankind. </div>
<div>And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and tell
of his deeds with songs of joy. </div>
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<div>Some went down to the sea in ships,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>doing
business on the mighty waters; </div>
<div>they saw the deeds of the Lord,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his
wondrous works in the deep. </div>
<div>For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>which
lifted up the waves of the sea. </div>
<div>They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths;</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>their
courage melted away in their calamity; </div>
<div>they reeled and staggered like drunkards,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and were
at their wits’ end. </div>
<div>Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he
brought them out from their distress; </div>
<div>he made the storm be still,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the
waves of the sea were hushed. </div>
<div>Then they were glad because they had quiet,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he
brought them to their desired haven. </div>
<div>Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for his
wonderful works to humankind. </div>
<div>Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,</div>
<div><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and
praise him in the assembly of the elders.</div>
<div>******************************************************************</div>
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