Thursday 21 August 2008<span style="mso-spacerun:
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<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Job 1:1-22</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another’s houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, ‘It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.’ This is what Job always did.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One day the heavenly beings* came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan* also came among them. The Lord said to Satan,* ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan* answered the Lord, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ The Lord said to Satan,* ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.’ Then Satan* answered the Lord, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.’ The Lord said to Satan,* ‘Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!’ So Satan* went out from the presence of the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshipped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Acts 8:26-40</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south* to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and like a lamb silent before its shearer,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so he does not open his mouth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In his humiliation justice was denied him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who can describe his generation?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For his life is taken away from the earth.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’* He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip* baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. ******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John 6:16-27</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles,* they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I;* do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.* So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 131, 132, 133</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 131</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my eyes are not raised too high;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I do not occupy myself with things</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>too great and too marvellous for me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But I have calmed and quieted my soul,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>like a weaned child with its mother;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.*</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Israel, hope in the Lord</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from this time on and for evermore.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 132</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, remember in David’s favour</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all the hardships he endured;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">how he swore to the Lord</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I will not enter my house</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or get into my bed;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will not give sleep to my eyes</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or slumber to my eyelids,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">until I find a place for the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a dwelling-place for the Mighty One of Jacob.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We heard of it in Ephrathah;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>we found it in the fields of Jaar.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Let us go to his dwelling-place;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let us worship at his footstool.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Rise up, O Lord, and go to your resting-place,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you and the ark of your might.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and let your faithful shout for joy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For your servant David’s sake</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>do not turn away the face of your anointed one.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord swore to David a sure oath</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from which he will not turn back:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘One of the sons of your body</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will set on your throne.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If your sons keep my covenant</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my decrees that I shall teach them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">their sons also, for evermore,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>shall sit on your throne.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord has chosen Zion;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he has desired it for his habitation:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘This is my resting-place for ever;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>here I will reside, for I have desired it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will abundantly bless its provisions;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will satisfy its poor with bread.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Its priests I will clothe with salvation,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and its faithful will shout for joy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His enemies I will clothe with disgrace,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but on him, his crown will gleam.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 133</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">How very good and pleasant it is</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>when kindred live together in unity!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is like the precious oil on the head,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>running down upon the beard,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">on the beard of Aaron,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>running down over the collar of his robes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is like the dew of Hermon,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>which falls on the mountains of Zion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For there the Lord ordained his blessing,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>life for evermore.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 134, 135</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 134</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who stand by night in the house of the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lift up your hands to the holy place,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and bless the Lord.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>bless you from Zion.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 135</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Praise the name of the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give praise, O servants of the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">you that stand in the house of the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the courts of the house of our God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>sing to his name, for he is gracious.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Israel as his own possession.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For I know that the Lord is great;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>our Lord is above all gods.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Whatever the Lord pleases he does,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in heaven and on earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the seas and all deeps.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he makes lightnings for the rain</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and brings out the wind from his storehouses.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>both human beings and animals;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he sent signs and wonders</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>into your midst, O Egypt,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>against Pharaoh and all his servants.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He struck down many nations</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and killed mighty kings—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sihon, king of the Amorites,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and Og, king of Bashan,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all the kingdoms of Canaan—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and gave their land as a heritage,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a heritage to his people Israel.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your name, O Lord, endures for ever,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord will vindicate his people,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and have compassion on his servants.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The idols of the nations are silver and gold,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the work of human hands.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have mouths, but they do not speak;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they have eyes, but they do not see;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">they have ears, but they do not hear,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and there is no breath in their mouths.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who make them</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all who trust them</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>shall become like them.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O house of Israel, bless the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O house of Levi, bless the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You that fear the Lord, bless the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blessed be the Lord from Zion,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he who resides in Jerusalem.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
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