Tuesday 25 August 2009<!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1 Kings 1:38-2:4<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and had Solomon ride on King David’s mule, and led him to Gihon. There the priest Zadok took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ And all the people went up following him, playing on pipes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth quaked at their noise.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, ‘Why is the city in an uproar?’ While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of the priest Abiathar arrived. Adonijah said, ‘Come in, for you are a worthy man and surely you bring good news.’ Jonathan answered Adonijah, ‘No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king; the king has sent with him the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they had him ride on the king’s mule; the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you heard. Solomon now sits on the royal throne. Moreover, the king’s servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, “May God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.” The king bowed in worship on the bed and went on to pray thus, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who today has granted one of my offspring* to sit on my throne and permitted me to witness it.” ’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then all the guests of Adonijah got up trembling and went their own ways. Adonijah, fearing Solomon, got up and went to grasp the horns of the altar. Solomon was informed, ‘Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; see, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, “Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.” ’ So Solomon responded, ‘If he proves to be a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.’ Then King Solomon sent to have him brought down from the altar. He came to do obeisance to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, ‘Go home.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When David’s time to die drew near, he charged his son Solomon, saying: ‘I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, be courageous, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn. Then the Lord will establish his word that he spoke concerning me: “If your heirs take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a successor on the throne of Israel.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Acts 26:24-27:8</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While he was making this defence, Festus exclaimed, ‘You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!’ But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.’ Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?’* Paul replied, ‘Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them; and as they were leaving, they said to one another, ‘This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.’ Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius. Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for. Putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. After we had sailed across the sea that is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on board. We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind was against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mark 13:28-37</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he* is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert;* for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 5, 6</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 5</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Give ear to my words, O Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give heed to my sighing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Listen to the sound of my cry,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my King and my God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for to you I pray.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>evil will not sojourn with you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The boastful will not stand before your eyes;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you hate all evildoers.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You destroy those who speak lies;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>will enter your house,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will bow down towards your holy temple</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in awe of you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of my enemies;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>make your way straight before me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For there is no truth in their mouths;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>their hearts are destruction;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">their throats are open graves;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they flatter with their tongues.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Make them bear their guilt, O God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let them fall by their own counsels;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">because of their many transgressions cast them out,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for they have rebelled against you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let them ever sing for joy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Spread your protection over them,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that those who love your name may exult in you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For you bless the righteous, O Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you cover them with favour as with a shield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 6</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or discipline me in your wrath.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul also is struck with terror,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>while you, O Lord—how long?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Turn, O Lord, save my life;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For in death there is no remembrance of you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in Sheol who can give you praise?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am weary with my moaning;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>every night I flood my bed with tears;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I drench my couch with my weeping.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My eyes waste away because of grief;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they grow weak because of all my foes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Depart from me, all you workers of evil,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has heard my supplication;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord accepts my prayer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 10, 11</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 10</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, ‘God will not seek it out’;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all their thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their ways prosper at all times;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your judgements are on high, out of their sight;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as for their foes, they scoff at them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They think in their heart, ‘We shall not be moved;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They sit in ambush in the villages;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in hiding-places they murder the innocent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">they lurk that they may seize the poor;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They stoop, they crouch,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the helpless fall by their might.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They think in their heart, ‘God has forgotten,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he has hidden his face, he will never see it.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>do not forget the oppressed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why do the wicked renounce God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and say in their hearts, ‘You will not call us to account’?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that you may take it into your hands;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the helpless commit themselves to you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have been the helper of the orphan.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>seek out their wickedness until you find none.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is king for ever and ever;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the nations shall perish from his land.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that those from earth may strike terror no more.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 11</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘Flee like a bird to the mountains;*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for look, the wicked bend the bow,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they have fitted their arrow to the string,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the foundations are destroyed,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>what can the righteous do?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is in his holy temple;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord’s throne is in heaven.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his soul hates the lover of violence.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulphur;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord is righteous;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he loves righteous deeds;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the upright shall behold his face.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<!--EndFragment-->