Saturday 5 September 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">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1 Kings 12:1-20<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from* Egypt. And they sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke that he placed on us, and we will serve you.’ He said to them, ‘Go away for three days, then come again to me.’ So the people went away.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the older men who had attended his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, ‘How do you advise me to answer this people?’ They answered him, ‘If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants for ever.’ But he disregarded the advice that the older men gave him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him. He said to them, ‘What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, “Lighten the yoke that your father put on us”?’ The young men who had grown up with him said to him, ‘Thus you should say to this people who spoke to you, “Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us”; thus you should say to them, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins. Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” ’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had said, ‘Come to me again on the third day.’ The king answered the people harshly. He disregarded the advice that the older men had given him and spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, ‘My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’ So the king did not listen to the people, because it was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord that he might fulfil his word, which the Lord had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘What share do we have in David?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To your tents, O Israel!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Look now to your own house, O David.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So Israel went away to their tents. But Rehoboam reigned over the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah. When King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labour, all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam then hurriedly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed the house of David, except the tribe of Judah alone.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">James 5:7-12,19-20</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Be patient, therefore, beloved,* until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.* Beloved,* do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved,* take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Above all, my beloved,* do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My brothers and sisters,* if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s* soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mark 15:33-39</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land* until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’* When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he* breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 30, 32</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 30</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and did not let my foes rejoice over me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and you have healed me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.*</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and give thanks to his holy name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For his anger is but for a moment;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his favour is for a lifetime.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Weeping may linger for the night,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but joy comes with the morning.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">As for me, I said in my prosperity,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘I shall never be moved.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By your favour, O Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you had established me as a strong mountain;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">you hid your face;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was dismayed.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">To you, O Lord, I cried,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and to the Lord I made supplication:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘What profit is there in my death,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>if I go down to the Pit?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Will the dust praise you?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Will it tell of your faithfulness?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Lord, be my helper!’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You have turned my mourning into dancing;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you have taken off my sackcloth</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and clothed me with joy,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">so that my soul* may praise you and not be silent.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you for ever.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 32</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>whose sin is covered.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and in whose spirit there is no deceit.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While I kept silence, my body wasted away</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>through my groaning all day long.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my strength was dried up* as by the heat of summer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then I acknowledged my sin to you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I did not hide my iniquity;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and you forgave the guilt of my sin.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Therefore let all who are faithful</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>offer prayer to you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">at a time of distress,* the rush of mighty waters</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>shall not reach them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You are a hiding-place for me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you preserve me from trouble;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will counsel you with my eye upon you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>else it will not stay near you.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Many are the torments of the wicked,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 42, 43</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 42</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">As a deer longs for flowing streams,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so my soul longs for you, O God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul thirsts for God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the living God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When shall I come and behold</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the face of God?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My tears have been my food</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>day and night,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">while people say to me continually,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘Where is your God?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These things I remember,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as I pour out my soul:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">how I went with the throng,*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and led them in procession to the house of God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a multitude keeping festival.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why are you cast down, O my soul,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and why are you disquieted within me?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my help and my God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul is cast down within me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>therefore I remember you</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from Mount Mizar.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Deep calls to deep</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>at the thunder of your cataracts;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">all your waves and your billows</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>have gone over me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and at night his song is with me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a prayer to the God of my life.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I say to God, my rock,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘Why have you forgotten me?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why must I walk about mournfully</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because the enemy oppresses me?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As with a deadly wound in my body,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my adversaries taunt me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">while they say to me continually,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘Where is your God?’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why are you cast down, O my soul,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and why are you disquieted within me?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my help and my God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 43</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>against an ungodly people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">from those who are deceitful and unjust</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>deliver me!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For you are the God in whom I take refuge;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>why have you cast me off?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why must I walk about mournfully</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of the oppression of the enemy?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O send out your light and your truth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let them lead me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">let them bring me to your holy hill</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and to your dwelling.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then I will go to the altar of God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to God my exceeding joy;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and I will praise you with the harp,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O God, my God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why are you cast down, O my soul,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and why are you disquieted within me?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my help and my God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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