Tuesday 16 December 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">Isaiah 9:1-7</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*The people who walked in darkness</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>have seen a great light;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">those who lived in a land of deep darkness—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>on them light has shined.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You have multiplied the nation,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have increased its joy;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">they rejoice before you</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as with joy at the harvest,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as people exult when dividing plunder.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the yoke of their burden,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the bar across their shoulders,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the rod of their oppressor,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have broken as on the day of Midian.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For all the boots of the tramping warriors</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all the garments rolled in blood</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>shall be burned as fuel for the fire.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For a child has been born for us,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a son given to us;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">authority rests upon his shoulders;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he is named</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His authority shall grow continually,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and there shall be endless peace</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for the throne of David and his kingdom.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He will establish and uphold it</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">with justice and with righteousness</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from this time onwards and for evermore.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">2 Peter 1:12-21</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. I think it right, as long as I am in this body,* to refresh your memory, since I know that my death* will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved,* with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Luke 22:54-69</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, ‘This man also was with him.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know him.’ A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, ‘You also are one of them.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I am not!’ Then about an hour later yet another kept insisting, ‘Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about!’ At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’ They kept heaping many other insults on him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, ‘If you are the Messiah,* tell us.’ He replied, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Psalm 45</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 45</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My heart overflows with a goodly theme;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I address my verses to the king;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You are the most handsome of men;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>grace is poured upon your lips;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>therefore God has blessed you for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in your glory and majesty.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In your majesty ride on victoriously</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the cause of truth and to defend* the right;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let your right hand teach you dread deeds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your arrows are sharp</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the heart of the king’s enemies;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the peoples fall under you.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Your throne, O God,* endures for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Your royal sceptre is a sceptre of equity;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you love righteousness and hate wickedness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore God, your God, has anointed you</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>daughters of kings are among your ladies of honour;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>forget your people and your father’s house,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the king will desire your beauty.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since he is your lord, bow to him;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the people* of Tyre will seek your favour with gifts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the richest of the people with all kinds of wealth.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in many-coloured robes she is led to the king;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With joy and gladness they are led along</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as they enter the palace of the king.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">In the place of ancestors you, O king,* shall have sons;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you will make them princes in all the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 47, 48</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 47</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Clap your hands, all you peoples;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>shout to God with loud songs of joy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a great king over all the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He subdued peoples under us,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and nations under our feet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He chose our heritage for us,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the pride of Jacob whom he loves.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">God has gone up with a shout,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sing praises to God, sing praises;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>sing praises to our King, sing praises.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For God is the king of all the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>sing praises with a psalm.*</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">God is king over the nations;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>God sits on his holy throne.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The princes of the peoples gather</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as the people of the God of Abraham.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the shields of the earth belong to God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he is highly exalted.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 48</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the city of our God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>is the joy of all the earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mount Zion, in the far north,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the city of the great King.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Within its citadels God</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>has shown himself a sure defence.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then the kings assembled,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they came on together.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they were in panic, they took to flight;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">trembling took hold of them there,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>pains as of a woman in labour,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">as when an east wind shatters</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the ships of Tarshish.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As we have heard, so have we seen</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the city of the Lord of hosts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">in the city of our God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>which God establishes for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We ponder your steadfast love, O God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the midst of your temple.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your name, O God, like your praise,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>reaches to the ends of the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your right hand is filled with victory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Let Mount Zion be glad,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">let the towns* of Judah rejoice</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of your judgements.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Walk about Zion, go all around it,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>count its towers,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">consider well its ramparts;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>go through its citadels,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">that you may tell the next generation</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that this is God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">our God for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He will be our guide for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
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