Wednesday 4 August 2010<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">Judges 7:19-8:12<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">So Gideon and the hundred who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. So the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow; and they cried, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’ Every man stood in his place all around the camp, and all the men in camp ran; they cried out and fled. When they blew the three hundred trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow and against all the army; and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah towards Zererah,* as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after the Midianites.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, ‘Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters against them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.’ So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they seized the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan. They captured the two captains of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the wine press of Zeeb, as they pursued the Midianites. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then the Ephraimites said to him, ‘What have you done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against the Midianites?’ And they upbraided him violently. So he said to them, ‘What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God has given into your hands the captains of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; what have I been able to do in comparison with you?’ When he said this, their anger against him subsided.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the three hundred who were with him, exhausted and famished.* So he said to the people of Succoth, ‘Please give some loaves of bread to my followers, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.’ But the officials of Succoth said, ‘Do you already have in your possession the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna, that we should give bread to your army?’ Gideon replied, ‘Well then, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will trample your flesh on the thorns of the wilderness and on briers.’ From there he went up to Penuel, and made the same request of them; and the people of Penuel answered him as the people of Succoth had answered. So he said to the people of Penuel, ‘When I come back victorious, I will break down this tower.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the east; for one hundred and twenty thousand men bearing arms had fallen. So Gideon went up by the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and attacked the army; for the army was off its guard. Zebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued them and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and threw all the army into a panic.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Acts 3:12-26</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, ‘You Israelites,* why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant* Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus* has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘And now, friends,* I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah* would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah* appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people* a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out from the people.” And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, “And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” When God raised up his servant,* he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">John 1:29-42</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed*). He brought Simon* to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter*).<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 119:97-120</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 119:97-120</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Oh, how I love your law!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is my meditation all day long.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for it is always with me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have more understanding than all my teachers,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for your decrees are my meditation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I understand more than the aged,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for I keep your precepts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hold back my feet from every evil way,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in order to keep your word.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I do not turn away from your ordinances,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for you have taught me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How sweet are your words to my taste,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>sweeter than honey to my mouth!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Through your precepts I get understanding;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>therefore I hate every false way.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your word is a lamp to my feet</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and a light to my path.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to observe your righteous ordinances.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am severely afflicted;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give me life, O Lord, according to your word.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and teach me your ordinances.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hold my life in my hand continually,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but I do not forget your law.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The wicked have laid a snare for me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but I do not stray from your precepts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your decrees are my heritage for ever;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they are the joy of my heart.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I incline my heart to perform your statutes</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for ever, to the end.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hate the double-minded,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but I love your law.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You are my hiding-place and my shield;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I hope in your word.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Go away from me, you evildoers,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that I may keep the commandments of my God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and let me not be put to shame in my hope.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hold me up, that I may be safe</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and have regard for your statutes continually.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You spurn all who go astray from your statutes;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for their cunning is in vain.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All the wicked of the earth you count as dross;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>therefore I love your decrees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My flesh trembles for fear of you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I am afraid of your judgements.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 81, 82</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 81</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sing aloud to God our strength;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>shout for joy to the God of Jacob.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Raise a song, sound the tambourine,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the sweet lyre with the harp.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Blow the trumpet at the new moon,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>at the full moon, on our festal day.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For it is a statute for Israel,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>an ordinance of the God of Jacob.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He made it a decree in Joseph,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>when he went out over* the land of Egypt.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hear a voice I had not known:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘I relieved your* shoulder of the burden;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your* hands were freed from the basket.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In distress you called, and I rescued you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I answered you in the secret place of thunder;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I tested you at the waters of Meribah.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hear, O my people, while I admonish you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Israel, if you would but listen to me!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There shall be no strange god among you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you shall not bow down to a foreign god.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am the Lord your God,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘But my people did not listen to my voice;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Israel would not submit to me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to follow their own counsels.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O that my people would listen to me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that Israel would walk in my ways!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then I would quickly subdue their enemies,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and turn my hand against their foes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and their doom would last for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would feed you* with the finest of the wheat,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 82</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">God has taken his place in the divine council;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the midst of the gods he holds judgement:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘How long will you judge unjustly</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and show partiality to the wicked?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span>Selah</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Give justice to the weak and the orphan;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rescue the weak and the needy;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>deliver them from the hand of the wicked.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have neither knowledge nor understanding,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they walk around in darkness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all the foundations of the earth are shaken.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I say, ‘You are gods,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>children of the Most High, all of you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and fall like any prince.’*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rise up, O God, judge the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for all the nations belong to you!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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