Wednesday 29 July 2009<!--StartFragment-->
<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">2 Samuel 3:22-39<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Should Abner die as a fool dies?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your hands were not bound,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your feet were not fettered;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">as one falls before the wicked</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have fallen.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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!’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Acts 16:16-24</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mark 6:47-56</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>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.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 72</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 72</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Give the king your justice, O God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and your righteousness to a king’s son.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May he judge your people with righteousness,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and your poor with justice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the hills, in righteousness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give deliverance to the needy,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and crush the oppressor.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">May he live* while the sun endures,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>like showers that water the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In his days may righteousness flourish</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and peace abound, until the moon is no more.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">May he have dominion from sea to sea,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and from the River to the ends of the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May his foes* bow down before him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his enemies lick the dust.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>render him tribute,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">may the kings of Sheba and Seba</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>bring gifts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May all kings fall down before him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all nations give him service.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">For he delivers the needy when they call,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the poor and those who have no helper.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He has pity on the weak and the needy,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and saves the lives of the needy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From oppression and violence he redeems their life;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and precious is their blood in his sight.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Long may he live!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>May gold of Sheba be given to him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May prayer be made for him continually,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and blessings invoked for him all day long.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May there be abundance of grain in the land;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>may it wave on the tops of the mountains;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>may its fruit be like Lebanon;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and may people blossom in the cities</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>like the grass of the field.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May his name endure for ever,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his fame continue as long as the sun.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May all nations be blessed in him;*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>may they pronounce him happy.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who alone does wondrous things.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blessed be his glorious name for ever;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>may his glory fill the whole earth.Amen and Amen.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 119:73-96</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 119:73-96</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Your hands have made and fashioned me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because I have hoped in your word.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I know, O Lord, that your judgements are right,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let your steadfast love become my comfort</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>according to your promise to your servant.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for your law is my delight.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the arrogant be put to shame,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because they have subverted me with guile;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let those who fear you turn to me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that they may know your decrees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May my heart be blameless in your statutes,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that I may not be put to shame.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My soul languishes for your salvation;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I hope in your word.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My eyes fail with watching for your promise;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I ask, ‘When will you comfort me?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>yet I have not forgotten your statutes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How long must your servant endure?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When will you judge those who persecute me?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they flout your law.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All your commandments are enduring;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am persecuted without cause; help me!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have almost made an end of me on earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but I have not forsaken your precepts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In your steadfast love spare my life,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord exists for ever;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your word is firmly fixed in heaven.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your faithfulness endures to all generations;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have established the earth, and it stands fast.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By your appointment they stand today,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for all things are your servants.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If your law had not been my delight,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I would have perished in my misery.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will never forget your precepts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for by them you have given me life.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am yours; save me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for I have sought your precepts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but I consider your decrees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have seen a limit to all perfection,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but your commandment is exceedingly broad.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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